Tag: Brazilian Funk

12 Artists, 6 Countries, Endless Talent: Meet the RADAR Latin America Class of 2024

May 9, 2024

From reggaeton to Música Mexicana, Latin artists are reshaping the rhythm of global music. Recent years have seen the emergence of groundbreaking talent from cultural hot spots like Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, and Puerto Rico—and at their heels are more rising stars, ready to take the music to even greater heights.

Since 2020, Spotify has helped artists across the region chart their paths to stardom through RADAR, our global program to support emerging talent. Previous editions of the program have featured Latin hitmakers like Peso Pluma, Blessd, Ovy On The Drums, and Maria Becerra. Today, these power players aren’t just breaking records on Spotify—they’re breaking down barriers and bringing their music to a global audience.

Now we’re launching the RADAR Latin America class of 2024. Featuring 12 artists, the class represents Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, and Argentina. These artists reflect the region’s rich tapestry of styles and genres, including Argentine cuarteto, Música Mexicana, Brazilian funk, and reggaetón Mexa, as well as sounds like pop, hip-hop, rock, and R&B.

As part of the program, RADAR artists receive Spotify support through a dedicated playlist and special editorial placement. Additionally, this year, Spotify is teaming up with Meta to provide the class with personalized guidance, empowering them to create effective social strategies and enhance their online presence. This will be essential for expanding the artists’ reach and engagement on digital platforms.

Spotify is also partnering with the artist-fan community platform sesh to offer mentorship to each artist. Through sesh, which helps artists forge deeper connections with their listeners, they will build custom strategies for greater growth and retention of their fan bases.

Keep reading to get to know these rising stars.

RADAR Mexico

CHOCA

On Spotify, reggaetón Mexa has grown over 120% in its home country in the past year alone. Hailing from Mexico City, CHOCA is ready to take the genre even further. The artist launched her music career in 2021 with the release of her first single, “Bluntsito,” and has continued to fine-tune her flow, as evidenced by her latest single, “Bebe Ricota.”

Delilah

The young Música Mexicana artist Delilah has made a name for herself in corridos tumbados, a subgenre of Mexican corridos. She was the first female singer to join Natanael Cano’s record label, Los CT, and dropped her first single under the label, “Amor Perdido,” earlier this year.

The Warning

The Monterrey-based rock band The Warning is composed of three sisters: Dany, Pau, and Ale Villarreal. The group initially made waves with a series of independent releases, paving the way for their 2022 album ERROR. They have since graced stages alongside rock legends like Muse, Foo Fighters, and Guns N’ Roses.

Stream our RADAR México playlist to hear the country’s next wave artists to watch.

RADAR Brazil

Os Garotin

Rio de Janeiro-based band Os Garotin was formed by Anchietx, Leo Guima, and Cupertino. The three friends (and solo artists) have come together to blend Brazilian soul, hip-hop, and pop into a sound they describe as danceable R&B. The trio first gained attention in 2023 with their debut EP, Só Vem, and are currently preparing to release their debut album, OS GAROTIN DE SÃO GONÇALO.

MC NAHARA

MC NAHARA has emerged as one of the main female voices of Brazilian funk, with several million followers on social media. Most recently, she featured Brazilian funk mainstay Djonga on her track “Mexeu com a Mente,” while collaborations with rapper MC Saci and producer Wc no Beat are on the horizon.

Xamuel

Boasting more than 4.5 million followers on social media, Xamuel is a young Brazilian artist from Rio Grande do Sul who got his start in the region’s battle rap scene. After footage of one of his battle raps went viral in 2022, Xamuel developed the hit into his breakout single “Alguém Conseguiu Entender?” which he followed up with his major label debut single “Sozinho.”

Dive into our RADAR Brasil playlist to discover more emerging talent.

RADAR Andinos

Susana Cala

Susana Cala is a singer-songwriter from Bogotá, Colombia. After composing songs for renowned Latin artists such as Morat, Andrés Cepeda, Sebastián Yatra, and Ximena Sariñana, she launched her own career as a pop artist in 2021. She describes her sound as bedroom pop and cites artists like Julieta Venegas and La Oreja de Van Gogh as her inspiration.

