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Thai Flow shows her unapologetic personality through her "Savage" music video

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Her page shows her true self where she isn't afraid to stand up for her culture and express her opinions

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Bivolts video shows Brazilian dance styles and fashion

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Bivolt - Raspa Placa feat Duda Beat (Clipe Oficial)

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Bivolt - Raspa Placa feat Duda Beat (Clipe Oficial)

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Bivolt - Raspa Placa feat Duda Beat (Clipe Oficial)

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Art shows the culture and fashion of Brazil

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Street Art depicting a Brazilian Woman in Rio de Janeiro

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Street Art depicting a Brazilian Woman in Rio de Janeiro

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Flora shows her sense of style, her hobbies, what she does to promote what she believes in, and much more through her social media

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Karol Conka shares her life, expresses herself, and promotes her music through her social media account

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Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know.

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N.I.N.A.'s extremely expressive "Stephen King" music video

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Picture of Brazil's largest Favela, called "Rocinha"

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What Brazil's Favela or "slum" looks like

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What Brazil's Favela or "slum" looks like

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Linn da Quebrada - Oração (Clipe Oficial)

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Linn da Quebrada - Oração (Clipe Oficial)

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Linn da Quebrada - Oração (Clipe Oficial)

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Meet Karol Conka, the Badass Rapper Being Called Brazil's Answer to Beyoncé

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Meet Karol Conka, the Badass Rapper Being Called Brazil's Answer to Beyoncé

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Meet Karol Conka, the Badass Rapper Being Called Brazil's Answer to Beyoncé

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Karol Conká - Dilúvio (Clipe Oficial) | prod. Leo Justi

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Karol Conká - Dilúvio (Clipe Oficial) | prod. Leo Justi

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Karol Conká - Dilúvio (Clipe Oficial) | prod. Leo Justi

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Photo showcasing Brazil's modern fashion trends through female artists

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Photo showing how Brazilian female rappers aren't afraid to show their individuality though outfits and jewelry.

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Fashion in the Female Hip-Hop Industry of Brazil

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Fashion in the Female Hip-Hop Industry of Brazil

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Photo also shows that Brazilians express themselves through vibrant outfits and bold hairstyles

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Photo Showing Fashion through Artists out of Favela

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Photo Showing Fashion through Artists out of Favela

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One of Karol Conka's most popular singles

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Inside Brazil's Favelas and the Rise of the New Afro Hair Movement

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Inside Brazil's Favelas and the Rise of the New Afro Hair Movement

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Inside Brazil's Favelas and the Rise of the New Afro Hair Movement

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In our second episode of Beyond Beauty Grace meets a brave new generation of young black women challenging racial discrimination - redefining Sao Paulo's beauty ideals, through the Afro Hair Movement and reclaiming their cultural identity.

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"MC Dricka's "I don't know if you hate me or if you love me"

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MC Dricka discusses her passion for educating people on women's pleasures through a mostly male genre

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"Something to move your whole body to": An interview with funk MC, MC Dricka

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"Something to move your whole body to": An interview with funk MC, MC Dricka

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Brazilian funk is a musical rhythm mixing the American electronic funk of the 1980s with the most diverse influences of Brazilian music. Performed at wild parties, the scene is largely male dominated and many of the lyrics in songs are regarded as shockingly misogynistic. Despite this, various female funk MCs and DJs are emerging, reclaiming the genre and inspiring a new generation of independent Brazilian women. We talked to four of them to find out more about what funk means to them.

After our first interview in the series with Tasha and Tracie Okereke, next up is Sao Paulo-based MC Dricka. Described by many as the biggest female MC currently on the Brazilian funk scene, Dricka spoke to us about how the genre helped her overcome her shyness, singing about women's pleasure, and her wish for funk to become a more mainstream musical style. Read the full interview below, and also make sure to check out her recently released COLORS show.

COLORS: How would you describe Baile funk to someone who hasn't heard it before?

