Biography
Liliane de Carvalho, professionally known as Negra Li, is a pioneering Brazilian singer, songwriter, rapper, and actress. Widely recognized as one of the primary female voices in Brazilian hip-hop, she has spent three decades reshaping the country's urban music scene by blending rap, R&B, soul, and MPB (Música Popular Brasileira).
Born on September 17, 1979, in the underprivileged neighborhood of Vila Brasilândia in São Paulo, she discovered her passion for music during her childhood while singing hymns at a local church. As a teenager, inspired by international icons like Whitney Houston and her ultimate musical reference, Lauryn Hill, she began diving into black music and developing her distinct vocal style.
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Her professional career took off in 1996 when she joined the influential hip-hop group RZO (Rapaziada da Zona Oeste). Her sharp flow and melodic vocals quickly set her apart in a heavily male-dominated genre. She gained massive nationwide prominence in 2000 through her brilliant collaboration with rock-reggae band Charlie Brown Jr. on the hit single "Não é Sério". Shortly after, she cemented her legacy in early 2000s rap by recording iconic tracks like "Rap é Compromisso" and "No Brooklin" alongside the legendary underground rapper Sabotage.
In 2004, Negra Li decided to pursue a solo career and signed with Universal Music, becoming the first Black female rapper in Brazil to land a contract with a major multinational record label. She made her solo album debut alongside rapper Helião with Guerreiro, Guerreira (2005), followed by her highly successful individual pop-R&B album Negra Livre (2006), which featured the chart-topping radio hit "Você Vai Estar na Minha". Over the years, her versatile discography expanded to include acclaimed albums such as Tudo de Novo (2012) and Raízes (2018), the latter seamlessly weaving trap, reggae, pop, and Afro-Brazilian rhythms. Celebrating 30 years in the music industry, she released her highly anticipated studio album, O Silêncio que Grita (2025), a liberating project reflecting on her maturity, motherhood, and lifelong artistic struggles.
Beyond her musical endeavors, Negra Li has built a solid career on screen and stage. In 2006, she starred as one of the lead characters in Táta Amaral's critically acclaimed musical drama film Antônia, as well as its subsequent spin-off TV series on Rede Globo, which depicted the hurdles faced by female hip-hop artists from the favelas. She also showcased her acting and vocal range by playing Mary Magdalene in the 2014 Brazilian production of the Broadway musical Jesus Christ Superstar and appearing in Netflix features like No Ritmo da Fé (2023). Throughout her journey, Negra Li remains a symbol of empowerment, utilizing her socially conscious platform to advocate for Black representation, women's rights, and the structural recognition of street culture in Brazil
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.