News Karol Conká Hailing from southern city Curitiba, Karol Conká is one of Brazil’s most prominent female rappers She started off releasing music on her Myspace page, before laying down tracks such as the hit “Boa Noite” which appeared on her first EP released in 2012 She is known for her explosive flow and bass-heavy instrumentals mixed with samples of traditional folkloric Brazilian music And in a musical genre typically dominated by men, Karol Conká definitely holds her own as an MC with clout Her debut album Batuk Freak was released in 2013 Must listen: Boa noite, Gandaia, Vô Lá   Seu Jorge Music and film star Seu Jorge began his career in the 1990s as the vocalist for eclectic Rio de Janeiro band Farofa Carioca He shot to international stardom after appearing in and producing music for the films City of God and The Life Aquatic, which featured various covers of David Bowie classics With his fusion of samba, funk and rock, Seu Jorge has crafted a sound all his own His music transitions effortlessly from light-hearted party tracks such as “Olê Olê” to aching songs about love and heartbreak Must listen: Mina do Condomínio, Tive Razão, São Gonça, Amiga da Minha Mulher   Luan Santana Since the release of his first album, “Tô De Cara” in 2009, Sertanejo singer Luan Santana has had three platinum albums, collaborated with artists such as Enrique Iglesias and Belinda and become one of Brazil’s most played singers While sertanejo music originally spoke about rural life in Brazil, artists such as Santana have ushered in “Sertanejo Universitário,”a new take on the style which has proved popular with younger generations Santana’s songs retain the emotional lyrics that characterise the classic genre, while using more modern, electric instruments rather than the traditional combo of accordion and acoustic guitar Must listen: Escreve Aí, Ce Topa, Adrenalina   Baleia Founded in 2011, six-piece indie band Baleia from Rio de Janeiro garnered hundreds of thousands of YouTube views after releasing their first two songs Just a few years later, the band premiered their first full-length album, “Quebra Azul,” a collection of songs marked by playful guitar and piano riffs Jazz influences, orchestral arrangements and folk melodies appear throughout With their latest release, “Atlas,” the band explores a darker, rock ‘n’ roll vibe, still accented by trademark harmonies and haunting string instrumentation Must listen: Casa, Hiato, Furo   Criolo Cultured São Paulo rapper Criolo’s hallmark is his sincerity and introspection His music addresses issues from inequality to racism, and his work has garnered critical acclaim in Brazil and abroad for its honesty and originality Though he has been around for decades, the 40-year-old rapper did not break onto the international scene until the release of his 2011 album “Nó na Orelha,” which won Best Album at the Brazilian Music Video Awards Vocal features break up and complement his aggressive rap style, with backing tracks that include reggae and samba beats Must listen: Convoque seu Buda, Subirusdoistiozin, Não Existe Amor em SP   Anitta When singer Anitta attracted international attention with her 2013 baile-funk inspired single “Show das Poderosas,” she gave the world a taste of the music of Rio’s favelas sprinkled with a glossy pop finish In the years following her debut album, Anitta has become one of Brazil’s most watched and most played artists In her latest release, “Bang,” her songs are more R&B and pop-heavy with electronic effects and rap influences that complement the album’s simple, catchy lyrics   Must listen: Essa Mina é Louca, Bang, Show Completo   Wesley Safadão If you are young and are going to be in Brazil during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, without doubt you will hear the name Wesley Safadão The 27-year-old artist sings forró, a popular genre of music from Brazil’s northeast that over the years has spread throughout the country Kitted out in Louis Vuitton, Givenchy and other luxury brands, Wesley has given the traditional genre a new flavour and has a growing army of fans His busy agenda includes up to twenty shows a month, while his hit “Aquele 1%” received 190 million YouTube views in just over a year At his shows it’s not uncommon to see fans throw their smartphones on stage for Wesley to take selfies and record videos for them Must listen: Aquele 1%, Camarote, Coração Machucado   The sound of Brazil This Monday (27 June) Rio 2016 announced the launch of its Brazilian music collection “Brazil Encanta” a celebration of Brazil’s rich musical heritage and the perfect soundtrack for the country’s first Olympic and Paralympic Games Released in conjunction with the Games official music distributor Som Livre, the collection is comprised of four CDs, each featuring a different genre of Brazilian music: Samba, Bossa Nova, MPB, Brazilian Pop It features legends of Brazilian music such as Milton Nascimento, Jorge Ben Jor, Beth Carvalho, Chico Buarque and many others The Brasil Encanta Collection is available to buy online here