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Description

Rasteirinha (often called “funk rasteirinha”) is a mid‑tempo branch of Brazilian funk that slows the classic baile funk groove to a warmer, more sensual pace.

It blends the dembow swing of dancehall and reggaeton with samba and pagode percussion (pandeiro, cuíca, surdo, agogô, tamborim, and shakers), typically sitting around 90–105 BPM.

Vocals tend to be chant‑like, playful, and street‑wise, with hooks built from call‑and‑response phrases and chopped vocal shots. Harmony is minimal—often one to three chords—so that the syncopated drums and round sub‑bass can drive the dancefloor.

The overall feel is percussive, tropical, and intimate—made for block parties and clubs where groove and swing matter more than dense arrangements.

History
Roots (1990s–2000s)

Rasteirinha’s DNA starts with funk carioca (baile funk) from Rio de Janeiro, itself rooted in Miami bass and local samba rhythms. Through the 2000s, Brazilian producers absorbed Caribbean dembow patterns from dancehall and reggaeton, and DJs experimented with slowing down the fast tamborzão beat to create a more relaxed, percussive swing.

Emergence (early–mid 2010s)

In the early 2010s, Rio and São Paulo beatmakers began calling this slower, percussion‑heavy feel “rasteirinha.” The name reflects a “low‑to‑the‑ground,” gliding groove. Producers incorporated samba/pagode timbres (pandeiro, cuíca, surdo) and prioritized space, swing, and sub‑bass over dense synths. The sound spread quickly via SoundCloud, YouTube, DJ edits, and global‑bass circles, with international labels and curators highlighting Brazilian mid‑tempo funk alongside moombahton and dancehall.

Breakthrough and mainstream touchpoints (mid–late 2010s)

As Brazilian pop and international club music embraced mid‑tempo tropical grooves, rasteirinha elements surfaced in mainstream releases, further codifying its identity. High‑profile collaborations, remixes, and global DJ support popularized the template—slower BPM, dembow‑like syncopation, and prominent Brazilian percussion—well beyond funk‑only contexts.

Today

Rasteirinha remains a flexible tool in the Brazilian club palette: it bridges baile funk with reggaeton and moombahton, pairs naturally with trap‑leaning bass design, and underpins pop crossovers. Producers continue to iterate on the groove, spawning hybrids (e.g., trapfunk) and informing newer mid‑tempo strands within the broader funk ecosystem.

How to make a track in this genre
Tempo and groove
•   Aim for 90–105 BPM. Think of a dembow‑like swing adapted to Brazilian percussion. •   Use light shuffle/swing on hats and shakers to create a loping, beach‑party feel.
Drums and percussion
•   Start with a slowed baile funk foundation and layer samba/pagode timbres: pandeiro (slaps/jingles), cuíca accents, surdo for the low pulse, tamborim for sharp syncopations, agogô or cowbell for clave‑style patterns, and shakers (ganza/caxixi) for texture. •   Program a dembow‑influenced kick/snare skeleton (K – – S – K – S –) and fill with Brazilian off‑beats, ghost notes, and call‑and‑response fills.
Bass and harmony
•   Use a round 808 or sine‑based sub that reinforces the kick pattern; keep notes short and syncopated. •   Harmony is sparse: 1–3 chords, often minor or modal; focus on voicing space for drums and vocals.
Vocals and lyrics
•   Favor chant‑like hooks, toasts, and conversational Portuguese slang; themes can be playful, sensual, or party‑oriented. •   Chopped/looped vocal shots work well as rhythmic hooks between phrases.
Sound design and arrangement
•   Prioritize warm saturation on percussion and bass; light room or plate ambience can evoke street‑party acoustics. •   Arrange for DJs: 8–16‑bar intros/outros, percussive breakdowns, and tension drops using risers, drum fills, or short vocal builds. •   Leave space—rasteirinha breathes; avoid over‑layering.
Tips
•   Reference samba swing and dembow placement to keep the groove authentic. •   Humanize percussion with velocity and micro‑timing nudges rather than strict quantization.
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