Atitude Consciente

Atitude Consciente formed in Rio de Janeiro's favelas in 2004, with Alexandre Poesia and MC Pedrinho on vocals, DJ Zerb on turntables, and DJ Negro Leo handling percussion. Their music pulled from hip-hop, funk, and samba, but what gave it weight was how directly it spoke to the conditions they came from, poverty, inequality, the drug trade.

Their 2010 single '157 Boladão' became a breakout hit, topping charts and sparking national conversations about Brazil's drug laws. The song's lyrics criticized what they saw as arbitrary and racially biased enforcement, and it connected deeply with marginalized communities. Other tracks like 'Soldado 121' and 'Justiça e Liberdade' continued in that vein, addressing police brutality and the push for a better life.

Their straightforward approach sometimes put them at odds with authorities, who accused the group of promoting drug use or glorifying crime. But they kept making music that felt urgent and close to the ground, less about crafting anthems than about saying what needed saying.