At Rock In Rio 2024, MC Tuto took to the SuperNova Stage and performed “The Box Medley Funk 2”, a hit that has garnered over 200 million views on YouTube and reached the Top 5 Globally. Born in Ermelino Matarazzo, the young São Paulo funk talent has been gaining prominence with his mix of Latin rhythms and Rio funk, as well as authentic lyrics. The success of the song, in partnership with Brinquedo, Laranjinha, Cebezinho and DJ Oreia, solidified Tuto’s career , which now establishes him as a reference in the Brazilian and global music scene.
What was the creative process behind the EP “2 T Na Levada” like? What inspired you to explore this new, bolder and more unpredictable phase of your career?
The creative process for ‘2T’ at Levada was very well thought out and elaborated, especially with the change in the style of funk. When I joined, I started to work on the songs, which initially had few views, but today have reached millions, thank God. I brought this new style to the streets, seeking this change in funk. I was inspired by old funk, the one with 130 BPM, and I created a new style that I also learned in the rastreiro. That was the creative process for the EP.
What inspired me was this change in funk, a return to its origins. It reminded me a lot of my beginnings, because I listened to a lot of funk with that BPM center, which is where funk came from. I went back to the roots, and that’s what’s playing now. We brought a different beat, and that’s what inspired me to be an artist with new melodies, flows and lyrics.
You mentioned that the EP highlights the artist’s “duality.” Can you explain more about how this duality is reflected in the tracks and the overall concept of the project?
This was a creative process for a codename, a very abbreviated codename, you know? I abbreviated these words, and that’s where the ‘2T’ comes from, which means ‘Tuto’. This has a lot to do with the idea of two personalities: sometimes I think way beyond and, at other times, I’m a very calm guy. I wanted to hide a bit from social media, the internet, music, while also being this guy with a lot of desire. So, I kind of mixed these two personalities: a crazier side, focused on forbidden funk, something more ’18+’; and the other side, which is Hermes, calmer and more relaxed. That’s what I wanted to bring with this new revolution at the STEM Institute.
Your career in funk is marked by perseverance and innovation. How do you see your evolution from your first videos with limited resources to your current work at Sonar Music?
Perseverance and innovation. Today I look at who I am and who I was before, and I feel very proud, man, for being someone who studied the scene, studied funk, studied music and, most importantly, studied himself. I’ve always wanted to change things and do it my way, which is harder to be accepted. When you’re a pioneer in something, it’s hard to get people to believe in you, it’s hard for someone to say it’s good. But when it’s good, you end up becoming a reference and an inspiration. I’m very proud of what I’m living, of what I’ve lived and of this creative process in my life as an MC.
“2 T Na Levada” has great collaborations. What was it like working with other artists on this project, and how did these partnerships contribute to the result?
At Levada, we have great collaborations. What was it like working with other artists on this project? It was amazing, because I needed more connection, friendship, and some friends who are on ‘The Ground’ also participated. Even those who are not part of it contributed. It was a mutual opportunity: I offered them an opportunity and they offered me an opportunity. In addition, there are many solo songs as well. And how did these partnerships contribute to the result? They contributed a lot. The talent was present together with these talented friends. I won’t mention names, because I don’t remember them all, but they are talented friends, with good connections, and of whom I am a fan. It was amazing, and these participations contributed a lot to the project.
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