Hailing from São Paulo's notorious favelas, Racionais MC's faced the racism, injustice and violence around them head on—painting a city's portrait in lyrics that proved both highly alert and fearlessly outspoken. As for the music, their slow, mesmerising hip-hop revolved around simmering soul and funk courtesy of Tim Maia and Curtis Mayfield. 1997 best seller Sobrevivendo no Inferno originated on their label Cosa Nostra, capping off a new-found autonomy with huge success. These cuts boast deceptively smooth slices of soul, killer bass and the foursome's trademark, swaggering street poetry.