Nocaute

Nocaute ("knockout" in English) play a style dubbed carioca in their native Brazil; a modern mix of rap, samba, hard rock, and funk. Formed in 1992 in the city of Belford Roxo, Nocaute feature rappers Eddi MC and Nino Rap, guitarist Ed Esteves, bassist César Belieny, and female drummer Andréa Wolff. As the carioca style struggled to gain a foothold in Brazil, the band found it hard to get a record deal at first, but at long last found a home on Sony Brazil's new hip-hop imprint, Black Groove. Their 2001 album CD Pirata was nominated for Best Rap/Hip-Hop Album at the third Latin Grammy Awards. ~ Steve Huey