Emicida
- Origin
- São Paulo, SP
- Years active
- 2005
- Genres
- hip hop, rap, MPB, neo-samba
- Instruments
- voice, MPC
Biography
Leandro Roque de Oliveira, widely known as Emicida, is one of the most influential figures in contemporary Brazilian culture. Born in the North Zone of São Paulo, he emerged from the freestyle battle scene, such as the Batalha da Santa Cruz, where his lyrical skill earned him the nickname that fuses the words "MC" and "homicida" (homicide). His professional trajectory gained traction with the single "Triunfo" in 2008, marking the beginning of a career guided by independence through his own record label, Laboratório Fantasma, managed in partnership with his brother Fióti.
Emicida's work evolved from homemade mixtapes to complex studio albums that explore black identity, Brazilian history, and social injustices. Records like "O Glorioso Retorno de Quem Nunca Esteve Aqui" and "Sobre Crianças, Quadris, Pesadelos e Lições de Casa..." consolidated his position not just as a rapper, but as a social chronicler. He established fundamental partnerships with artists from various genres, including names like Criolo, with whom he performed historic tours, and the singer Pitty, showing his versatility beyond the boundaries of traditional hip hop.
His most ambitious project, "AmarElo" (2019), transcended music to become a social and documentary experiment, culminating in a historic performance at the Theatro Municipal de São Paulo. Through this work, Emicida sought to connect rap to the legacy of figures like Gilberto Gil and the Movimento Negro Unificado. Beyond music, he acts as a presenter, children's literature writer, and fashion entrepreneur, being an active voice in the debate on racism and inequality in contemporary Brazil.