Criolo

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Calvacante and the second or paternal family name is Gomes.

Kleber Cavalcante Gomes (born September 5, 1975), known professionally as Criolo (formerly Criolo Doido), is a Brazilian rapper and songwriter 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 (2011).

Criolo
Background information
Born	Kleber Cavalcante Gomes (1975-09-05) September 5, 1975 (age 50)
Origin	São Paulo, Brazil
Genres	Hip hop, MPB, samba-rock, soul, Afrobeat
Occupation(s)	Rapper, songwriter
Instrument	Phonic
Years active	1989-present
Website

In 2019, he was nominated for two Latin Grammy Awards, for "Boca de Lobo" (Best Music Video, Short Version) and "Etérea" (Best Song in Portuguese).^[1] In 2022, he was nominated again for two Latin Grammy Awards, for "Sobre Viver" (Best Rock or Alternative Album) and "Me Corte Na Boca Do Céu - A Morte Não Pede Perdão" (Best Song in Portuguese).^[2]

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’’ in 2006.^[3] 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”, 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.^[4]

His fourth album Espiral de Ilusão, focused on samba, was elected the 6th best Brazilian album of 2017 by the Brazilian edition of Rolling Stone.^[5] 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 releases Boca de Lobo as single and music video (directed by Denis Cisma and Pedro Inoue).^[6] The following year, 2019, he launches 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.^[7] 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.^[8]

In May 5, 2022, Criolo releases his fifth studio album, Sobre Viver, 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.

Discography

• Ainda Há Tempo (2006) - (There's Still Time).
• Nó Na Orelha (2011) - (Knot in the Ear).
• Convoque Seu Buda (2014) - (Summon Your Buddha).
• Espiral de Ilusão (2017) - (Spiral of illusion).
• Sobre Viver (2022) - (About Living).

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)

Awards and nominations

MTV Video Music Brasil

Year	Category	Nomination	Result
2011	Video of the Year	Subirusdoistiozin	Nominated
	Artist of the Year	Criolo	Nominated
	Album of the Year	Nó na Orelha	Won
	Music of the Year	Não Existe Amor em SP	Won
	Breakthrough artist	Criolo	Won
2012	Video of the Year	Mariô	Nominated
	Male artist	Criolo	Won

Brazilian Music Awards

Year	Category	Nomination	Result[9]
2018	Samba singer	Criolo - Espiral de Ilusão	Won

Latin Grammy Awards

Year	Category	Nomination	Result[10]
2019	Best Music Video, Short Version	Boca de Lobo	Nominated
	Best Song In Portuguese	Etérea	Nominated

Year	Category	Nomination	Result[11]
2022	Best Song In Portuguese Language	Me Corte Na Boca Do Céu - A Morte Não Pede Perdão	Nominated
	Best Rock or Alternative Album	Sobre Viver	Nominated