MC Dricka: Baile funks-the name of both the musical genre and the parties where it is played-are places where you can be yourself. You can meet a lot of different types of people at these parties because they are free to attend. They're places for happiness and for dancing. Dancing is what funk is all about.

COLORS: Can you remember the first time you heard funk or went to a Baile funk party? What was the experience like?

MCD: I was introduced to funk by some school friends. It amazed me. I loved the beat and how it made me want to move. Funk is different to hip-hop. Hip-hop only makes you want to move your head and arms, whereas funk is something you move your whole body to. I never used to like dancing because I'm quite a shy person. This all changed when I started listening to funk.

COLORS: When did you decide to make your own funk music?

MCD: There's a holiday in Brazil on 12th October called the day of the children. One year during this celebration, I went to an event in my community where a lot of MCs were performing. I thought it was amazing, especially when I realised that most of the singers were around the same age as me. I decided to go backstage to meet them. When we got talking, they invited me to be part of Liga do Funk, an association in Sao Paulo giving free music classes and focusing on artistic development. This was where I learnt how to write music, how to sing, and how to perform on a stage. This was the beginning of the MC Dricka everyone knows today.

COLORS: Funk is often referred to as a male dominated music scene. Were there many female MCs that inspired you when you started out?

MCD: There were a few that were becoming big, like LUDMILLA. There was also Tati Quebra Barraco, MC Carol, and MC Marcelly. These women were my reference.

"Male funk artists sing about their own pleasures... I sing about women's pleasures and what they like to do."

COLORS: Funk is known for many of its lyrics being very sexist and objectifying towards women. What is your experience of this? How do you approach the lyrics in your own music?

MCD: Male funk artists sing about their own pleasures, whereas I sing about women's pleasures and what they like to do. But I don't just talk about pleasure: I also sing about people having the freedom to do and be what they want.

COLORS: Do you have any favourite lyrics from your songs that are a good example of this? Or that you particularly like to sing?

MCD: I have one track called 'Charme que é da hora', which is all about the fact you can be proud to be yourself. There's also 'Vai fazer Carão'. It kind of tells the story of seeing a guy at a party and telling him that, even if he's angry about it or doesn't like it, you're never going to fuck him again.

COLORS: What message do you want to send with your music? Do you want to be a role model for other women and girls in Brazil?

MCD: The resounding message in all of my music is that you should be free to do whatever you want. You've got big dreams? Why not? Keep dreaming! You don't have to be in any situation that you don't want to be in. My music is about saying yes when you want to and saying no when you want to. I also talk a lot about being a single mother: a lot of girls here in Brazil are. I'm not myself at the moment, but I feel like I'm kind of in training: my girlfriend has a three-year-old son called Leonardo, and I used to look after my brothers a lot too.

COLORS: You're now one of the biggest female MCs in the funk scene. Did you struggle to get your voice heard at first?

MCD: In the beginning it felt like the market's doors were closed to me. They didn't recognise me as a funk face because I'm a Black, LGBTQIA+ woman from the favela. I'm completely different to the other big funk artists who are usually very white and normative. I wasn't completely alone-I had friends supporting me and helping me to continue and keep fighting-but I was very lonely. At the same time, this period of time was very valuable. Everything I've experienced, and every choice I've had to make has taught me so much. I was my own manager for two years which was a big learning curve. Now I have another manager which I'm super happy about.

MC DRICKA - GADINHO DE FAZ TEMPO | A COLORS SHOW

MC DRICKA - GADINHO DE FAZ TEMPO | A COLORS SHOW

AS WELL AS SPEAKING TO US FOR THIS EDITORIAL ARTICLE, MC DRICKA ALSO RECORDED HER VERY OWN COLORS SHOW. WATCH HER PERFORMANCE OF HER TRACK 'GADINHO DE FAZ TEMPO' ABOVE OR CHECK IT OUT ON YOUTUBE.

