Few people speak through music as MC Carol does. Owner of a thundering voice that can’t be found anywhere else, the singer-composer is one of the most important names in the contemporary funk carioca scene — mainly for her free spirit, vividly expressed through the scathingly sexual lyrics from Borogodó. But, more than an artist that sings about sex, MC Carol is a Black woman singing about being desired and in control, earning her fame as a feminist icon. While the singer is faithful to the funk carioca style on most of the tracks, Borogodó also explores other contemporary Brazilian music genres. The album features the irresistible sound of pagodão baiano on “Vizinho,” a humorous song where Carol fantasizes about her neighbor; and brega funk, a Brazilian funk subgenre from Pernambuco (Northeastern Brazil), in the explicit “Calibre Grosso.” Synthesizers are omnipresent throughout the album, which experiments with a myriad of electronic interventions, resulting in many layers of sound. Apart from the funk carioca tracks, such as “Barbaridades” and “Vida de Artista,” the album also brings some hip-hop to the scene, such as “Levanta Mina,” a strong feminist anthem.

– Beatriz Miranda