Brazilian Funk, also known as funk carioca, baile funk, or favela funk, originated in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro. With the rise of cross-cultural sound experimentation, this gritty hip-hop subgenre is becoming increasingly hard to ignore.
Defined by heavy percussion, looped samples, and chant-like vocals, Brazilian Funk is a sound built for movement and raw energy. In recent years, it has travelled far beyond Brazil’s borders, making its way into DJ sets, TikTok trends, and pop records around the world.
In Nigerian pop, where rhythmic innovation is second nature, the influence of Brazilian funk is beginning to take centre stage. Through rapid-fire drum patterns, stripped-down production, and infectious party bounce, a handful of Nigerian artists are blending Brazilian funk’s DNA into something distinctly local, an Afro-Brazilian fusion that feels fresh, playful, and full of life.
Here are six moments Nigerian artists tapped into the Brazilian funk wave.
Ruger & Tiwa Savage – “Toma Toma”
Ahead of the release of his 2025 album “Blown Boy Ru”, Ruger teamed up with Tiwa Savage in 2024 to deliver “Toma Toma”, a groovy, high-tempo track that taps directly into the pulse of baile funk. With its percussive urgency and call-and-response bounce, the song quickly became one of Detty December’s standout hits.
Ruger leans fully into the vibe, even borrowing the language of Brazilian Portuguese in the hook as he sings: “Olá, como vai você, meu nome é RU/ Qual o seu nome, baby? May I know you?”. It’s a playful nod to funk carioca’s roots and a clear sign of the genre’s growing influence on Nigerian pop.
Joeboy & Olamide – “Free Of Charge”
Off his “Viva La Vida” album, Joeboy teams up with rapper and street-pop king Olamide to create something fresh and unconventional, a love song driven by the bounce of Brazilian funk. Layered with punchy drum loops and a dancefloor-ready rhythm, the track reflects the stripped-down, percussive feel of Brazil’s baile funk scene, while still holding the softness of a Nigerian pop tune.
Teni – “YBGFA”
Teni’s 2023 album “Tears of the Sun” opens with “YBGFA,” a semi-autobiographical track where she embraces her identity, beliefs, and the roots that shape her. Beyond its message, the song rides a beat built on funky, syncopated drums, an unmistakable homage to the rhythmic template of Brazilian funk. It’s bold, bouncy, and deeply personal, setting the tone for the album while tapping into a global sound.
Burna Boy ft. Travis Scott – “TaTaTa”
Off his album “No Sign of Weakness”, Burna Boy teams up with American rapper Travis Scott on “TaTaTa”, a pre-released, Brazilian funk-powered track dripping with sensuality.
The title itself is an onomatopoeic slang for sex, setting the tone for a record rooted in hedonism and rhythm. Driven by baile funk’s percussive bounce and stripped-down intensity, the song leans into sexual provocation.
Travis Scott brings a charged rap delivery, while Burna fully embraces the track’s wild, unfiltered energy. In a nod to internet culture, he name-drops Baltasar Engonga, the Equatorial Guinean figure who went viral after explicit videos of him with multiple women surfaced, singing: “Badder than Baltasar Engonga”.
Skales – “D.L.L.Y (Dance Like Lamine Yamal)”
Skales found a new wave of virality after a video of Barcelona’s young star, Lamine Yamal, dancing to his 2014 hit “Shake Body” made the rounds online. Riding that momentum, Skales released “D.L.L.Y (Dance Like Lamine Yamal)”, a tribute track built on infectious Brazilian funk beats, produced by Killertunes.
The song leans into baile funk’s bouncy drum patterns and looping structure, making it a perfect fit for dance trends. It quickly gained traction on TikTok, blending pop culture, football, and Afro-Brazilian rhythms into one feel-good anthem.
PsychoYP & Azanti – “Naija Funk”
With a title that boldly signals its sonic direction, “Naija Funk” blends Afrobeats with the bounce of Brazilian funk. Produced by Aykbeats, the track leans into the genre’s rap-friendly rhythm, offering a soft, unforced baile funk beat that bubbles beneath the surface. PsychoYP is joined by frequent collaborator Azanti as they trade verses on brotherhood, loyalty, and ambition, layering introspection over a groove that stays smooth and catchy.