"There's space for everyone in funk... it doesn't make sense to me that bigger MCs don't encourage mid-career or emerging artists."

COLORS: Talking of support, are women in the baile funk scene very supportive of each other?

MCD: Not really. I'm pretty young and fresh on the scene: I only exploded around four years ago. I don't really understand why other women in the industry weren't very welcoming. Sometimes people invite other artists to join them on a track for a feat. or to do a collaboration, which is nice but it's quite rare. It's completely different in the men's scene. when a male artist sees a new young MC appear they are very quick to invite them to their concerts and to ask them if they want to collaborate.

COLORS: Perhaps because the women have worked so hard to get where they are, and because they know there are only very few female MCs on the scene, they're worried that someone is going to take their place in the spotlight?

MCD: Big American artists like Cardi B and Nicki Minaj have their differences, but they still do loads of collaborations. Why does it have to be any different here in Brazil? I think that there's space for everyone in funk. it doesn't make sense to me that bigger MCs don't encourage mid-career or emerging artists.

COLORS: Are there any specific female artists you'd like to collaborate with?

MCD: Nikki Minaj and Beyoncé for sure! In terms of Brazilian artists, I'd love to work with Anitta. She's opening doors and bringing funk music to an international audience. She's also incredibly professional and manages her own career. I find that very inspiring. One male artist I'd like to work with is Matuê. He's a rapper and is bringing a really fresh sound to Brazilian music.

COLORS: Do you have any new projects coming up in the near future that you're excited about?

MCD: I'm actually beginning to branch out and have started to make trap music. I've been working with Yunk Vino on a trap single, and I want to bring out some more tracks in the future. I love trap beats. I used to sing rap, which is quite similar in style. I'm also working on a film project with my label that I want to release next year. It's called 'Rainha dos Fluxos', which means "queen of the flows." It's going to be a documentary series about my life and the funk scene. I want it to be free to watch but I'm not sure how it will work yet.

COLORS: What are your hopes for the future? For yourself and the funk scene in general?

MCD: I want funk to become more mainstream and recognised in the music industry, for it to be another genre just like pop, blues, or jazz. At the moment it feels like it's marginalised. I hope that all funk artists will have the opportunity to build massive careers for themselves, just like other musicians.

MC Dricka is a Brazilian funk MC currently based in Sao Paulo. Make sure you watch her COLORS show on our YouTube channel, or follow her on Instagram or Spotify to stay up to date with her work.

This interview was published as part of a series on female MCs and DJs in the Brazilian funk scene. Read the first interview with Sao Paulo-based twins and MCs Tasha and Tracie Okereke here. You can also discover more of COLORS' Brazil coverage on our editorial homepage, such as this interview with Erika Hilton, the first transgender councilor to be elected by the city of Sao Paulo in 2020.

Text: Emily May and Rodrigo Guima
Photography: COLORS and Augusto Wyss

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"Something to move your whole body to": An interview with funk MC, MC Dricka

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Brazilian funk is a musical rhythm mixing the American electronic funk of the 1980s with the most diverse influences of Brazilian music. Performed at wild parties, the scene is largely male dominated and many of the lyrics in songs are regarded as shockingly misogynistic.

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Detailed Review that gives more background on Tasha and Tracie and how they're able to thrive in a male dominated field

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"Boss women": An interview with funk MCs Tasha and Tracie Okereke

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"Boss women": An interview with funk MCs Tasha and Tracie Okereke

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"Boss women": An interview with funk MCs Tasha and Tracie Okereke

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All COLORS, no genres. COLORS is a unique aesthetic music platform with diverse and exceptional artists from all around the globe.

