Criolo

Biography

Kleber Cavalcante Gomes (born September 5, 1975), known professionally as Criolo (formerly Criolo Doido), is a Brazilian rapper, songwriter and singer who has been nominated for four Latin Grammy Awards. He began his career in 1989 and initially gained recognition in Brazil as the creator of Rinha dos MCs. However, he later achieved worldwide attention for his solo work, particularly the album Nó Na Orelha×Nó na orelha25 April 2011 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Bogotá4:402Subirusdoistiozin3:333Não existe amor em SP4:404Mariô3:375Freguês da meia-noite4:096Grajauex2:367Samba-sambei3:428Sucrilhos4:009Lion man3:2510Linha de frente4:30 (2011).
In 2019, he was nominated for two Latin Grammy Awards, for "Boca de Lobo×Boca de Lobo1 October 2018 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Boca de Lobo3:47" (Best Music Video, Short Version) and "Etérea×Etérea14 February 2019 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Etérea4:13" (Best Song in Portuguese). In 2022, he was nominated again for two Latin Grammy Awards, for "Sobre Viver×Sobre Viver5 May 2022 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Diário do Kaos4:412Pretos Ganhando Dinheiro Incomoda Demais3:183Moleques São Meninos, Crianças São Também3:514Ogum Ogum3:505Sétimo Templário3:356Me Corte na Boca do Céu a Morte Não Pede Perdão4:177Yemanjá Chegou4:188Pequenina4:339Quem Planta Amor Aqui Vai Morrer2:3710Aprendendo a Sobreviver3:32" (Best Rock or Alternative Album) and "Me Corte Na Boca Do Céu - A Morte Não Pede Perdão" (Best Song in Portuguese).

Early life and career

Born to migrants from the North East of Brazil in the commercial hub of São Paulo, Criolo was born in the 'Favela das Imbuias', one of the many shanty towns that girdle the city.
Since the age of 11, Criolo concentrated on his love for rap, performing in small venues around his neighbourhood for many years before finally releasing his debut album ‘‘Ainda Há Tempo×Ainda há tempo2006 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 22 tracks1Intro2É o teste3Rap é forte4Voz e violão5Tô pra vê6Chega7No sapatinho8Morto vivo9Ainda há tempo10Sabedoria de Ébano11Atenção12Demorô13Rádio Criolo14Casca de ovo15Breáco16Chuva ácida17Roba a cena18Aprendiz19A real20Rádio Criolo21Até me emocionei (Part. Bastardo)22Agradeço a quem devo (Escuta)’’ in 2006. This led to a reputation as one of the most important rappers in São Paulo. In 2011, he released his second album, “Nó na Orelha×Nó na orelha25 April 2011 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Bogotá4:402Subirusdoistiozin3:333Não existe amor em SP4:404Mariô3:375Freguês da meia-noite4:096Grajauex2:367Samba-sambei3:428Sucrilhos4:009Lion man3:2510Linha de frente4:30”, which was produced by Daniel Ganjaman and Marcelo Cabral. "Nó na Orelha" was released internationally in 2012, thus spreading Criolo's popularity beyond São Paulo and Brazil to other countries, leading to live shows in Adelaide, Amsterdam, Berlin, Cannes, Dijon, Ghent, Glasgow, Leuven, Lisbon, Los Angeles, London, Manchester, New York, Ozark, Paris, Rome, Roskilde, Saint-Florent, Saint-Nazaire, San Isidro, Sete, and Vence.
His fourth album Espiral de Ilusão×Espiral de ilusão28 April 2017 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Lá Vem Você3:402Dilúvio de Solidão2:383Menino Mimado3:484Língua Felina3:005Nas Águas3:566Filha do Maneco1:457Espiral de Ilusão3:418Calçada3:279Boca Fofa2:2010Hora da Decisão4:09114 da Manhã3:3312Cria de Favela2:52, focused on samba, was elected the 6th best Brazilian album of 2017 by the Brazilian edition of Rolling Stone. The album was accompanied by the first issue of Criolo magazine and Criolo was awarded best samba singer of the year by Brazilian Music Awards because of it. All his projects since 2010 are released by his record label, Oloko Records, by his manager Beatriz Berjeaut, and his music director, Daniel Ganjaman.
In 2018, Criolo released Boca de Lobo as single and music video (directed by Denis Cisma and Pedro Inoue). The following year, he launched the Etérea project, an electronic beat song made as a homage to the Brazilian underground queer culture. Etérea music video (directed by Gil Inoue and Gabriel Dietrich) was released with a behind the scenes mini documentary with interviews with the performers and the whole project had creative direction by Tino Monetti and Pedro Inoue. Both singles, with executive production by Kler Correa, were nominated to the Latin Grammy Awards 2019, as Best Music Video, Short Version and Best Song In Portuguese, respectively.
In May 5, 2022, Criolo released his fifth studio album, Sobre Viver×Sobre Viver5 May 2022 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Diário do Kaos4:412Pretos Ganhando Dinheiro Incomoda Demais3:183Moleques São Meninos, Crianças São Também3:514Ogum Ogum3:505Sétimo Templário3:356Me Corte na Boca do Céu a Morte Não Pede Perdão4:177Yemanjá Chegou4:188Pequenina4:339Quem Planta Amor Aqui Vai Morrer2:3710Aprendendo a Sobreviver3:32, with 10 new unreleased tracks. Each track is represented by a different color instead of having a live music video. The album, featuring Tropkillaz, Mayra Andrade, Liniker, Milton Nascimento, MC Hariel and his mother Maria Vilani, also was completed by the release of Criolo magazine number two, a companion online publication made by Oloko Records and produced by The Codex studio.

DVDs

Criolo Doido Live in SP (2010)
Criolo & Emicida ao Vivo (2013)
Nó Na Orelha ao Vivo no Circo Voador (2013)

LP Singles

Ainda Há Tempo (2006)
Subirusdoistiozin (2010)
Duas De Cinco (2013)
Viva Tim Maia (2015)
No Sapatinho (2016)
Até amanhã (2016)
Menino Mimado (2017)
Povo Guerreiro (2018)
Boca de Lobo (2018)
Etérea (2019)