EMICIDA (from São Paulo/Brazil)
On Stage: 6
Melodic and rhythmically diverse, progressive and political while still spitting fire – Brazilian MCs refuse to let rap be mere entertainment, taking intriguing beats, clever lyrics, and a very live sound. And Emicida is without any doubts one of the top dogs of these rap movement, defining the new sound of hip-hop in Brazil. Dubbed by many as the Brazilian Jay Z, Emicida was born Leandro Roque de Oliveira to a poor family in North São Paulo and has elevated rap from the outskirts of Brazilian society to the mainstream, both at home and internationally. EMICIDA was invited to perform at the two majors music festivals of Brazil: Rock in Rio and SWU. After that, he won the Act of the Year award, from the MTV VMB Awards. Which is no wonder – Emicidas rhymes are outstanding because they liquefying into grooves, that juggled and mingled funk with Brazilian rhythms like forro and maracatu, incorporating all elements of Brazilian music but without forgetting socially-aware lyrics that speak for “the people.”
