Melodic and rhythmically diverse, progressive and political while still spitting fire – Brazilian MCs refuse to let rap be mere entertainment. Emicida, like his hip-hop partner Criolo, comes from the outskirts of Sao Paulo and adds his own outstanding socially-aware rhymes to grooves that juggle and mingle funk with Brazilian rhythms like forro and maracatu.

Over the last ten years Emicida has gone from freestyling in Sao Paulo’s underground battle scene, via making his own tapes and beats with a makeshift home set up, to viral success across Brazil, becoming the first Brazilian rapper to play Coachella, an appearance at Montreux Jazz, releasing a video with Neymar and composing tracks for Max Payne 3 and FIFA.

His recent album O Glorioso Retorno de Quem Nunca Esteve Aqui (The glorious return of who was never here) is a statement of where he is from and mixes genres like samba, soul and brazilian funk with rap,and lots of percussion. The album features collaborations with Rael, Pitty, MC Guime, Juçara Marçal, Fabiana Cozza, Quinteto em Branco e Preto and Wilson das Neves.

Support is from London based Hip Hop/ Afro Soul Duo Native Sun consisting of bilingual rapper Mohammed Yahya, born in Mozambique,  and singer-songwriter Sarina Leah born in London with Caribbean roots.  Also DJ Nyack (São Paulo) with MC Prankster (Trinidad & Tobago) playing a set of Brazilian & UK/US Hip Hop.