Brazil’s Kaos MC Talks Choosing Music as His Path and How Hip Hop Chose Him

Back Sory – Born in the Favelas of Brazil – the suburban, tightly packed areas which the poorest members of society live in often slum-like conditions, Jailson N. Rodrigues aka Kaos MC had to make a choice to follow his passion for music or live the street life. He chose music. His forthcoming single, What’s Wrong, sees him teaming up with the legendary Tito Jackson; international recording artist and YouTube sensation Alex Boyé, and Brazilian rapper, Bull Dogg, to bring the hottest sounds coming out of his home country into the wider world.

Choosing to leave behind a life that revolved around selling drugs, he began his artistic career in 2005 with the Vid’ativa group, after which he launched his solo career. Starting a partnership with Doc B Productions in 2015, he works with international producer Peter Doc B who has elevated Kaos to new heights. Considered something of a folk hero, producer Doc B is one of the few people from outside the country to live in the Favelas where he made the choice to live amongst the locals and grow the rap scene in Brazil. Introducing Kaos to international artists, this has led to their new album titled “O Final Coence Bem“, from which ‘What’s Wrong With You’ is taken.

Kaos and Doc B have now started a revolutionary rap movement in Brazil, still based from his home in the ghetto favelas, encouraging positive movement in the local communities, offering hope to those living in the very worst of conditions.

The single is a grinding RnB track with rap and soul elements, showcasing each of the collaborators’ talents. With remixes from Prince’s personal DJ, Larry Peace, the top-selling Spin Sistas, Victor Lowdown, Stevie Eagle E, Lavonz and many more, the Brazilian rap scene is finally being given a long-overdue international stage. The single is due for release on the 8th of April 2019 and will see the emergence of a pioneering new rap star from Brazil. Get ready for Kaos MC.

We got Kaos MC to weigh in on a few things:

From the outside looking in, who is Kaos MC?

I am a simple rap artist from Brazil. I am someone who, depending on your visual preference, you either connect with or not. In a world where much is superficial, this is how one is usually judged. For me, it could not be further from who I truly am.

I am a guy who loves life, who lives outraged by so many injustices and fights daily for better days.

What brought you to the entertainment industry, music specifically?

It all started at a school in São Paulo, I was about 11 years old, there was a Hip Hop presentation, it was when I saw the union of the 4 elements (Dj, MC, BREAK and Graffiti), how they worked, how they impacted people, how it was good to watch that magic moment, hence I thought: “This is what I want to do.

Music for many is about fame, fortune, sex, and power. For me, it is a calling. I was making more money on the streets doing drugs but I was not an example to the youth. I was putting my family at risk and it was not my calling. It was a way to survive. Music is about healing, teaching, joy, community and bringing people together or it should be.

What do you get from music?

Everything, It gives me everything but it takes everything also. Music is like a jealous woman. She will not share you. She demands all of your attention or she will turn on you, but she will give you friendships, values, love, as well as fame and fortune. I breathe music, music is my life.

Tell us about your current project.

‘What’s wrong with you’? This is my current project. We are (Peter DOC B and Stevie Eagle of Shlepp Entertainment) fully focused on this international collaboration. This is the first single. We hope this could be the one one that opens the door for Lokos da favela. My album O Final Conheço Bem (I already know the outcome) is also available and this, I hope, people will get into and get a real perspective of who I am and my life and experiences in the Favela.

This is the way for me to help my people, my favela, through music. Being called the ‘Hip Hop Robin hood’ is nice, at first I did not know what it meant or who he was, but yes, I fight for the poor, the people who have nothing in the Favela. That is me. I have a responsibility to help my Favela. I cannot wait to give back. I have to do it now with a little or a lot. So the focus is all on the single ‘what’s wrong’ and I thank Tito Jackson, Alex Boye for helping to feed the Favela and my fellow artist from Brazil Bull Dogg.

For new listeners, what song of yours would you pick as an introduction to you as an artist?

O Final Conheço Bem

Sem Resistência

Tell us a bit about your work and passions OUTSIDE of music…

There is nothing outside of music for me right now but I do other things. Mostly I’m trying to help people in the Favela and take care of my family. Right as we speak I’m painting my grandmother’s house, I work on everything that can get a dollar, in the ghetto we ‘kill a lion a day’ to survive, it’s complicated, but it is beautiful, it is real. I have much much passion, I love my family and everything that makes me happy, Not glamorous, it’s real In the Favela life is real. Life is hard and life is also good but there is little glamour, there is no time or space for pretense or false ego.

I live to change the bad and enhance the good in the Favela for everyone.

So far what’s been the wildest moment in your musical career?

I play where people feel hungry, feel thirsty, where people have duties without rights, and yet the music we have carries us, and lead us, it still draws smiles from faces suffering, maybe even smiles of hope, this is very crazy, Just like music carried slaves through slavery music carries us through our everyday miseries and gives us joy and hope it is our gift from God, something no can take from us. Experiencing this is the wildest thing in my musical career.

Follow Kaos MC:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kaosmclf/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kaosmclf
Website: www.Kaosmc.com
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/4CxtQbaltn3KxtlNa94mBF

Featured image Kaos MC (Label submitted)

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Tags: Brazil, Conversations, Interview, Kaos MC, Tito Jackson

About the Author

Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.