Rio Azul is a Bronx Hip Hop artist who had the opportunity to be an extra on Netflix’s “The Get Down” series.  If you haven’t seen “The Get Down”, the story is a fictional portrayal of the birth of Hip Hop in the Bronx.  It takes place in the late 1970’s, a difficult time in the Bronx’s history but also a time of immense creativity, growth and perseverance.  Rio Azul shared with us some of his thoughts on how the series went, along with how he felt being an extra on the set.

1) How has “The Get Down” affected you?

– Being a Bronx native, “The Get Down” spoke volumes to me. Although set in the 1970s, the messages were fit to relate to a contemporary audience all the same. The dream and hustle to “make it out of The Bronx” has been on my mind for quite a few years now, probably since I realized I had a talent for writing/rapping myself. I’ve always had a love/gift for writing and English. Language is how I conduct myself daily, constantly looking to expand my vocabulary and implement different words into my vernacular. This translated into the poetry and raps I would eventually write, eventually learning to bend words according to a certain cadence or excite the listener with some clever wordplay to make them rewind the track back for a second or third listen on what was a double entendre or slick metaphor. It’s much deeper than music though in that, along the way, there are many obstacles set to impede your progress whether it be money, family, friends or work, etc. Working on the set as an extra, I got to observe the intricacies of how every scene was shot, the continuity in all of the costumes that was needed and how adamant the team was in getting everything just write to retain that vintage feel and look. With that said, The Get Down vividly paints all of these various situations in a realistic way for the audience to understand and follow. The utilization of archived footage of old New York City in the 70s was an organic touch as well, especially because it added authenticity to the setting throughout each episode.

2) What did you like most(least) about the series?

4) How do you think the series will affect others living in the Bronx?

– Positively. The vibe “The Get Down” presents is that anything is possible in this life. Bronx greats like J.Lo, Big Pun (R.I.P), and Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor have all become successful across various occupations and put on a good name for our hometown. The Bronx is often times correlated with negativity, instead  how culturally impactful it has become internationally. We generally steer our own destiny, but sometimes get a little sprinkle of serendipity. It’s all a part of the plan and in focusing head on what you love to do and are passionate about, good things will come and success will tip in your favor. “The Get Down” reminds viewers how important community and a close core of friends and family are, but not without highlighting the will of oneself at the forefront. Nothing in our lives is perfect, so we must take what we have and mold it into what we want.