Essential: MC Bin Laden brings booming Brazilian bass on ‘É Grau’ EP

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Built on a Brazilian backdrop, the reinvention of funk has seen soundsystem productions straight from the favelas flirt with the mainstream thanks to catchy beats and chaotic energy. From Baile Funk to Funk Proibidão, (translated to ‘strongly prohibited’) MC Bin Laden, AKA Jefferson Christian dos Santos Lima is a key name at the forefront of the movement.

His music videos garner views in the multi-millions. So, with remixes for the likes of Kelela, and a feature on Venus X and Asmara’s ‘Putaria Maxima Volume 1’ signaling a shift out from his native São Paulo, his solo EP is set to share the sounds of the favelas with a wider audience.

Breakout single, ‘Bololo Hara’ features on the six-track release, in all its bombastic, brashy glory. ‘É Grau Olha pra Traz e da Tchau’, also known as his “ode to 40+ speeding motorcycles”, is another stand-out, packed full of progressive vocal arrangements and off-key percussion.

With a set stateside on April 29, he joins his GHE20G0TH1K collaborators, alongside Chicago rap duo Sicko Mobb for Red Bull Music Academy’s ‘Fluxo: Funk Proibidão’ party in New York.

‘É Grau’ is out digitally May 12 and on vinyl June 23 on True Panther Sounds. Pre-order it here and stream the title track below.

Jasmine Kent-Smith is Mixmag's Digital Intern. Follow her on Twitter