In the case of baile funk, there aren't really essential recordings or seminal artists to speak of—many of the compilations are anonymous, and the reputations of the MCs and DJs generally don't extend beyond the favelas. One notable exception is DJ Marlboro, who is widely acknowledged as the godfather of the genre. He helped bring Miami bass to Brazil in the late 1980s, produced the first Portuguese rap LP, Funk Brasil, in 1989, and now serves as the music's leading DJ and unofficial historian.

Better known in America are baile funk's boosters. With Diplo's blessing, you can download the mixtapes that started the whole baile funk craze here. The London-based Brazilian DJ duo Tetine seems to fill the Diplo role in the U.K., with a weekly radio show dedicated to baile funk and related music, and a well-regarded comp called Slum Dunk Presents: Funk Carioca (Mr. Bongo Records). Rio Baile Funk: Favela Booty Beats (Essay), compiled by the German DJ Daniel, is also worth a listen, though it's a little more polite than the others. For a less curated experience, there's also a trove of Brazilian baile funk comps available online here.