Buzz, buzz, buzz… your phone lights up with 20 missed calls. That is exactly the scene Baco Exu do Blues paints in “20 Ligações”. Over a smooth, soulful beat, the Bahian rapper turns a simple ringtone into a tug-of-war between love and self-love. He adores the person on the other end of the line, yet he refuses to pick up if it means sacrificing his identity. When he repeats “Não sou o melhor / Mas amo meu jeito de ser,” he is celebrating imperfect authenticity in the face of pressure to change.
Baco flips back and forth between tenderness and rebellion, showing how longing can drive us to “fazer loucuras” while also reminding us to protect our peace. The city might “fear” him, but his real struggle is internal: balancing deep affection with the need for boundaries. In the end, “20 Ligações” becomes an anthem for anyone who has ever hit decline on a call so they could stay true to themselves.