Backrap

Backrap formed in 1988 in São Paulo's Capão Redondo neighborhood, a working-class area where friends DJ Hum, MC Jack, and MC Saci started making music together. Their name played on the words 'rap' and 'back,' suggesting a return to the streets. They released their first album in 1991, followed by others like 'Nação Hip Hop' in 1993 and 'Resistência' in 1999.

Their song 'Nas Ruas de São Paulo' became something of an anthem, speaking directly to the city's marginalized youth. The group's lyrics often dealt with social injustice, police brutality, and the daily realities of life in their community. This straightforward approach to storytelling in their music resonated with listeners who recognized their own experiences in the songs.

Backrap faced the practical difficulties common to many early hip-hop artists in Brazil, including limited resources and police harassment. Their music addressed these challenges without softening the edges. The group disbanded in the late 1990s, after which the members pursued individual projects within Brazil's hip-hop scene.