Esú
Baco Exu do Blues
2017
Why This Album Matters
Released on 4 September 2017, Esú is the debut album by the Bahian rapper Baco Exu do Blues and marked his ascent in the Brazilian music scene. The record is a deeply personal and provocative work, which consolidated Baco's artistic identity and his "poesia de escória" (scum poetry), replete with potent metaphors and raw, poetic lyrics. It stands out for the way it addresses complex themes such as Black empowerment, African-matrix religiosity, romantic confessions, and the search for personal transformation, all permeated by an innovative sound that blends hip hop, trap, and elements of Brazilian music. Esú is a dive into Baco's concerns, where he explores the duality between the sacred and the profane, the divine and the human, reflecting on Black identity and life in Salvador. The album's title, a play on words between "Jesus" and "Exu", already indicates the challenging stance and syncretism that permeate the work. With this work, Baco not only expanded his creative domain but also engaged with a vast audience, offering one of the most impactful works in recent national rap.
Context
Diogo Álvaro Ferreira Moncorvo, known as Baco Exu do Blues, began to gain prominence in the Brazilian rap scene in 2016 with the release of the track "Sulicídio", in collaboration with Diomedes Chinaski. This song was a critical manifesto against the national rap scene, which, according to them, was concentrated in the Southeast regions, demanding greater visibility for musical production from the Northeast and North. The recording of Esú took place during a turbulent period in Baco's life, as, in his own words, he was recovering from depression. The album, therefore, is a visceral and honest reflection of the trials and conflicting feelings the artist was facing, marking a phase of transition and self-knowledge following the repercussion of "Sulicídio".
Recording
The musical production of Esú was predominantly handled by the beatmaker Nansy Silvvs, who contributed significantly to the album's unique sound. The opening track, "Intro", featured production by Scooby Mauricio on the beat and scratches by KL Jay, from Racionais MC's, adding a layer of depth and prestige to the project. The record was recorded, mixed, and mastered at Cremenow Studio by TAS. Esú stands out for its fine tapestry of samples and rich instrumental base, which blends elements of Northeastern Brazilian music with contemporary Atlanta trap, tribal percussion, and regional rhythms. The quest for a unique sound, which would reverberate his Northeastern and African roots, was central for Baco and Nansy Silvvs, resulting in arrangements that incorporate everything from maracatu drumbeats to the wail of the Bahian guitar and references to Candomblé, creating a synaesthetic experience for the listener.
Songs
The tracks on Esú are a mosaic of cultural, literary, and religious references, woven together by Baco's dense lyricism. The song "Esú", which gives the album its title, is a mixture of self-affirmation and self-knowledge, where the artist declares himself "half man, half God", addressing the duality and fear his figure provokes. It makes references to poets such as Machado de Assis and Arthur Rimbaud, and deities like Xangô and Thor, demonstrating Baco's vast range of influences. "Te Amo Disgraça" became one of the biggest successes of the album and Baco's career, praised for its "romantismo torto e profundamente honesto" approach to relationships, avoiding clichés and exploring the raw reality of love. Other notable tracks include "Abre Caminho", which blends criticisms of racism and religious intolerance with an engaging beat, and "Capitães de Areia", inspired by the work of Jorge Amado, which draws parallels between the lives of Salvador's street children and the rapper's own trajectory. The work further explores vulnerability in "A Pele Que Habito", where Baco allows himself to bleed and suffer as a man, and the "Intro", featuring KL Jay, which serves as a poetic monologue about African origins and the Black man. The song "Oração à Vitória" (originally present and later excluded due to copyright issues) also stood out for its citations of artists such as Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, and Nação Zumbi, highlighting the album's rich intertextuality.
Legacy
Esú was received with enthusiasm by critics and the public, being widely considered one of the most important albums in recent national rap. The record secured Baco Exu do Blues the New Artist award at the Prêmio Multishow de Música Brasileira in 2017, where the track "Te Amo Disgraça" was also chosen as Song of the Year by the jury. In the same year, the album featured among the top 50 of 2017 by the Associação Paulista dos Críticos de Arte (APCA), and "Te Amo Disgraça" was nominated in the Music category, competing with major names in MPB. The success of Esú translated into popular and commercial recognition; the single "Te Amo Disgraça", for instance, received diamond certification for sales, totalling over 280 million streams on digital platforms, demonstrating the enormous popularity of the song. The album not only propelled Baco nationally but also solidified his style and approach, influencing the rap scene with his "poesia de escória" and the way he blended sacred, profane, and autobiographical elements. The impact of Esú is such that, in 2022, Baco Exu do Blues was nominated for the Latin Grammy Awards, and, even though it was not directly for Esú, the notoriety of his debut work paved the way for such recognitions. The work is cited as a landmark that "opened doors" for Baco in the national scene, redefining what was expected from rap and Brazilian music.
Rankings
Tracks
Videos
Baco Exu do Blues - Esú | Análise do Álbum #1
Estação Arte
Baco Exu do Blues - Esú ALBUM REVIEW (PT-BR)
O Audiófilo
"Esú" - Baco - RapCru
RONALD RIOS
Resenha Baco Exu do Blues, Esú
NonaOrelha
Analyses
Esú – Wikipedia
Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
Baco Exu Do Blues - ESÚ (2017) - Oganpazan
oganpazan.com.br
Trazendo em sua persona artística o nome de um deus grego, um orixá e do gênero musical que deu origem a toda a música popular americana, Baco Exu do Blues lançou ESÚ (2017) e novamente sacudiu o cenário, gravando seu nome definitivamente na história do rap nacional.
Resenha: "Esú", Baco Exu do Blues - Música Instantânea
musicainstantanea.com.br
Nascido das inquietações que bagunçam a mente do rapper baiano, Esú faz de cada composição o fragmento de uma obra essencialmente turbulenta, caótica. Junto de Moncorvo, um time seleto de colaboradores.
Baco Exu do Blues - Esú - Monkeybuzz
monkeybuzz.com.br
A faixa, aliás, é de longe o grande destaque do disco e pede para ser reproduzida à exaustão. Ela é raiva, é tesão e é emoção. À primeira instância, a sinceridade do rapper pode chocar e pode ser mal interpretada.
Baco Exu do Blues emplaca melhor álbum baiano de 2017 pelo público
elcabong.com.br
O disco de estreia de Diogo Moncorvo, mais conhecido como Baco Exu do Blues, caiu como uma bomba no meio musical não apenas baiano, mas nacional. O jovem rapper de 21 anos já tinha chamado atenção com a música "Sulicídio", mas com 'Esú' foi além e mostrou um álbum forte, maduro e denso.