Cristal

Origin

Porto Alegre, RS

Also known as

Cristal Rocha dos Santos

Years Active

2017

Genres

rap, r&b, soul music, MPB

Biography

Cristal Rocha dos Santos, known artistically as Cristal, is a singer, songwriter, and rapper born in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, in 2002. Her artistic journey began at age 15, participating in spoken poetry poetry slams, such as "Sopapo Poético," where she stood out and became the regional champion. Her experience in the slam universe led her to represent Rio Grande do Sul at Slam BR, in São Paulo, cementing her presence in the cultural scene.

In 2018, Cristal released her first poetry book, "Quando o Caso Escurece," demonstrating her literary flair. The following year, she began her musical career in rap with the single "Rude Girl," addressing themes such as Black self-esteem and the racial divide in her state. She gained broader national projection with "Ashley Banks," a song that subverts racist imagery by portraying a successful Black person, reaching hundreds of thousands of views and recognition from artists like Emicida, Drik Barbosa, and Djonga.

Cristal participated in Djonga and Coyote Beatz's album "Histórias da Minha Área" on the track "Deus Dará." In 2021, she released her first self-written EP, "Quartzo," produced by her cousin MDN Beatz, featuring six tracks that explore different meanings of crystals. In 2024, she presented the album "Epifania," a work that pays homage to Brazilian soul music and features collaborations with artists such as Drik Barbosa. Her song "Kawo" was nominated for the Prêmio Multishow in 2023.

Discography

• Quartzo (2021)
• Cristal no Estúdio Showlivre (Ao Vivo) (2023)
• EPIFANIA (2024)