Valdemar Vigário

Valdemar Vigário came up in the favela of Rocinha in Rio de Janeiro. He started performing on the streets and in local talent shows, eventually forming a group with Anderson Leonardo and Márcio da Costa in the early 1990s.

Their debut single 'A Barca da Vida' became an anthem for the urban poor in Brazil. The song's lyrics spoke directly to experiences of hardship and resilience in the favelas.

Some critics accused his music of glorifying crime, while others questioned whether he'd moved away from his roots. He kept making music that addressed social issues, releasing albums like 'Só Pra Quem É de Favela' and 'Voz do Gueto' through the late 1990s and early 2000s.