Nei Lopes

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Also known as

Nei Lopez

Years Active

1972

Genres

samba, MPB, partido-alto

Biography

Nei Braz Lopes, born in Rio de Janeiro on May 9, 1942, is a prominent Brazilian singer, composer, writer, and scholar of African cultures and the African diaspora. He grew up in the suburban neighborhood of Irajá and established himself as a master of samba, most notably through his enduring partnership with Wilson Moreira. Throughout his career, he has worked closely with traditional samba institutions such as Acadêmicos do Salgueiro and Vila Isabel.

Starting as a professional composer in 1972, Lopes has dedicated decades to bridging the gap between traditional samba and MPB (Música Popular Brasileira), collaborating with iconic artists such as Moacir Santos, Ivan Lins, Zé Renato, Fátima Guedes, and Ed Motta. In addition to his musical contributions, he is a prolific author of fiction, poetry, and foundational reference works on African-Brazilian history and culture, including the award-winning Dicionário da História Social do Samba co-authored with Luiz Antonio Simas.

His extensive contributions to Brazilian arts and scholarship have earned him numerous prestigious honors, including multiple honorary doctorates and the Order of Cultural Merit. In 2021, his album created in partnership with Projeto Coisa Fina and Guga Stroeter received a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Samba/Pagode Album, cementing his legacy as a vital pillar of Brazilian musical and intellectual heritage.

Discography

• A Arte Negra de Wilson Moreira e Nei Lopes (1980)
• Negro Mesmo (1983)
• O Partido Muito! Alto de Wilson Moreira & Nei Lopes (1985)
• Canto Banto - Zumbi - 300 Anos (1996)
• Sincopando O Breque (1999)
• De Letra & Música (2002)
• Celebração (2003)
• Partido ao Cubo (2004)
• Chutando O Balde (2009)
• Projeto Coisa Fina e Guga Stroeter no Pagode Black Tie (2020)