About the article, i find it very interesting. Funk in Rio is known as a
second religion for most of poor ( and it's geting fashionable ) and mid
class jung teen's.
I've never been to a Funk Show, but one of the oldest end most
significant teams Furacao 2000 ( just a DJ and his techical crew ) had a
tv show every saturday in witch we could notice the evolution of this
moviment.
Socially it's indeed very significant. I represents a call for peace and
joy from the opressed young suburban crew. Naturaly there is some
violence and violent people among the "galeras" but they are youg teens
( lots of hormons ).
Their relation to drug dealers is implicit as many things in Rio ( the
most beautiful city ever ).
Musically the significance is subjective ( it's really poor in technical
sofistication, almost raw electronic drums and lyrics about football,
living in slums and policial violence )
It's definitivelly not AJ, althou it has it's values.
Check some more down here.
http://www.furacao2000.com.br/
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Towers/5479/
Sory, only in portuguese
Peace, Andre