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Projota's "The Man Who Doesn't" Music Video

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Projota - O Homem Que Não Tinha Nada (Part. Negra Li) - Videoclipe Oficial

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Projota - O Homem Que Não Tinha Nada (Part. Negra Li) - Videoclipe Oficial

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Projota - O Homem Que Não Tinha Nada part. Negra li - Videoclipe Oficial

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Karol de Souza sings her song, "In a Good way" Live 

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Karol de Souza em "No caminho do bem" no Estúdio Showlivre 2014

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Karol de Souza em "No caminho do bem" no Estúdio Showlivre 2014

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Karol de Souza em "No caminho do bem" no Estúdio Showlivre 2014

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Flora Matos shares her "How to do" lyric video

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Interview on Brazilian female influencers and rappers

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Meet Brazilian models, activists and a feminist rapper fighting sexual harassment

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Meet Brazilian models, activists and a feminist rapper fighting sexual harassment

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Meet Brazilian models, activists and a feminist rapper fighting sexual harassment

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Beyond Beauty with Grace Neutral - Series two: Brazil. Part three: Meet Brazilian models, activists and a feminist rapper fighting sexual harassment. In our final episode of Beyond Beauty, Grace Neutral meets the Brazilian women fighting for expression within challenging surroundings by attending a gig of female rapper Lay, she meets the individuals leading the charge against male objectification, revolutionising beauty norms in the process.

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Photo of Brazil and it's regions of differing culture 

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Photo of Brazil and it's regions of differing culture 

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Video Interview on Pearls Negras Female Group

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Female hip hop group Pearls Negras rap about life in a Brazilian slum

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Female hip hop group Pearls Negras rap about life in a Brazilian slum

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Female hip hop group Pearls Negras rap about life in a Brazilian slum

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Beautifully depicted artists on Brazil's walls

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Queens of Hip-Hop Street Mural in Brazil

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Queens of Hip-Hop Street Mural in Brazil

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The twins' album incorporates themes of female empowerment

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Tasha and Tracie Okereke- Spotify Album Directoria 

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Tasha and Tracie Okereke- Spotify Album Directoria 

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"Ligação", Soffia's newest single released in 2021

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Documentary all about "Funk Carioca" also known as "Favela Funk," a specific Brazilian Hip-Hop style

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Inside the Mind of Favela Funk | Brazilian Hip Hop Culture Documentary

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Inside the Mind of Favela Funk | Brazilian Hip Hop Culture Documentary

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Inside the Mind of Favela Funk | Brazilian Hip Hop Culture Documentary

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Backstage interview of Linn da Quebrada, a famous Brazilian rapper.  Gives the viewer a feel for her character and how she embraces her Brazilian culture.

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News story/video interviewing MC Soffia and her reasoning for why she writes and makes music

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MC Soffia: The Brazilian teenager rapping against racism

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MC Soffia: The Brazilian teenager rapping against racism

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Sixteen-year-old rapper MC Soffia rose to fame when she was just 12, singing at the opening ceremony of the 2016 Rio Olympics. She raps about black pride, female empowerment and everyday racism. Following the global reaction to the Black Lives Matter movement, she spoke to BBC My World about racism in Brazil and how she uses her songs to confront it.

Produced by Hannah Gelbart, Cordelia Hemming and Camilla Costa

Edited by Hannah Gelbart
BBC My World is a news service for teenagers around the world, brought to you by executive producers Angelina Jolie and the BBC World Service. You can watch more on BBC My World's YouTube channel

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MC Soffia: The Brazilian teenager rapping against racism

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Sixteen-year-old rapper MC Soffia rose to fame when she was just 12, singing at the opening ceremony of the 2016 Rio Olympics. She raps about black pride, female empowerment and everyday racism. Following the global reaction to the Black Lives Matter movement, she spoke to BBC My World about racism in Brazil and how she uses her songs to confront it.

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Article showcasing more influential Brazilian artists

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Meet the Women Bringing Brazilian Grime and Drill to New Heights

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Meet the Women Bringing Brazilian Grime and Drill to New Heights

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Meet the Women Bringing Brazilian Grime and Drill to New Heights

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From N.I.N.A. to Thai Flow, we highlight some of the women using Brazilian grime and drill for survival, affirmation, and revolt.

