Produto do Meio

Produto do Meio formed in Rio de Janeiro with Zé Carlos, Rodrigo Lima, and Serginho Sapo. Their 1985 debut album 'Carne' included the track 'A Carne,' which drew attention for its explicit lyrics about violence and sexuality. Some listeners accused the song of misogyny, but the album still managed to sell around 100,000 copies.

Zé Carlos wrote lyrics that mixed street poetry with observations about poverty and life in Brazilian favelas. The band kept recording through the late 80s and 90s, putting out albums like 'Desgraça Total' and 'Barulho.' Other songs from that period include 'Já Amei Demais Então' and 'Perdidos No Oriente.'

That core trio of Carlos, Lima, and Sapo stayed together through most of the band's active years. Their music had a raw, visceral quality that didn't really soften over time, even as they tried different approaches on later records.