MOCHAKK BRINGS BRAZILIAN FUNK TO THE WORLD
words by VERONICA TLAPANCO SZABÓ
Funk is identity. Funk is culture. Funk é Brasil. Perhaps you’ve heard of it before, but what does it truly mean? And where did it all begin? Mochakk has got the answers. Step into a club in the past five years, and you’ll instantly recognise it, the all-consuming and contagious beat of Brazilian Funk. Born in the late 1980s in the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian Funk fused Miami bass with the verve of the favelas. It’s essentially a street-born sound that has always carried that global ambition, a rhythm that is now the country’s biggest cultural export. Its influence ripples worldwide, so much so that in April 2025 Beatport finally recognised what we’ve long known, Brazilian Funk as its own dedicated category. A milestone celebrated with the new documentary series ‘Funk do Brasil’ from Beatport and ONErpm, guided by none other than Mochakk.
images courtesy of THE MEDIA NANNY
Mochakk, one of our cover stars from the ‘Odyssey’ issue and one of Brazil’s fastest-rising DJs, assumes the role of our tour guide. The series travels through three hubs, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Belo Horizonte, where each episode immerses viewers in the culture surrounding Brazilian Funk. For Mochakk, the project carries a strong personal resonance, tied to his homeland and the scene that gave him his start. Joining him are Mu540, Bonekinha Iraquiana, MC GW, DENNIS, MC Marsha, MC Duzinho do Cabaré, DJ Ramon Sucesso, VHOOR, Mac Júlia, and Gordão do PC—all proudly representing the vanguard of Funk.
Episode 1 is already live on YouTube, with Mochakk tracing Funk’s origins back to when DJs in Rio’s favelas were spinning U.S. soul records, layering hip-hop and Miami bass to turn into something unmistakably Brazilian. He also debunks a common misconception, many call the genre Baile Funk, but that’s actually the party, not the music itself. From Tamborzão to Proibidão, from São Paulo 's Ostentação era to the socially engaged Funk Consciente, the genre has constantly evolved and one thing is certain, it’s here to stay. Vida longa ao FUNK!
