Young Brazilian rapper and funk producer, Leandro Aparecido Ferreira, known in the music world as MC Fioti, was a worker like any other at Burger King until recently. His first track "Vai Toma," put him on the musical map. But it was in 2017, when he released "Bum Bum Tam Tam," that his popularity took off, being the first Brazilian to surpass 1.5 billion views on Youtube.

This week, he released a remix of his famous track, modifying the lyrics to acknowledge the scientists who worked on the development of a COVID-19 vaccine and urging Brazilians to get vaccinated.

Brazil country second-hardest-hit by the coronavirus in the world, and the vaccination campaign promoted by health professionals is facing logistical difficulties in getting the necessary doses throughout the country.

The governor of São Paulo, João Doria, upon hearing the song, understood its marketing potential and the positive influence it could have, so he called the rapper and invited him to shoot a new clip inside the Butantan research center shortly before the start of the vaccination effort.

The rapper was surprised by the willingness of the Butantan institute's staff, who appear in the video dancing.

"The video of dozens of scientific researchers unleashing to the rhythm of funk has a huge symbolic value, as traditionally this music has been criminalized by various sectors of society. The upper class has always criticized us. It tends to censor everything that comes from the favela, not just funk. The fact that the soundtrack of the vaccination is a funk is a historical framework," MC Fioti pointed out.

MC Fioti, who grew up in one of these underprivileged neighborhoods in São Paulo's southern zone, recalled that he dropped out of school to help his mother pay the bills by serving food at Burger King.

"So for me, as a ghetto artist, it's a huge thrill to see how funk meets science to save lives," he said.

From now on, the rapper will apparently change the themes of his songs, and launch awareness projects, contributing from Brazilian funk to social changes in his country.