Catalog Number: AR165VL Color: Black Format: LP UPC: 4260130541651 Brazilian hip-hop, with a golden-era glint and a 20-strong cast is given fresh impetus on Ela Partiu, 24 year old rapper Laiz's breakout recording on Agogo Records Glowing with pan-African collaborations, and rooted in Laiz's love and appreciation of magical realism, tropicalia and Brazilian music old and new - think Tom Ze and Marcelo D2 - Ela Partiu features Sudanese trap-rapper Zeyo Mann, Ghanian percussionist and singer Eric Owusu (Jembaa Groove, Pat Thomas) and produced by young.vishnu and Pachakuti, from the up and coming crew, and Laiz's label mates, The New Love Experience. Lyrically ruminating on emigration, the songs are drawn from Laiz's experiences, some complex, since leaving her Sao Paulo home at just 14 years old, going to the States, and relocating to Germany in 2018 as well as those experiences of the international guest musicians, many who are global south artists, emigrants, who call Germany their home. The recording was brought to life in Laiz's relaxed city of Hildesheim in 2023. In Portuguese, Ela Partiu is the name of a classic Tim Maia track, the '70s tortured soul-boy from Brazil, one of Laiz's heroes. It also translates to 'she has gone' referring to Laiz's early-life decision to leave her family home. There's little doubt Ela Partiu offers new bridges between tropicalia, Brazilian MPB and hip hop, lighting up Brazilian musical traditions in similar ways that Marcelo D2 or Criolo attempted. Its joyful, yet poses serious questions, and with a highly talented group of emigrant musicians from every corner of the globe, it's so much more than a Brazilian record, brought to life by a talent and traveller who thrives on the off-beat path, and is clearly still finding her way. "The origins of every Brazilian is very foggy. Culture can aide you on your path" Laiz