Alex Pereira Barbosa, aka MV Bill, was the leader featured in 4REAL City of God. He was born in the City of God, in the Western part of Rio de Janeiro, where he still lives today. The City of God is one of Rio’s poorest and roughest favelas. Residents here are plagued by gang violence, drugs and poverty each day.
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Alex Pereira Barbosa, aka MV Bill, was the leader featured in 4REAL City of God. He was born in the City of God, in the Western part of Rio de Janeiro, where he still lives today. The City of God is one of Rio’s poorest and roughest favelas. Residents here are plagued by gang violence, drugs and poverty each day.

A highly respected member of his community and media figure, MV Bill is the symbol of political speech. Using rap music, he is chronicling the ongoing war in the favelas—the infamous slums of Brazil. Today, in addition to being a rapper and documentary filmmaker, MV Bill is one of the most important activists in Brazil.

Together with producer Celso Athayde, MV Bill founded CUFA, Central Unica das Favelas, a non-governmental organization that works in various parts of Brazil. CUFA’s main form of expression is hip hop. CUFA’s aim is to promote a cultural production of the Brazilian favelas, through activities in the fields of education, sports, culture, and citizenship.

In April 2005, MV Bill released the book Cabeca de Porco. The book is about young people who have chosen a criminal lifestyle. MV Bill also compiled footage to produce a documentary called “Falcao – Meninos do Trafico (Boys of the Drug Trade).” When it aired in 2006 on a popular television channel in Brazil it shocked the nation. By the time “Falcao” aired, 16 out of the 17 youth who had been interviewed for the documentary had been killed. The one remaining survivor was in prison.

MV Bill is currently producing “Falcao – Mulheres do Trafico (Women of the Drug Trade).”

CUFA

In 1998, MV Bill met with various youth from the favelas of Rio de Janeiro. From these meetings it became clear that the youth needed a space to gather other than the streets, somewhere where they could express themselves, talk about their challenges and feel connected. The CUFA, Central Unica das Favelas – the Unique Center of the Favelas, was born out of these meetings. It is now a national organization with 20 other CUFA centers in Favelas across Brazil.

CUFA seeks to elevate the self-esteem of the underprivileged. At CUFA, youth learn that there are other alternatives to the drug trade and violence. CUFA uses the 4 elements of hip hop to connect with the youth: graffiti, DJ, breakdancing and rap. Through these elements, youth gain confidence and learn how to express themselves in creative ways. CUFA also teaches through sports, multimedia and social projects. By promoting activities in these areas, the youth gain tangible skills and inspiration to contribute to their community in positive ways.