PHOTOS/GRAFS, Rio de Janeiro, March 2010

When you study the history and significance of hip-hop, it shouldn't come as a suprise that hip-hop icons such as Tupac are revered. I found this stencil while walking around Lapa, a neighborhood more known for it's Friday night street parties than day-time tourist attractions. That is, of course, if you are into that whole «let's see the city through this guide book» and not into finding amazing graffiti pieces, who are usually in non-tourist friendly areas.
Rio wasn't short on graffiti- and it had some really good pieces too! I love seeing how, as for hip-hop, graffiti is being used as a way of expression. I remember seeing this 4real show on MTV a while back. Mos Def was invited in a favela in Rio. He was accompanied by the local MC MV Bill. You could feel the depth of hip-hop, the real side. The «we've got something to say. We don't care if you like it or not» You know what I'm talking about, right?
This piece is a homage to straight thinking, hard saying, real hip-hop. Tupac had things to say mainstream America couldn't grasp, even as it bought album after album.
For the people in the slums, it's an ongoing quest to being heard, being treated as human beings, being equal. That's what hip-hop represents for them, the quest. When, at the Afrika Bambaataa concert I saw the sign « Gorilla Groove. Favela Music. », I knew they had it right. The first djs might have played some cheesy pop-dance-rnb, but the second they played some local hip-hop, you could feel it. I couldn't understand a word, but you could feel it.
That's what I adore.

picture stencils: hip-hop heavyweight in Lapa, Rio

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