De Leve

Origin

Niterói, RJ

Genres

hip hop, rap

Instruments

vocal

Biography

Ramon Moreno de Freitas e Silva, known artistically as De Leve, is a rapper originally from Niterói, Rio de Janeiro. He became known for his irreverence, sarcastic rhymes, and fierce criticism of stereotypes in the mainstream media and the Brazilian hip-hop industry. He was one of the founders of the influential group Quinto Andar, alongside partners such as MC Marechal and DJ Castro, in addition to leading Banda Leme and consolidating a solid solo career marked by innovation in the digital distribution of his music.

De Leve's trajectory in rap gained major projection at the turn of the 2000s, standing out in the national underground scene with the compilation Zoeira Hip Hop and the release of his first EP, "Introduzindo De Leve", made available pioneeringly on the internet via Napster. In 2003, he released his debut album, "O Estilo Foda-se", through Sony Music, openly encouraging free downloading and featuring among the promises of the Brazilian music scene at the time. Over the years, he collaborated with several prominent artists and groups, such as Planet Hemp, Marcelo D2, BNegão, and Costa Gold, keeping his defiant aesthetic alive.

In the following years, the rapper continued to challenge the record industry with independent releases and sound experimentations, including works such as "Manifesto 1/2 171", "De Love", "Estalactite", and "Mantendo o Rap Vivo". His critical stance and pioneering use of free licenses, such as Creative Commons, influenced the national rap scene. Even facing controversies throughout his career and periods of withdrawal due to personal issues, De Leve remained a cult figure and essential to the history of hip-hop in Brazil.