Leozin MC

Leozin MC, born José Leozino Oliveira, came up in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro. His music drew from both American hip-hop and Brazilian funk, and his debut album 'Etnia' arrived in 1998. The 2003 follow-up shared its name with the track 'Chega de Falar de Ice,' which became widely known.

His lyrics often dealt with the realities of life in those neighborhoods, touching on violence and economic hardship. Songs like 'Medo' and 'Alma' carried that personal, sometimes confrontational tone. That directness occasionally put him at odds with authorities and conservative critics.

In 2008, Leozin MC was arrested on drug possession charges, an event that fed into broader conversations about drug policy in Brazil at the time. He kept recording through it, working with collaborators like Dudu on tracks such as 'Tudo Acaba' and 'Meu Ice Derreteu.'