Mu540 Pushes Boundaries with New EP ‘4×4’

Mu540, a leading figure in both the Brazilian and global dance music scene, continues to break barriers with the release of his latest EP, ‘4×4’. With over 2.8 million monthly listeners on Spotify, the artist is redefining Brazilian electronic music and challenging long-standing prejudices in the industry.

The title ‘4×4’ references the EP’s signature four-on-the-floor drum beats, a hallmark of house and techno music but a rarity within Brazil’s favela-born baile funk. This groundbreaking fusion, first displayed in Mu540’s 2023 hit ‘O Fantástico Mundo de Oakley,’ has resonated widely. That track, blending 4×4 beats with funk samples and rhymes, became an instant fan favourite, amassing over 15 million streams on Spotify. The new EP builds on this foundation, seamlessly merging genres to craft a bold and innovative sound.

Mu540’s fusion of styles goes beyond musical experimentation; it carries a deeper cultural message. The artist is confronting the stark divide in Brazil’s music scene, historically split between the middle-class-dominated house and techno genres and the marginalised baile funk, which has faced systemic discrimination and criminalisation. This division has even led staple São Paulo nightclubs to reject bookings for Mu540, claiming that baile funk doesn’t fit their spaces—a sentiment reminiscent of the UK’s Form 696 controversy and the mistreatment of grime artists.

Despite these challenges, Mu540’s music is a powerful statement. By blending baile funk’s raw energy with the polished precision of 4×4 beats on ‘4×4,’ he asserts that baile funk is integral to Brazil’s electronic music identity. His summer smash ‘Botano’—a collaboration with DJ Caio Prince, MC Luanna, and DJ Thiago Martins—topped Spotify’s viral chart, cementing his position as a trailblazer.

Mu540’s work represents a larger movement for the recognition and respect of baile funk as a cornerstone of Brazilian dance and electronic music. With ‘4×4,’ he’s not just releasing an EP—he’s igniting a cultural shift, challenging preconceived notions, and creating space for favela-rooted sounds to thrive on global stages.