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Article with more about Linn da Quebrada

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Brazilian rapper Linn da Quebrada is a force of nature

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Brazilian rapper Linn da Quebrada is a force of nature

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Brazilian rapper Linn da Quebrada is a force of nature

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We go backstage with the captivating Brazilian artist in a new film directed by Valter Carvalho

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Article about Pearls Negras Female Group

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Female hip hop group Pearls Negras rap about life in a Brazilian slum

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Three Brazilian teenagers who grew up in one of Rio de Janeiro’s favelas are garnering global acclaim. They originate from Rio’s Vidigal favela, a slum famous for its breathtaking view of the city.…

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13 Brazilian Female Rappers Who are Famous in the World

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Going international! Meet the 13 most listened to Brazilian female rappers in the world. Check out here All the important details about them.

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13 Brazilian Female Rappers Who are Famous in the World

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Hip-Hop in the U.S. has been part conscious rejection of oppressive institutions, and part self-loving cultural bops. In Brazil, rap takes up a similar space in the music culture. Brazilian hip-hop is known for its political messaging from calling out race inequality to brazenly rejecting anti-LGBTQ sentiment.

With influences from American Hip Hop but also the numerous Brazilian genres of music, Rio and Sao Paolo are considered the birthplace of Brazilian hip hop. But artists from other cities especially more indigenous areas have garnered recent success in the Brazilian rap world.

Female emcees specifically speak on the social issues of their time, history and environment all while mixing the beautiful genres and sub-genres of Brazilian music.

This is our list of 5 Brazilian Female hip hop artists you should know.

Flora Matos

No Brazilian female hip hop artist list would be complete without Flora Matos. Resident emcee Flora Matos has had a long career in Hip Hop. With only 2 full projects and ongoing features, Flora Matos still captivates audiences with her music.

In a country where hate crimes against LGBTQ people, the queer woman is brave to include lyrics about same-sex love and attraction in her music. In the song "Perdendo O Juízo" or "Losing my Judgment," Matos brags about captivating the love and attention of a woman.

Flora Matos is also an art and creative director. Fans constantly are asking the artist when she will release another album. Flora recently posted a video of her producing music on her art Instagram.

Karol Conká

Another female rapper to know from Brasilia is Karol Conká.

Conká is also known for her acting and modeling careers. She's an outspoken activist, feminist and recently came out as bisexual.

Her music often reflects women's empowerment, such as her song "Lalá" which highlights female sexuality.

Conká told Afropunk in 2015,

"Music for me is a kind of resistance to many forms of prejudice that I have suffered in life [for] being black, female, and poor."

Karol Conká's music specifically seeks to empower and provide representation as well as inspiration to Black women in Brasil, much like Lauryn Hill did for Conká's own growth as an artist.

"I'm fighting against low self-esteem and pessimism and I want to bring joy and happiness through my lyrics."

Negra Li

Known for her role the lead actresses in the 2006 musical drama film Antônia, Negra Li has been releasing music with an emphasis on uplifting afro-centric messaging and speaking out against racial injustice.

Her latest single "Brasilândia" calls out the appropriation of Black culture and hip hop culture by fake artists there for the clout. She emphasizes that there's an important distinction between Vanilla Ice and Ice Cube.

So don't confuse Vanilla Ice with Ice Cube

Então não confunde Vanilla Ice com Ice Cube

She also likens herself to Lauryn Hill. Others often compare Negra Li to Solange. Negra Li is also known for featuring in Akon's "Beautiful" video.

Rimas & Melodias

Rap and R&B collective Rimas & Melodias (which accurately translates to Rhymes and Melodies) are a relatively young group.

The collective has released several tracks as well as older clips of them in a cypher. With little knowledge of the language, the flow and chemistry among the seven members are seamless.

