Carlinho Som

Carlinhos Som came up in Rio de Janeiro in the early 1990s, putting together a band that included vocalist Anny Love. Their sound pulled from the local funk scene and the work of artists like Tim Maia and Jorge Ben Jor. In 1994, they released their debut album, which featured the track 'Ei Otário (part. Anny Love)'. That song caught on quickly across Brazil.

While the music found a wide audience, it also drew criticism from some quarters for its direct lyrics. The group maintained that their work spoke to life in the city's neighborhoods. In 1997, Carlinhos Som was arrested on a drug possession charge, an event that stirred public discussion but didn't stop the music from circulating. Another track from that period, 'Promete Me Amar', also became well-known among listeners.