Rubinho Mesquita

Rubinho Mesquita was born in Rio de Janeiro in 1946. He started making music in the early 1970s, drawing from samba and bossa nova rhythms he'd grown up with, but his approach was rougher and more direct than what was common at the time.

In 1974, he released the song 'Quem Come Não É Viado,' which became a flashpoint in Brazilian culture. The title, using a homophobic slur in a defiant way, sparked arguments about prejudice and identity. Other tracks like 'Ta Chovendo Viadinho' and 'Cola Com o Rubinho' followed a similar pattern of blunt, provocative language set to rock and funk grooves.

He put out several albums through the late 1970s and early 1980s, including 'Rubinho Mesquita' in 1974, 'Pela Vida' in 1976, and 'Um Homem Feliz' in 1981. His recordings sometimes featured musicians like bassist Luizão Maia and drummer Robertinho Silva, but the focus remained on his own confrontational style.