Marcelo Yuka

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Years active

1993–2019

Genres

rock, reggae, mpb, rap rock

Instruments

drums, composition

Biography

Marcelo Fontes do Nascimento Viana de Santa Ana, artistically known as Marcelo Yuka, was born in Rio de Janeiro on December 31, 1965. He was a prominent Brazilian musician, poet, composer, and activist, mainly recognized for being one of the founders of the iconic band O Rappa, where he served as the drummer and main lyricist during the 1990s. His compositions were marked by a strong critical and social content, resulting in classic national songs that addressed the reality of the streets and the country's inequality, with a strong influence from artists like Marcelo Lobato and collaborations with various names from the music scene.

In the year 2000, Yuka was the victim of a shooting attack in the Tijuca neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, which left him paraplegic and unable to continue playing the drums. Despite his forced departure from O Rappa in 2001, he continued his artistic trajectory by founding the group F.U.R.T.O., associated with a social project, and later pursued a solo career with the release of the acclaimed album "Canções para Depois do Ódio", which featured guest appearances by Céu and Cibelle. In addition to his musical work, Yuka also had a strong political involvement, running for vice-mayor of Rio de Janeiro in 2012 alongside Marcelo Freixo, and dedicated his final years to social activism and leading an NGO focused on stem cell research.

The artist's health suffered severe blows after he suffered strokes in 2018, culminating in his passing on January 18, 2019, in the city of Rio de Janeiro, as a victim of a generalized infection. His legacy remains alive through his vast poetic and musical work, which shaped the identity of Brazilian rock and reggae in the following decades and inspired new generations of musicians and activists in the country.