If you want to talk about love, keep listening to Marcinho. With the verses of “Quero te leva,” a song he just released in collaboration with rapper Lourena of Poesia Acústica, the 44yearold MC reaffirms all the romance that anchored him in the funk tune. And it’s been 30 years since the young man from Duque de Caxias traded his dream of being a footballer for a career in music when he presented ‘Rap do Solitaire’ at a club competition. The anniversary celebrations have already started with the release of this single and “Salve Favela” featuring Babu Santana. In February 2023, the recording of a DVD will be the highlight of the celebrations of the triumph of Príncipe do Funk. In an interview with “Sessão Extra”, Márcio André Nepomuceno Garcia took stock of what he has experienced so far and what is yet to come.
origins
“My father was a carpenter and samba artist in his free time. I never thought that music would be my profession and that I would make it this far. Before I started singing (1993) I worked as a bricklayer’s hand, sold popsicles and snacks on the beach, killed chickens in an aviary, printed tshirts… Between 1999 and 2000, when choreographed funk came into focus , I didn’t fit in. I worked in general services at a hospital to earn a living with two young children. It wasn’t until Glamorosa came out (2001) that I was able to make a living from music.”
erotic funk
“It’s valid. Tastes like everything, doesn’t it? It’s not my mood, but a lot of people’s. The kids like the ‘sit, sit’. My music has a melody, a deeper message, more conscious lyrics.”
Very romantic
“To this day I still talk about love in even the most danceable songs. That was and is my difference. I consider myself an oldfashioned romantic. I wrote “Desejo” for my wife (Kelly Garcia, with whom he has been with for 25 years and married for 15 years), I tell her that I love her all the time, I give her breakfast in bed, I show her their affection and complicity. She only banned me from giving away teddy bears because there was no more space to keep them (laughs). I call her Dona Flor. But it’s not because of two husbands, no! It’s just that my wife loves taking care of plants, she just wants to know. We enjoyed each other a lot, travel a lot as a couple now that the kids are grown (Marcelly, 23, and Marcelo, 21, are the fruits of that relationship; the singer has three other heirs: Matheus, 23, Sara, 22, and Marcinho, 16). The only thing I regret in my life is that I was separated from her for two years. I was in a hurry. If I had talked I could have avoided that mistake.”
Prince of Funk
“I got this nickname from Xuxa (alongside Verônica Costa, the inspirational muse of ‘Glamourosa’). Regina Casé also called me that. A lot of people tell me that I’m the king of funk. anything! King, for me there is only one, Jesus Christ”.
religiousness
“I’m Evangelical, I attend Ipan (Prophesing to the Nations Church), Fernanda Brum and Pastor Emerson Pinheiro. I feel good there, at peace. But I respect all religions. I raise the flag of nothing but Jesus Christ, for he does not fail”.
Political Awareness
“At the moment my vote goes to Simone Tebet. I find them reasonable, peaceful, aggregating. With all due respect, there are a lot of people in the evangelical bench who don’t represent me. I vote for the character of the person, not the religion. There is a very big war between Bolsonaro and Lula, the country is much bigger than that. Brazilians should give chances to new candidates. They’re addicted to the politicians they’ve known for years, they think there’s no point in voting for someone else because they’ll never win. If everyone thinks like this, there will be no renewal. I couldn’t be reelected. He ruled for four years, out.”
Prejudice
“Musically, I didn’t suffer from prejudices like other MCs. My radio has been more accepted, from TV shows to Copacabana Palace. And I never bowed my head to racism. When I saw security guards following me around the store, I would ask, “Is there a problem? Do you think I can’t buy it?’ Nowadays even though I’m well known, I get wry looks when it’s just me in the store as a nigga. They keep looking and wondering which artist or soccer player I am. It never occurs to me that I can become a doctor or an engineer… There’s still a lot of battle ahead.”
Health up to date
“I hope to have more than seven lives (laughs). There were many scares (he was already in a wheelchair for months after a traffic accident, was shot in a robbery, had a serious stomach infection, was in intensive care with Covid, was in a coma from a foot infection and was undergoing heart surgery). Thank God my health is great today, I am well taken care of. Every fight like this has made me a better person.”
fear
“No one wants to die, do they? If I could it would be forever. My biggest concern is the legacy I will leave behind. How will my family and friends see me when I’m gone? The worst thing is to die and be remembered as a loudmouth, a bad character. How sad to say: ‘It’s late, it wasn’t worth anything’. I want you to remember me with nostalgia, how I feel for Catra, for Sapão… I try to be the fairest, most honest and hardworking. Never surpass anyone. As a young man I was impulsive, irresponsible. Today I lead a normal, peaceful life.”
my home
“I have lived in Bangu since I was 16 years old. And I don’t want to leave. This is where I met my wife and built my family. Here I can be me, Márcio. As many times as people stop me to take photos, once in a while I go to the bakery, to the pharmacy, after football I go barefoot… I love this place as I love my caxias.”