RAP

Rap and Hip-Hop

Since 1988Where São Paulo, then Rio, Brasília and FortalezaSubgenres 3Artists 106

Brazilian hip-hop grew up in black dance parties and at São Paulo's São Bento metro station. Racionais MC's gave the genre its masterpiece in 1997; in the 2010s Emicida, Criolo and Djonga took rap to the centre of culture, and Matuê made trap the most-streamed sound among the young.

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If you like conscious hip-hop, boom bap or trap, Brazilian rap has direct equivalents.

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Subgenres

Rap nacional

Since 1988 · 88 artists

From Thaíde & DJ Hum and Racionais to Emicida, Criolo, Djonga and BK': chronicles of the periphery.

Racionais MC's Criolo Emicida Thaíde & DJ Hum Gabriel o Pensador Dina Di Marcelo D2 Negra Li Sabotage Filipe Ret Flora Matos Karol Conká Xamã Baco Exu do Blues Mano Brown Djonga Facção Central RZO+70

Brazilian trap

Since 2016 · 24 artists

Matuê and 30PRAUM (Teto, Wiu), Veigh, L7nnon, Orochi: hi-hats and autotune in Portuguese.

MC Poze do Rodo MC Cabelinho Matuê Filipe Ret Teto Veigh Oruam Sidoka L7nnon Orochi Azzy Wiu Borges Chefin Ebony Kayblack Kyan Leall+6

Drill

Since 2019 · 3 artists

The sliding beats of Chicago and London drill in Portuguese: Vandal in Bahia, Leall and L7nnon in Rio.

L7nnon Leall Vandal

Essential albums 27

1990
Holocausto Urbano
Racionais MC's
The group's debut, with "Pânico na Zona Sul".
1993
Gabriel o Pensador
Gabriel o Pensador
Debut, with "Tô Feliz (Matei o Presidente)" and "Lôraburra".
1997
Sobrevivendo no Inferno
Racionais MC's
The most important Brazilian rap album, with "Diário de um Detento".
2000
Rap É Compromisso
Sabotage
The only album released in his lifetime by the "Maestro do Canão".
2002
Nada Como um Dia Após o Outro Dia
Racionais MC's
A double album with "Negro Drama" and "Vida Loka".
2003
À Procura da Batida Perfeita
Marcelo D2
Samba and rap, produced by Mario Caldato Jr.
2004
Babylon by Gus Vol. 1: O Ano do Macaco
Black Alien
A cult classic of Rio rap.
2011
Nó na Orelha
Criolo
Rap, samba, afrobeat and reggae with "Não Existe Amor em SP".
2013
Batuk Freak
Karol Conká
Debut, with "Boa Noite".
2013
O Glorioso Retorno de Quem Nunca Esteve Aqui
Emicida
Studio debut, with "Levanta e Anda".
2014
Convoque Seu Buda
Criolo
Rap, samba and afrobeat after "Nó na Orelha".
2014
Cores & Valores
Racionais MC's
The group's return after twelve years.
2015
Sobre Crianças, Quadris, Pesadelos e Lições de Casa
Emicida
Recorded across Angola, Cape Verde and Brazil.
2016
Boogie Naipe
Mano Brown
The soul and funk solo album by Racionais' leader.
2017
Esú
Baco Exu do Blues
Debut by the Bahian rapper.
2017
Galanga Livre
Rincon Sapiência
Rap and Afro-Brazilian rhythms.
2017
Heresia
Djonga
Debut, the first of an album a year.
2018
Bluesman
Baco Exu do Blues
Rap and soul about Blackness; awarded at Cannes Lions with the short film "Bluesman".
2018
Gigantes
BK'
The album that established BK' in Rio rap.
2019
Abaixo de Zero: Hello Hell
Black Alien
Album of the year at the Prêmio Multishow.
2019
AmarElo
Emicida
Rap, samba and MPB in dialogue with Black history; a Netflix film.
2019
Ladrão
Djonga
Third album, one a year since "Heresia".
2020
Máquina do Tempo
Matuê
The trap album that broke debut records on Spotify Brazil.
2020
O Líder em Movimento
BK'
Rio rap with wide impact.
2022
Quantas Vezes Você Já Foi Amado?
Baco Exu do Blues
Rap about affection and mental health.
2023
Dos Prédios
Veigh
São Paulo trap at the top of the platforms.
2024
333
Matuê
Matuê's return, four years after "Máquina do Tempo".

Albums →

Artists

Rap and Hip-HopS

Racionais MC's

Band · 1988 · SP

Mano Brown, Ice Blue, Edi Rock and KL Jay; "Sobrevivendo no Inferno" (1997) is the most important Brazilian rap album.