A mitologia de Ícaro na poética do rapper BK’: uma leitura crítica do álbum Icarus (2022)

Abstract

This research analyzes the metaphors surrounding the Greek myth of Icarus in the album Icarus (2022) by the Brazilian rapper BK'. In this sense, it investigates how this classical myth is re-signified in a new modern mythology proposed by BK', which dialogues with the experiences lived by the artist and by young peripheral Blacks in contemporary Brazil, referenced throughout the thirteen tracks that make up the discography. Around the narrative, we focus our interpretations on the compositions that represent the metaphorical elements of the myth of Icarus, namely the labyrinth, the wings, the flight and the fall. The album from a multidisciplinary perspective and a qualitative approach is discussed and based on references that address myths, the hip-hop movement and the issues surrounding the experience of young Black people in Brazilian society, such as Roland Barthes (2009), Henrique Freitas (2016), Sueli Carneiro (2023) and Achille Mbembe (2016). Thus, it is possible to understand how BK's work contributes to the analysis of the social, cultural and political dynamics surrounding Black youth in the country, using hip-hop as an instrument of criticism and reflection. Therefore, the musical album Icarus (2022) reaffirms the importance of rap in the field of literary studies and its ability to propose new readings of Brazilian society.