Brazil latin hip-hop 2010s ▶ 762K subscribers

Criolo

Criolo, born Kleber Cavalcante Gomes and formerly known as Criolo Doido, is a Brazilian rapper, singer and songwriter from São Paulo. He co-founded the Rinha dos MCs freestyle events and gained wide attention with his 2011 album Nó na Orelha.

Origins

Raised in Grajaú on the southern edge of São Paulo by parents who migrated from Ceará, he began writing rap at 11 and entering rap contests in 1989. He released his debut album, Ainda Há Tempo, in 2006 and worked for years as an art teacher.

The sound

Rooted in rap, his music moves freely into samba, afrobeat, reggae and MPB, as heard on Nó na Orelha and the samba album Espiral de Ilusão. His lyrics portray life on the city's periphery with social criticism and tenderness.

Legacy

Nó na Orelha won Album of the Year at the 2011 MTV Video Music Brasil, and he has received several Latin Grammy nominations. At the 2026 Latin Grammys, Criolo, Amaro e Dino, with Amaro Freitas and Dino d'Santiago, was nominated for Best MPB/MAPB Album and "No Vento de Nós" for Best Portuguese Language Song.