Joaquina

The young Venezuelan American singer-songwriter Joaquina is one to watch in Latin pop. She took home the Best New Artist award at the 2023 Latin Grammys for her debut EP, los mejores años (notas de diario), a collection of poetic pop-rock reflections on heartbreak, rage, and teen angst.

Greccia

Greccia is a singer-songwriter from Lima, Peru, who describes her sound as a mix of dream pop, alternative urban, and R&B. She launched her music career just over a year ago with the release of her first single, “aviéntate,” and is currently working on her first studio album, arriving later this year.

Check out tracks from other talented artists in Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Peru in our RADAR Andinos playlist.

RADAR Al Sur

Magui Olave

Magui Olave was born and raised in a cuarteto family in Córdoba, Argentina. She got her start in music doing backup vocals for her cousins, Argentine cuarteto singers Ulises Bueno and Rodrigo (also known as “El Potro”). Today, she has several studio albums under her belt.

Valentina Marquez

Valentina Marquez is a rising star in Argentine cuarteto, having followed in the footsteps of her father Lisandro Marquez, a member of the cuarteto band Sabroso. Just two years into her music career, she has already accumulated nearly 20 million streams on Spotify.

Eugenia Quevedo

Eugenia Quevedo is another prominent female figure in Argentine cuarteto, having appeared on shows like Got Talent Argentina and La Voz Argentina (of The Voice franchise). Most recently, she collaborated with Argentine hitmaker Luck Ra on “OJALÁ,” a track from his chart-topping album QUE NOS FALTE TODO.

Stream our RADAR Al Sur playlist to hear more rising stars from the southernmost areas of Latin America.

Spotify’s creme Playlist Comes to Life With an Interactive Art Exhibit Dedicated to Brazilian Trap and Funk

August 9, 2023

View of Creme - A Spotify Experience

As trap artists dominate the charts all over the world, Brazil’s urbano scene has made its impact felt with its fast and incredible rise. And starting this week, fans can be a part of it. 

Kicking off August 11, and then continuing from August 13 to 19 at the Praça das Artes in São Paulo, Creme – A Spotify Experience is our free interactive exhibit celebrating the iconic songs and artists featured on our creme playlist with original costumes, classic album covers and music videos, recreated as backdrops, listening and viewing rooms, and live performances.

A truly immersive experience in Brazil’s trap and funk history, Creme – A Spotify Experience features costumes and accessories from artists as well as exclusive spaces that recreate backdrops and sets from iconic album covers, music videos, and moments—all available for photo ops. Scenes include the Flow Espacial clip with the original graffiti by 30PRAUM, the wall with a flyer for parties and concerts by GR6 artists, the contract signing table at the Mainstreet office, and the Pineapple Storm Poesia Acústica 6 backdrop. The spaces also have songs and written content narrating the origin and rise of each artist.

Additionally, Creme – A Spotify Experience features some of the urbano scene’s most influential music videos from the last three years. Divided into six themes—self-esteem, relationships, belief, city, collectivity, and globalization—the collection highlights the accomplishments of artists like Saturno, BIN, Simplesmente Ela, and Mc Gabzin. 

The exhibit also has a special booth where visitors can listen to the signature sounds of legendary producers and beatmakers such as Pedro Lotto, Mu540, LARINHX, Papatinho, Caio Passos, DJ Matt D, and DJ Perera.

And for a little extra “creme” on top of the experience, there will be some unforgettable live performances. Orochi, BIN, Borges, Chefin, and Oruam will take the stage Saturday, August 12, while MC Ryan SP, Mc IG, Mc Davi, Mc Don Juan, Mc Dricka, MC Marks, and Vulgo FK will close out the exhibit Sunday, August 20.Tickets are available for a limited time on Ingresse.

Get ready for the experience and listen to our creme playlist now.

Playlist ‘creme’, do Spotify, ganha vida com uma exibição de arte interativa dedicada ao Trap e Funk brasileiro

August 9, 2023

View of Creme - A Spotify Experience

Com os artistas de trap dominando o charts em todo o mundo, a cena urbana brasileira fez seu impacto ser sentido com um rápido e incrível crescimento. E, a partir desta semana, os fãs podem fazer parte dela.

Iniciando em 11 de agosto e depois de 13 a 19 de agosto, na Praça das Artes, em São Paulo, Creme – Uma Experiência Spotify é nossa exposição interativa gratuita que celebra as músicas e artistas icônicos apresentados em nossa lista de reprodução “creme” – com trajes originais, capas de álbuns clássicos, vídeos musicais recriados como cenários, salas de audição e visualização, e apresentações ao vivo.

