Music set the pace, rhymes added color, and Chilean identity was transformed into verse. This was the experience of "Una rima para Chile"(A RhymeforChile), a workshop held in the auditorium of the Santiago Public Library as part of the #ChileLoHacemosTodos educational campaign.
The activity invited participants to create and improvise based on references and symbols of the country, such as the Atacama Desert, Valparaíso, Antarctica, Chiloé, copper, cueca, Chilean wine, our poets, and Easter Island. Each concept became an opportunity to showcase ingenuity, creativity, and redefine the pride of being Chilean from an urban culture perspective.
Around 50 attendees participated in the event, which featured three prominent figures from the national scene: Martín Acertijo, 2020 national champion of the Red Bull Batalla de los Gallos; Jokker, 2022 national champion of the same competition; and Dj Azerbeats, a leading figure in the creation of instrumentals for battles.
After the event, Martín Acertijo expressed his appreciation for Marca Chile's invitation and highlighted the impact of this type of event on the international profile of the discipline. "We have been working for many years to position Chilean freestyle on the world stage. There is a lot of talent to export, and we also want this discipline to have its place as an important element of Chilean culture."
Along the same lines, Jokker emphasized how these gatherings strengthen cultural identity and make room for new generations within the scene. "It is said that Chile is the most rap-oriented country in the world, and gatherings like this give meaning to that expression, even more so when we bring together children and young people who are the future of the country."
For his part, Enzo Abbagliati, acting executive director of Marca Chile, highlighted the importance of creating opportunities to connect with citizens through new cultural expressions. "A country brand that achieves its purpose starts by being recognized and embraced by the society it represents. This inspiring activity allowed us to explore new ways of connecting Marca Chile with citizens. In this case, through freestyle, with rhymes that drew on the daily lives of the teenagers and young people who participated, highlighting positive attributes of who we are as a country, the Chile that we all create."
What is freestyle?
Freestyle is a discipline of verbal improvisation in which participants create rhymes on the spot, following musical metrics and structures. In Chile, it has established itself as an internationally recognized scene for its lyrical depth, use of irony, and a more reflective and narrative style.
