MC Matheus Zo

MC Matheus Zo came up in Rio's Complexo do Chapadão, where he started making music as a way to get through the tougher parts of life there. He listened to funk carioca artists like MC Marcinho and eventually began writing his own material, which often touched on the realities of growing up in the favelas.

His track 'Polo da Lacoste' took off in 2022, racking up millions of views and becoming one of those songs that just seemed to be everywhere. The music has that familiar funk carioca bounce, but there's a bit of hip-hop and pop in the mix too, which gives it a slightly different feel.

Some of his other songs, like 'A Cara Dela' from 2019, have drawn criticism for their subject matter, with people arguing over whether they're commenting on social problems or just glorifying them. Matheus Zo has said he's trying to talk about the conditions that lead to violence, not celebrate it, but the debate around his lyrics hasn't really quieted down.