Firstly, I’d like to welcome everyone aboard Flight808. Secondly, I’d like to swear on my great-grandmother’s grave to stop using such clever (see: irritating) flight wordplay. It’s even making me sick, at this point— “site launch” … “leave your tray table down” … “enjoy the ride,” etc. So, seriously, you have my word.

Our first featured nation is Brazil. Just a word about Brazil before we get into it—the emergence of hip-hop culture in Brazil was quite similar to that of hip-hop culture in the South Bronx, albeit several years later. In Sao Paulo, breaking caught on first, and later on b-boys became emcees. This was in the ’80s. Today, Brazil is perhaps best known in hip-hop circles for having what could be the most innovative (and straight ill) graffiti scene in the world.

To the music…