Tássia Reis, Drik Barbosa, Tatiana Bispo, Karol de Souza, Stefanie, Alt Niss, and Mayra Maldjian were already successful solo rappers in their own right before forming the collective.

Their first release "Origens" was in 2017 and remains their most-watched video at 1.1 million views on YouTube. The goal of "Origens" was to establish the musical origins of every member through six verses while emphasizing their spiritual and ancestral origins.

Brisa Flow

Brisa Flow, the rapper from Minas Gerais, is the daughter of Chilean parents who came to Brazil fleeing the Pinochet Dictatorship.

Her music focuses on personal and larger themes, from romance to feminism to regionalism. She moved to Sao Paolo to pursue her music career and released her first solo album in 2016 called Newen.

Her latest album, "Selvagem Como O Vento" or "Wild like the Wind" speaks from and explores the perspective of an indigenous Latin woman in the urban context. The project mixes hip hop, indigenous Brazilian music, and R&B.

She also speaks on being a mother in her new album, referring to motherhood and giving birth as a way to resist oppression and reject the negative views of mothers.

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Bump Brazilian Rap: 5 Brazilian Hip-Hop artists you should know

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Hip-Hop in the U.S. has been part conscious rejection of oppressive institutions, and part self-loving cultural bops. In Brazil, rap takes up a similar space in the music culture. Brazilian hip-hop is known for its political messaging from calling out race inequality to brazenly rejecting anti-LGBTQ sentiment.

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By Beatriz Miranda, AFROPUNK Contributor

How The Badass Women from Brazil's Urban Black Music Are Breaking Taboos and Standing at the Center of the Feminist Debate

Women understand other women's struggle until the economic, cultural, racial, sexual and ethnical boundaries abruptly tear us apart. At the end of the day, we are the only ones who actually know where we come from.

As a mixed, Brazilian, middle-class, cis woman, I'll never really get the dimension of what poor, black, peripheral women in my country have been through. At the end of the day, they are the only ones who actually know where they come from.

On the other hand, it does not require more than some lucidity to know that femicide, racism, social exclusion, hypersexualization, objectification, loneliness and domestic violence knocks this social group way, way harder. And it has been like this for at least five centuries.

I will, unfortunately, never get to the core of what poor, black, peripheral Brazilian women have been through. Some of them, however, have been sharing a little from their reality through art, the most powerful thing humans have ever created.

The way black female rappers and funk singers have been addressing highly critical issues of black feminism in the last five years is an unprecedented game changer and paradigm-breaker in Brazil's music culture.

Forget Simone de Beauvoir: it is time for black women from Brazil's urban music scene to be (literally) listened to. Singers like Karol Conka, Yzalu, Luana Hansen, Elza Soares, MC Carol and MC Soffia became real badass influencers, even in academic debates.

The power of "Mulheres Negras" (Black Women) could hardly be measured in 2012, when Yzalu released this song. "At that time, it felt like touching a sensitive wound, no one wanted to shed light on this subject", says Yzalu.

Physically disabled, the rapper from São Paulo shouts out about black women's resistance and denounces how fucked up the remaining inequalities from the time of slavery in the country are - especially against these women. "We have survived through our absence in soap operas and in the TV ads/ The system can make me a housemaid/ But it cannot make me think like a slave", asserts the song.

Because the gender debate was not so mainstream in Brazil in 2012, "Mulheres Negras" soon became a reference, even in schools and universities. "This work made the peripheral people embrace feminism, and it positively influenced the way mainstream media sees the gender debate nowadays", states Yzalu.

If one has ever thought it requires sophisticated concepts and well-grounded theories to problematize gender roles, MC Carol, from Rio de Janeiro, will absolutely destroy this scholar mindset. Her message is as simple and sharp as "My boyfriend washes my underwear and if he is full of bullshit I send him to the kitchen".

