Tati Quebra Barraco

Widely regarded as one of the pioneers of funk carioca—a style of hip-hop that originated in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro—Brazilian rapper Tati Quebra Barraco is credited with being one of the first female artists to succeed in the genre's male-dominated scene. Known for her sexually liberated lyrics and outspoken attitude, she is also considered an icon of the feminist movement and the LGBT community. Born Tatiana dos Santos Lourenço on September 21, 1979, in Rio de Janeiro, she grew up in the City of God favela and became infatuated with funk music culture during her teenage years. Even though her career began in 1997, it wasn't until 2000 that she released her eponymous studio debut, which contained early hits like "Montagem Barraco" and "Montagem Soca Tcheca." After appearing in a series of compilations by Pipos Records alongside labelmates MC Cacau do Dendê, Bonde do Tigrão, and MC Sapão, Tati Quebra Barraco rose to national fame with her sophomore effort Boladona (2004), whose title track was used in the incredibly popular 2005 soap opera América. The astounding success of the album resulted in a series of international performances as well as a major feature in the funk documentary Sou Feia, Mas Tô Na Moda. Following an extended break from her artistic endeavors, which included a short stint in politics, Tati Quebra Barraco returned in 2014 with Se Liberta, her first album in almost a decade. In 2015, she served as a mentor to young funk artists on the Fox Life reality show Lucky Ladies. Subsequently, she made her Rock in Rio debut on the festival's 2019 edition and joined the cast of the celebrity reality program A Fazenda, finishing up in sixth place. "Faz Direito," a collaborative single with Velasca Popozuda and WC No Beat, arrived in 2022 and entered the Brazilian charts at Number 97.