Carandiru jail becomes São Paulo's musical melting pot
The greatest jail in the country, which has given birth to Detentos do Rap and 509-E, has two new acts underway
Tom Cardoso
27/12/2000
The gloomy routine at the Casa de Detenção - a.k.a. Carandiru - the biggest jail in Brazil, was modified yesterday, but only to the convicts and members of the groups Comunidade Carcerária and Bola Mais Um, who left their cells to give a collective interview. Going to Carandiru is never a pleasant experience. There a over 7 thousand convicts, separated by protection bars through which the group of journalists walked until reaching a tiny cafeteria, where the meeting with the press was held.
The first band to talk to the journalists was Comunidade Carcerária, a rap trio comprised of Krick, FW and WO, the latter being currently on probation, although spending more time in jail than at home. "He did his time and left, but, like many others, did not get a job. So he decided to come back and practice with us", says Kric, the leader who has spent more than half of his life (he's 40 y.o.) in jails in São Paulo and has been in Carandiru for 5 years, now.
Krick and FW share a cell with a few other convicts on pavilion 8, the deep end of the complex where those who fall back into crime are placed - first timers and inexperienced ones are rarely seen there. So as to pass the time, the trio started taking rehearsals seriously until eventually raising the interest of recording label Atração Fonográfica and producers DJ Luciano and GM Duda. The result is one more good rap album made in Brazil, named after the band.
Shows outside the jail are still scattered, for the operation involves a lot of bureaucracy and good will, when it comes to the jail's directors. "At least we know that, when we leave here, we will have work, which will help us survive", says Kric. The hope made FW turn down an invitation for a runaway that happened last week. "When the time came, I understood that it wasn't worth it. Now I have my future in my hands".
Lucky samba writers
Rap groups are sprouting all over Carandiru - besides Comunidade Carcerária, Detentos do Rap and 509-E have also released albums. But samba musicians also make some noise in there. And Bola Mais Um got lucky. A warden became a fan of their music, decided to help them and managed to talk the label Atração Fonográfica into giving the boys a chance. Up till that moment, the group from pavillion 7 had had many different members, but had attracted little attention because the convicts do prefer the socially-driven lyrics offered by the hip hop culture.
The seven members of Bola Mais Um unanimously point out Zeca Pagodinho and Fundo de Quintal as their main references to make the disc Renascer. In their case, though, it is even harder to leave the jail to perform live. Law claims that each member should have two officers in charge, which would result in a group of 21 people - unfeasible for the current situation of Carandiru. "It's alright. what matters is that we have been born again", says Zé Nego, founder of the group.
The first band to talk to the journalists was Comunidade Carcerária, a rap trio comprised of Krick, FW and WO, the latter being currently on probation, although spending more time in jail than at home. "He did his time and left, but, like many others, did not get a job. So he decided to come back and practice with us", says Kric, the leader who has spent more than half of his life (he's 40 y.o.) in jails in São Paulo and has been in Carandiru for 5 years, now.
Krick and FW share a cell with a few other convicts on pavilion 8, the deep end of the complex where those who fall back into crime are placed - first timers and inexperienced ones are rarely seen there. So as to pass the time, the trio started taking rehearsals seriously until eventually raising the interest of recording label Atração Fonográfica and producers DJ Luciano and GM Duda. The result is one more good rap album made in Brazil, named after the band.
Shows outside the jail are still scattered, for the operation involves a lot of bureaucracy and good will, when it comes to the jail's directors. "At least we know that, when we leave here, we will have work, which will help us survive", says Kric. The hope made FW turn down an invitation for a runaway that happened last week. "When the time came, I understood that it wasn't worth it. Now I have my future in my hands".
Lucky samba writers
Rap groups are sprouting all over Carandiru - besides Comunidade Carcerária, Detentos do Rap and 509-E have also released albums. But samba musicians also make some noise in there. And Bola Mais Um got lucky. A warden became a fan of their music, decided to help them and managed to talk the label Atração Fonográfica into giving the boys a chance. Up till that moment, the group from pavillion 7 had had many different members, but had attracted little attention because the convicts do prefer the socially-driven lyrics offered by the hip hop culture.
The seven members of Bola Mais Um unanimously point out Zeca Pagodinho and Fundo de Quintal as their main references to make the disc Renascer. In their case, though, it is even harder to leave the jail to perform live. Law claims that each member should have two officers in charge, which would result in a group of 21 people - unfeasible for the current situation of Carandiru. "It's alright. what matters is that we have been born again", says Zé Nego, founder of the group.
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