This is Phesto of from Souls of Mischief and this is my Tour Story…

In all honesty, there are so many moments on tour that I have a difficult time trying to narrow things down to just one or two that really stand out. This isn't some outlandish groupie story like I know most people want to hear but, in 2003 we did have a couple shows in Sao Paolo, Brazil…

None of us had ever been to Brazil before on our own and it was our first time traveling abroad as a whole crew, so we were all very excited to say the least. We all agreed that since we were making the long journey to this beautiful country it would almost be a crime to just do the shows and leave and go back home. So why not take the short flight to Rio de Janeiro and spend a few days, if not more.

Opio feat. Pep Love “Talk Dirty”

I think we stayed one extra day in Sao Paolo so Opio and Pep Love could do the “Talk Dirty” video and then we were off to Rio. First day we got there we took a tour up the mountainside in a trolley and arrived up at the top and there was the world famous Christ the Redeemer statue.

It was massive!

I mean, in pictures it looks big but when you're right next to it, it’s huge.

Later that day some of us took a trip to the Favelas, which are like shantytowns. That's a whole other story in itself. If you've seen the movie City of God that is exactly where we were. You’re not allowed there at all unless you know, and are with, someone of significance to the people. The entrance signs read NO POLICE in Brazilian-Portuguese. Some of us went down to the beach. That is also an experience you will never forget. Miami; Venice; you name it. They have nothing on Ipanema—your head will be on a swivel.

Souls of Mischief “Get the Girl, Grab the Money and Run”

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Brazil has a lot of poverty, and although the favelas are a good distance from the tourist-laden beach sides, the kids and young adults know that where there are tourists there is the almighty dollar. So we were walking along enjoying the beautiful view and one of the kids walks up to me and while pointing down at my shoe says, “Sheet, sheet, sheet.”

I look down at my shoe and there was bird crap on my brand new kicks. I'm thinking, just my luck, but I'm also relieved I didn't get it in the face or something. So a few minutes later another guy with a makeshift shoe-cleaning thingamajig comes up and asks to clean my shoe. I ask how much because I figured he was destitute and made a living anyway he could. I think he said four reals, which is pronounced, "hay-ice." I'm not sure if he said four, I just remember it was really expensive for a shoe clean, but I paid him anyway and kept it moving with a clean shoe looking up at the sky for more seagulls and where there next points of attack might be.

Souls of Mischief “Medication”

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Later that evening I was headed out to grab some food and drinks and again, another little kid comes up to me and asks for change. A few paces later another kid comes up to me and says, "Mister, sheet, sheet, sheet," pointing at my feet. So I looked down and, you know it, there it was bird "sheet" on my shoe again—this time on the right foot.

So, like clockwork, another one of the locals comes up to me and asks to clean my shoes. A sixth sense or something came over me and told me to look over my shoulder and I see a kid backpedaling looking guilty as hell and moving at that I-did-something-I-had-no-business-doing pace. When I looked at his hand he appeared to be holding a tube of something. That was the fake bird “sheet” they were squirting on my shoe.

At that moment I realized they get one little kid to come up on one side and distract you by asking for change. That's the bait for the real purse. While you’re focused on that little dude, another comes up on your blindside and squirts the fake poop on your kicks. Funny part was, when the kids noticed I had figured them out they got scared as hell and started pointing at each other deflecting the blame. It’s not the greatest feeling knowing you have been hoodwinked by a bunch of kids, but considering the circumstances I didn't feel so bad.

A large percentage of children in Brazil grow up in intense third world poverty without education or any other opportunities we are afforded and often times take for granted. I had to respect their guile and determination.

Souls of Mischief “Never No More”

Hey, it could’ve been worse. That same week one of us was nearly extorted by the crooked ass pigs and one of us had our chain snatched by some guy on a 10-speed bike, but I wouldn't trade my experience in Brazil for anything. Brasa!! —Phesto

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