Nega Gizza

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Years Active

1990

Genres

hip hop, rap

Instruments

vocal

Biography

Gisele Gomes de Souza, known artistically as Nega Gizza, was born in Rio de Janeiro and grew up in the suburb of Brás de Pina. She faced financial difficulties from an early age, working during her childhood to help her family, but found her great passion at fifteen when she heard rap for the first time. The tragic loss of her brother marked her journey and brought her closer to MV Bill, who welcomed her and invited her to join his musical project as a backing vocalist, opening the doors for her establishment in the national hip hop scene.

As a pioneer in the movement, Nega Gizza became the first radio announcer dedicated to the genre and released her acclaimed debut album, Na Humildade, in 2002. The record featured collaborations with important names from the scene, such as DJ Zé Gonzalez from Planet Hemp and Daniel Ganja Man, in addition to bringing tracks with strong social critique and reflection on the peripheries. Her work made room for female protagonism in a predominantly male market and generated striking music videos directed by Kátia Lund, consolidating her voice as an important instrument of protest and citizenship.

In addition to her career in music and radio, where she hosts the program "A voz das Periferias", Nega Gizza is a prominent cultural activist and co-founder of the Central Única das Favelas (CUFA), alongside figures like Celso Athayde. Her commitment to social transformation through art has earned her nationally relevant awards, such as the Prêmio Hutúz and the WME Awards. Even away from the stage, her legacy remains one of the fundamental pillars for hip hop culture and for the visibility of women in Brazil's peripheries.

Discography

• Na Humildade (2002)