The fact that MC Carol was first told about feminism last year by her entrepreneur does not make the 23 year-old singer embarrassed. At all. On the contrary, she has always been a feminist, as she declares herself. The favela-born rapper has no doubts that her songs have always been about female empowerment and freedom.

By the way, it is not news that we have not been getting man's respect and attention for female pleasure. We just cannot stand repeating the obvious anymore, and singer Karol Conka seems to have perfectly translated it.

"They talk too much/ Pretend to know how to do it/It is almost hilarious/ He barely knows the difference between a clitoris and an ovary", complains Karol Conka in the song "Lala".

Released only three months ago, "Lala" - the onomatopoeic word for when one licks a woman - is a repudiation lyric against the sexist repression of female pleasure, or a sexual liberation anthem by a 30 year-old self-confident woman.

With a raw message, "Lala" targets a "delicate" topic that people still feel embarrassed to discuss. Conka says her pussy gets dry when macho men don't know how to do 'it', and the way she owns her words has been making many guys feel awkward, offended or bewildered. And,that's just a little of what a badass black feminist attitude is capable of.

For Elza Soares, being a badass black feminist just came naturally, especially after the release of "Mulher do Fim do Mundo" (The End of the World's Woman, 2015), one of the most soulful and impactful albums of the last two years.

Owner of a rasping, goose-bump inducing voice, the eighty year-old singer means it when she sings "you will regret to have beat me" at "Maria da Vila Matilde" (Maria from the Matilde Village), one of the album's best songs, which refers to domestic violence against women in Brazil.

Those who still believe that "feminism" is a subject for grown-ups have probably never heard the rhetoric of Mc Soffia, a 13 year-old rapper who learned about black female empowerment with nobody less than her mother.

"In my songs, I talk about sexism and racism, but also that boys and girls should be free to play with what they want, to be what they want", explains Soffia, who performed at the Rio 2016 Olympics opening concert with Karol Conka.

In "Menina Pretinha" (Black Girl), Soffia affirms she prefers her African "Makena" to the American Barbie doll. "Black girl/ Exotic is not beautiful/ You are not cute/You are a queen", says the rap, also used in schools.

When it comes to the gender issue in the hip hop industry, the young singer is as critical and conscious as all of the rappers mentioned above:

"It is always a man who makes the beat, the DJs are mostly men, the ones who record, mix and master the audio are men... hip hop is sexist" argues Soffia, who also sings about an Ethiopian Rastafari Rapunzel.

If being a poor, black, peripheral woman in Brazil' is hard, being lesbian on top of that is another step backwards in terms of social rights. Luana Hansen knows that. "I've never been supported by the hip hop movement in Brazil, even being part of it for over 17 years now. It actually only tries to make me invisible", she opens up.

Luana Hansen: Photo by Renan Perobelli

Invisible, however, is something Hansen could not be even if she tried: having participated in Cuba's First Feminist Rap Festival and won hip hop music awards, the 35 year-old rapper from São Paulo stands at the front of the line for the legalization of abortion in Brazil (still a pretty controversial topic, especially with the strengthening of Evangelical parties in congress).

At "Ventre Livre de Fato" (Truly Free Womb), Hansen spits on the face of a hypocritical society that kills so many women every year due to illegal abortion procedures: "Unsafe, done in a clandestine way/Wake up Brazil, this is called slaughtering".

One of Luana's most famous songs, "Flor de Mulher (Woman Flower) is the best reply a woman could give to Emicida's "Trepadeira", a controversial rap released in 2013 saying that "trepadeira" women (a.k.a. women who enjoy sex) deserve some drubbing. "Living in a sexist and patriarchal system/ Where spanking a woman is a natural thing/ The housewife, the double shift/ She is always oppressed, devalued/ Until when will I be invisible? / Every five minutes, a woman is assaulted", denounces Hansen.