Para visitantes que buscam uma verdadeira experiência imersiva na história do Trap e do Funk brasileiro, Creme – Uma Experiência Spotify apresenta figurinos e acessórios de artistas, além de espaços exclusivos que recriam cenários e sets de capas de álbuns icônicos e clipes para fazer muitas fotos. Entre eles, o cenários do clipe Flow Espacial com o grafite original, por 30PRAUM; a parede com um flyer de festas e concertos de artistas da GR6; a mesa de assinatura de contratos no escritório, da Mainstreet; e o cenário do Poesia Acústica 6, da Pineapple Storm. O espaço também possui músicas e conteúdo escrito narrando a origem e ascensão de cada um.

Creme – Uma Experiência Spotify também apresenta alguns dos videoclipes musicais mais influentes da cena nos últimos três anos. Dividida em seis temas – autoestima, relacionamentos, crença, cidade, coletividade e globalização – esta coleção destaca as conquistas de artistas como Saturno, BIN, Simplesmente Ela e MC Gabzin.

A exposição também possui um estande especial onde os visitantes podem ouvir os sons característicos de produtores e beatmakers lendários, como Pedro Lotto, Mu540, LARINHX, Papatinho, Caio Passos, DJ Matt D e DJ Perera.

E para um toque extra de creme na experiência, haverá apresentações ao vivo inesquecíveis. Orochi, BIN, Borges, Chefin e Oruam sobem ao palco no sábado, 12 de agosto. Já MC Ryan SP, MC IG, MC Davi, MC Don Juan, MC Dricka, MC Marks e Vulgo FK encerram a exposição no domingo, 20 de agosto. Os ingressos estão disponíveis por tempo limitado e podem ser adquiridos na Ingresse.

Prepare-se para a experiência e escute agora nossa playlist creme agora.

Brazilian Hitmakers Play With Genre for Latin America’s First Spotify Singles Series

February 3, 2022

Summer is in full swing in Brazil, and now, so is Latin America’s first-ever Spotify Singles series. As Brazilians soak up the sun, buzzy artists Os Barões Da Pisadinha, LUDMILLA, Matheus & Kauan, and more are inviting listeners to stream seven new Spotify Singles songs exclusively on Spotify. From January 26 to February 16, fans will see new tracks debut on Spotify Brazil’s official summer playlist Vem, Verão!

The Spotify Singles program launched in 2016 as a creative outlet for artists as they revisit their songs, engage their fans, and connect with new listeners. More than 5 billion streams later, Spotify Singles continues to surprise audiences around the world. This special summer release is no different. It marks an innovative moment in the program as Spotify challenged Brazil’s artists to explore rhythms and genres outside their usual sound.

“This Singles series was created as a place to highlight and celebrate the summer through Carnival, all while catering to genre listening trends we have been identifying in the market. We brought the idea to our partners and found artists who were eager to be a part of it. The artists then took the idea into their own hands and created all these amazing representations of the rich culture Brazil has to offer,” said Carolina Alzuguir, Artists and Label Partnerships Lead for Spotify in Brazil.

The singles take inspiration from the most-listened-to genres in Brazil during the summer, including pisadinha, Brazilian funk (also referred to as funk carioca), and brega funk. Pisadinha is an offshoot of the popular Brazilian genre forró, a rhythmic music style that features the accordion and triangle. Inspired by Miami’s flourishing hip-hop scene, Rio de Janeiro’s Brazilian funk music pulls from a number of different genres to create a uniquely local sound made for dancing. And brega funk, which originated in Northern Brazil, is a branch of Brazilian funk known for its heavy bass and offbeat rhythms.

Follow along as beloved Brazilian artists embrace genre fluidity and try their hands at a fresh sound. Here are the songs making every day feel like a summer celebration, no matter where you listen:

Released in January

Releasing in February

  • Next, on February 7, Brazilian funk and pop queen LUDMILLA promises a surprise with her trap version of “Fora de Si.”
  • MC Hariel, who is known for his impact on the São Paulo funk scene, will push the boundaries this summer with a reggaeton version of “Pirâmide Social” on February 9.
  • PEDRO SAMPAIO has a sweet surprise in store for February 14. He teamed up with Anitta once again to reenvision the catchy hit “NO CHÃO NOVINHA” as a techno brega bop.
  • And Rebecca will close the summer Spotify Singles series by introducing a new brega funk version of the techno pop hit “Barbie” with the help of Mexican singer Dulce María, the Colombian rapper Farina, and Mc Danny on February 16.

