Outlaw, MC Negão Original releases music that reaches the top 20 on Spotify; understand

Funker MC Negão Original
Reproduction/Instagram
Funker MC Negão Original, on the run from the police for alleged participation in a virtual embezzlement scheme, is experiencing one of his best moments as an artist. His most recent song, "Cuida do Pet", reached 13th position in Spotify's top 20 in two weeks.
The law does not prevent a fugitive from releasing or publicizing their work - and this is not considered a new crime (read more below).
Made in partnership with Aaron Modesto, Willian, Iguinho CT and DU'L, the song was "born" before João Vitor Marcelino Guido, the artist's real name, had his arrest ordered by the courts and his whereabouts were considered unknown by the police.
The singer had already done his part in the song, previews of which went viral on social media between March and April. The Negão Original excerpt was the most prominent.
Her part was so successful that it had its own version, called "Por Isso Ela Mente". Previews of this excerpt have more than 2 million views on YouTube and TikTok.
Upon learning that the unfinished version was trending, MC Negão Original got in touch with the others involved in the song and suggested that an official version be released. Including a music video.
However, MC Negão Original recorded his part isolated from the other participants in the song, all in different locations.
The official music video reached the 1 million views mark in one week. A version made by AI, launched at the end of May, has accumulated 2 million views on YouTube.
Suspicions surrounding MC Negão Original
Police investigate MC Negão Original for connection with a virtual fraud scheme
In February this year, the Civil Police launched an operation investigating a criminal organization specializing in virtual scams.
According to investigators, the artist was linked to a fraud scheme that claimed victims in several states and generated around R$100 million over five years.
According to the police, criminals sent text or audio messages pretending to be INSS employees. They then asked the victims for supposed "proof of life" to avoid blocking the benefit.
During the approach, the scammers convinced mainly elderly people to participate in video calls and install applications on their cell phones.
In practice, these applications allowed remote access to devices and captured personal data, bank passwords and other sensitive information.
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Police investigate MC Negão Original for connection with a virtual embezzlement scheme
Rauls: how funk transformed digital embezzlers into characters in songs and series
Also according to the São Paulo police, excerpts from MC Negão Original's songs caught the attention of investigators during the investigation of the case.
Among the slang words that appear in the songs is the term "Raul", used to refer to scammers - people who they deceive victims to obtain money.
Another slang term mentioned in the lyrics is "7", a reference to article 171 of the Penal Code, which deals with the crime of embezzlement.
G1 contacted the São Paulo Public Security Secretariat (SSP-SP) which stated that "efforts to locate and arrest MC Negão Original and the others involved in the case are underway."
The report attempted to contact the funk player's defense. The space will be updated if there is any return.
Can a fugitive release and publicize his work?
The funk artist MC Negão Original
Reproduction/Instagram
Yes, a person who is on the run can continue working normally and is not committing any illegality as a result.
Euro Bento Maciel Filho, master in Criminal Law, explained to g1 that MC Negão Original's situation is not uncommon.
"The duty of finding a fugitive person is the responsibility of State. In this case, the artist has no obligation to surrender to the police, for example. Even though he is a fugitive, he has the right to work. I, for example, have already followed cases in which a person remains at large until the final judgment is reached [when there is no longer any possibility of appeal].
He also stated that the people involved in the release of the songs did not commit a crime.
"The criminal code says that the crime is 'helping a criminal to escape or hide'. Whoever produces or works on publicity with the artist does not fit into this parameter. Helping, for example, would be lending the car to someone who is known to be on the run and wants to escape."
How has funk been singing about the Rauls?
How funk has been documenting the history of digital embezzlers, known as Raul
Especially since the 2010s, São Paulo funk has been singing about the lives of the Rauls. Not necessarily about the scams applied, but how criminals take advantage of the stolen money.
Names like MC Kelvinho and MC Kapela became known for singing, almost exclusively, songs with embezzlement as their theme. One of Kelvinho's biggest hits, "O Corre", has 22 million views on YouTube and has the following verses:
"The guys who live off scams / Knockout at Santa [banco Santander] / It's us who is the one running / And the beaks are scared / Civil tries to make a move / It's okay to go to court / The settlement is paid / And life is easy"
The report spoke to three MCs and a music producer. Everyone asked to speak off the record with the report, as they fear reprisals from the police and a possible association with crime.
According to the ears, talking about the lives of the coup plotters was a niche within funk. Before, few MCs reaped the rewards of singing about the dynamics of embezzlement.
From the 2020s onwards, with the growth of cybercrime, the number of funk artists who decided to talk about the topic also grew.
"The younger kids want to surf the wave. If at the time of ostentatious funk people talked about clothing brand scams", explains an MC.
"We are in the favela and we live, even if indirectly, with this reality. We are like film writers. We listen to and adapt real-life stories."

Source: G1