MC Bola

MC Bola came up from the Complexo do Alemão favela in Rio de Janeiro, where he got into the local funk carioca scene. His 2017 single 'Ela É Top' broke through nationally with its simple, repetitive hook that became hard to escape.

He followed that with tracks like 'Positividade' featuring MC Magal and 'Focado,' keeping his sound rooted in that streetwise funk energy. The music often dealt with life in the favelas, as heard on songs like 'Vida do Crime' and 'Coitadinho.'

In 2018, he faced drug possession charges, which brought some public scrutiny. He later spoke about using that experience to talk more about social issues affecting marginalized communities.