ESL has released a music video for the ongoing Intel Extreme Masters Rio Major on its official Counter-Strike Twitter page, titled ‘Made of Loucura’.
It features UK CSGO and Valorant caster and rapper Harry ‘JustHarry’ Russell, as well as Brazilian rapper MMAK, and has been produced by Bruno Cunha and edited by ESL freelance editor and post-production person Janixs.
The music video also features pro CSGO players Boltz (of Imperial), FalleN (also of Imperial) and Naf (or Naffly, of Team Liquid).
JustHarry said it was awesome to work on the project, which you can see the full music video for, below:
JustHarry added: “Today – and this whole major really – has just been too good. MMAK and Bruno on the music side, the so unbelievably talented ESL content squad, Jani editing it all over 48 hours going big mode, the fans in the arena joining us. Everyone nailed it. What a special major.”
Rapper MMAK added: “Very happy to have been part of it, anyone who has watched me live or has already exchanged ideas knows that it was always a dream to be able to do something for the major, and this year, at the invitation of ESL, another dream came true!”
‘Loucura’ translates to ‘madness’ in English, with the song referencing ‘Made of Madness’ – a phrase used by ESL in its marketing of the IEM Rio Major.
In September 2022, ESL said tickets to the Rio Major sold out ‘in minutes’ and so the organiser decided to ‘unleash the full Major Madness and give you more days, more CSGO and more fans’, increasing the live audience experience from four to 12 days, changing the stage layout to a 360-degree centre stage and hosting a fan fest outside the Jeunesse Arena in Brazil.
“This might be the single highest quality side content we’ve ever seen in CSGO and I say that without hyperbole. Bravo, Harry.”
Mauisnake
The song was widely praised by the community. It is dropping on Spotify, and when asked if it’ll be coming to Apple Music, JustHarry said he hopes to get it on as many platforms as possible.
Caster Mauisnake said in a quote tweet: “This might be the single highest quality side content we’ve ever seen in CSGO and I say that without hyperbole. Bravo, Harry.”
ESL VP of product development, Carmac, added: “I had no idea I needed this in my life, but I’m so grateful it’s here!”
Esports journalist and personality Richard Lewis commented: “About time they started using my man JustHarry correctly. What a legend.”
Even the official CSGO Twitter account commented, with JustHarry asking Valve to make ‘Made of Loucura’ an in-game track.
It’s of course not the first time JustHarry has produced music, he’s made several songs over the years and has collaborated with others in the CSGO scene.
The Rio Major is currently entering its playoffs stage, and London-based Fnatic are one of the quarter-finalists. See more on Fnatic’s chances at the Rio Major here.
Speaking of Fnatic and music, yesterday Fnatic launched a lofi hip-hop music label inspired by the org’s esports history.
And this Sunday, a London viewing party for the IEM Rio 2022 final will take place at O2 Cineworld Greenwich.
For more on JustHarry, check out our interview below.
Further reading: A Deep Dive into the UK CSGO Scene and the Esports Journey of Harry ‘JustHarry’ Russell
Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
