Rock in Rio Lisboa marks first Brazilian rapper on main stage as Central Cee receives lukewarm response

Brazilian rapper Matuê became the first rapper from Brazil to play the Palco Mundo (World Stage) at Rock in Rio Lisboa on 28 June. The 32‑year‑old artist celebrated his Ceará roots with a costume inspired by cangaço and performed his hits “777‑666”, “Kenny G”, “Quer Voar” and a live debut of “Rei Tuê” from his 2025 album XTRANHO, alongside guest appearances by Brandão, Cashley and Kouth.

British rapper Central Cee also performed on the same day, following strong anticipation after recent releases. Critics noted that his set lacked energy and interaction with the audience, describing the performance as subdued and failing to generate the expected hype despite his global streaming success.