( • ) How did Rima Dela come about?
Bia Doxum, Sara Donato and Brisa Flow participated in Cypher #1.
( • ) Why are cyphers important for rap sisters?
BV - Cyphers had a huge impact in 2017, actually, the use of this format, because the term has existed in Hip Hop history for years. Being able to bring together several MC's in a single track, rhyming over the same Beat, is a billboard. If there is a well-known mine taking part, this will draw the public's attention to discover the others that are also participating. That's what happened with Rima Dela, we made a point of calling names that were in the hype, with greater visibility and launching mines that had been in the running for a long time and had no visibility. It worked out very well.
( • ) How is the lyrics and beats production process?
BV - That's up to the female composers. Each has a different creation process. The only thing we suggested was the theme: touching the wound, addressing the tragic and political situation we are experiencing. As for the production of the beat, that also varies a lot. First they choose the instrumental and then create the lyrics. We generally provide four beat options, ranging from trap to boombap and within them we can add other sounds, if necessary.
( • ) How does it help the women involved?
BV - I think it's an opportunity to show their work. The inequality in the line ups is very big. There is a lack of visibility and confidence in working with women within rap. When we unite with the intention of raising their profile, we are helping them, ourselves and another bunch of women who feel represented when they hear the cypher and send us empowering comments. Then we are sure that we are on the right path.
Mel Duarte and Bianca Hoffmann are part of Cypher.
( • ) How is it for women to enter, how are they seen?
BV - Like everything in a woman's life, complicated. Prejudice will never cease to exist. Mines are still attacked and cursed in freestyle battles. They get beat up by Mc's boyfriends who write love letters, but at home they abuse their companions psychologically and physically. In events, the number of female artists is still smaller than men, the fee offered is not the same. It sucks. But on the other hand, the girls are getting both feet in the door, you know?! Without smoothing it out, working more, putting a lot of things out on the street, showing up, questioning, claiming and that's wonderful. It's a daily struggle, the mines are going to leave an incredible legacy, in fact, we are already leaving.
( • ) Rap is super feminist, it sticks its finger in the wounds of sexists, what is it like when there is an event between men and women?
BV - I believe that rap is completely sexist, but the feminist struggle within it is taking on a greater proportion every day. There is still that guy who doesn't accept a woman being the main artist, doesn't accept opening a show for women, in production doesn't like to receive orders from a woman. The rap audience is pretty scrotum, spoiled and guarded. They still don't understand that all our suffering is not for nothing. We have been growing, getting stronger and the idea is to dominate everything. Take what is rightfully ours.
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Photos by Karú Martins