Want more? Keep up with the latest releases and the soundtrack of the season on Vem, Verão!

Straight Out of the Favela: Brazilian Funk

May 30, 2018

If you haven’t heard of Brazilian funk (or Baile Funk) yet, you will soon. Pumping hard from the heart of Rio de Janeiro, the genre derived from Miami bass and gangsta rap is blowing up across the world. With its infectious looping tamborzão rhythms and raw party anthem lyrics, Brazilian funk is twerking its way to the top of the charts. (After all, twerking is basically the unofficial dance of the genre.) And a rising new generation of funkeiros—Anitta, MC Kevinho, MC Fioti, and Ludmilla among them—are fueling the movement.

Brazilian funk star Anitta (née Larissa de Macedo Machado), who became a breakout sensation after singing in her home city of Rio at the 2016 Olympic Games, is catapulting the Miami bass and gangsta rap-rooted Afro-Brazilian genre into the global spotlight on Spotify.

Last December, just 12 hours after releasing “Vai Malandra” (feat. Tropkillaz & DJ Yuri Martins), the silky-voiced singer laid claim to the first Portuguese-language song to land on Spotify’s Global Top 50 chart.

“It’s a great time for Brazilian funk music because we have some great artists investing in it and producing great hits with funk beats,” Anitta said. “Tropkillaz, Major Lazer, me and many other artists are helping making this moment even hotter. A good example is MC Fioti’s song, “Bum Bum Tam Tam,” that exploded on Spotify. He even made a collab with J Balvin after that. It makes me really happy to see funk getting recognition worldwide.”

Empowered by the unparalleled freedom and exponential reach of digital music online, outspoken female Brazilian carioca artists like Anitta—along with protest rapper Karol Conka, feminist icon Valesca Popozuda, 18-year-old São Paulo prodigy MC Rita, and a growing wave of trailblazers like them—have been leading the way toward globalizing the genre. Anitta joins an eclectic cadre of bold voices including Ludmilla, MC Loma e As Gêmeas Lacração—and the list goes on.

“Seeing the explosion of Brazilian baile funk gives me the feeling that we are doing our role well as a label and in media, but at the same time it proves that this is the tip of the iceberg, which can be much larger and explore other territories,” says Brazilian music video director and producer Kondzilla. “Baile Funk as a genre is lively and contagious. The music industry is already watching.”

See for yourself just how quickly this viral music genre has spread like wildfire across the world from 2016 to 2018.

Music experts around the world are being wowed by this growth. “Brazilian funk is a true world phenomenon,” said Roberta Pate, Spotify’s Artists & Label Services Manager for Latin America and US Latin Markets. “In the last two years, the genre has broken the barriers and boundaries of Rio de Janeiro’s favelas, and Brazil, to win the world. It’s now one of the most heard genres in Europe, North America and Central America.”

One Funk producer can release up to 100 original songs per month, and with every bass-bumpin’ beat streamed, the democratizing power of the Internet rapidly catalyzed the spread of already speedily produced funk far beyond Brazil’s favelas and onto a worldwide stage.

“Spotify and the Internet are great instruments for spreading good music around,” said Anitta. “It’s powerful, simple and fast, and it makes things easier for different artists to show their songs with Spotify.”

“The great partner of artists like Anitta, MC Kevinho, MC Fióti and Ludmilla, is the Internet, more precisely Spotify and music streaming services, which allowed this phenomenon to expand outside Brazil,” Pate said. “Proof of this success away from home and its internationalization, funk has a playlist focused on international users on Spotify, called Mother Funk.”

“Mother Funk,” the Brazilian funk-filled Spotify playlist, tells the history of funk, with greatest hits from the 80’s until today. It’s especially popular in the United States, Portugal, Argentina, Paraguay and Mexico. To hear what all the buzz is about—top songs from Anitta, Dani Russo, MC Kevinho and DJ Malboro included—check it out here.