Byakuran

Byakuran came out of São Paulo in the early 2000s, a trio made up of Levi, Djonga, and Raillow. Their music spoke to Brazil's marginalized youth, giving them a voice through rap that felt immediate and grounded in their reality.

Their debut track, "Esse É o Melhor Rap do Levi," arrived in 2004 and became something of a classic. The song's title alone suggests a certain confidence, and it introduced listeners to Levi's direct storytelling style. They followed it with other tracks like "O Segundo Melhor Rap do Levi" and "Facção Yeager," building a catalog that felt specific to their corner of Brazilian hip-hop.

Levi handled most of the lyrics, painting pictures of urban life without much polish. Djonga produced the beats, giving the tracks their rhythmic backbone. Their work together had a raw quality that resonated, even as it drew criticism from some quarters for being too blunt about social issues and violence.