It's normal for these lyrics to make you feel uncomfortable. After all, there is nothing comfortable in being reminded of the ridiculous dimension of oppression against black peripheral women. At the same time, it is inspiring how both 13 year-old MC Soffia and 80 year-old Elza Soares teach us about Brazil's social context in a way that no PhD professor can.

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The badass women from Brazil's Black music scene, breaking taboos & proud feminists - AFROPUNK

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By Beatriz Miranda, AFROPUNK Contributor How The Badass Women from Brazil's Urban Black Music Are Breaking Taboos and Standing at the Center of the Feminist Debate Women understand other women's struggle until the economic, cultural, racial, sexual and ethnical boundaries abruptly tear us apart. At the end of the day, we are the only ones [...]

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Brazilian Feminist Rap- Changing the Game and Winning While at it- INDIE Magazine 

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You don't require precise fluency in Portugese to understand them. Their soulful and upbeat lyrics and undying spirit would affect anyway.

Meet the rising scene in Brazil, Rap Feminino. South America has never shied away from the partying culture anyway; but what was missing this whole time was a voice. As a country that has its women, LGBT and Brazil-African communities dealing with issues of racism, violence, politics and endless objectification, Brazil's new crop of young, motivated feminist rappers are speaking up.

Showcasing the less than bright and happy aspects of the country, starting from major cities and destinations like Rio De Janeiro & Sao Paolo to tiny favelas in Bahia, Rap Brasilero's latest chapter is being written by women who refuse to be suppressed under the norms.

In a culture where women are sexualised but not given the rights to expressing their sexuality or feel uncomfortable walking the streets with their naturally curly hair, the question rises above the beauty, exotification and music. What does it take to be a woman of colour (or not) who's in control of her life while the patriarchy and some serious colonial hangover is pulling you down?

Here are three completely different Brazilian artists to get inspired from:

Hailing from Curitaba, Panana in Brazil, the 32-year-old rapper is all about celebrating her african roots and rebelling against the discrimination in the hip hop world of Brazil. While male rappers get more coverage and pay, Karol along with friend and fellow rapper Livia Cruz, are releasing their first album collaborating with record label Nave Beatz. Karol's take on Brazilian rap in the West is that it's classified as 'exotic' instead of being appreciated as honest art in itself. With beauty ideals to break and norms to change, Karol has dreams of travelling to Paris, New York and Tokyo with her ideal collaboration aimed at Korean MCs.

Lay is the young girl about town who reinvents. Her music talks about girl power, society and the 'no fucks given' philosophy. The empowered rapper from Osasco is all about visual experimentation and a signature avant-garde style. Inspired by Riot Grrrls, Lay's style and music is all about the future of Brazil and a rap culture world where women obviously rule. An identity to remember, beats and bops that get to your head (regardless of whether you understand the language) and a force to be reckoned with. The artist has just started revolutionising how the male dominated community of Rap Latino/Brasilero is turned into a place for the free spirited woman who has something to say (this time, it's with a book).

This talented spirit, hailing from big city Sao Paolo keeps her music raw and real, talking about the city life, Brazil and relationships. Alt has this killer style that makes you believe what she preaches. Her approach to music and fashion is global, but only if you pay close attention as a lot of these elements come from her afro-cultural background. Taking everyone back to the 90s when capitalism polluted the world a little less, Alt Niss is the babe who makes Brazilian rap and fashion more than just 'exotic' and 'samba worthy'.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BP3xyyDBbz1/?taken-by=altniss

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLNeo7whoeL/?taken-by=altniss
Featured Image via @laydirty

in "FASHION"

in "CULTURE"

in "FASHION"

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BRAZILIAN FEMINIST RAP: CHANGING THE GAME AND WINNING WHILE AT IT - INDIE Magazine

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You don't require precise fluency in Portugese to understand them. Their soulful and upbeat lyrics and undying spirit would affect anyway. Meet the rising scene in Brazil, Rap Feminino. South America has never shied away from the partying culture anyway; but what was missing this whole time was a voice.