Tropkillaz

Brazilian duo Tropkillaz crafts explosive, groove-driven electronic productions that fuse local Brazilian rhythms with bass, funk, and trap elements. Their first major club breakthrough arrived via the 2015 single “Mambo,” after which they teamed with Anitta for the 2018 chart success “Vai Malandra.”

The pair came together in São Paulo in 2012 as the project of DJ-producers Ze Gonzales, known professionally as Zegon, and Andre Laudz, known professionally as Laudz. Zegon, already counted among Brazil’s most respected DJs and producers, had previously played in the ’90s hip-hop group Planet Hemp and formed the duo N.A.S.A. alongside Sam Spiegel; his résumé also includes collaborations with David Byrne, George Clinton, Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA, and M.I.A. Laudz, the younger member, began DJing in 2007 and has since worked with Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and numerous leading Brazilian MCs. Together they first drew widespread notice in 2013 through tracks such as “Hardcore” and “Assests,” the latter featuring Yellow Claw. Yet it was the kinetic 2015 trap reinterpretation of “Mambo Italiano,” simply titled “Mambo,” that earned them global recognition. In 2018 the duo joined Anitta, MC Zaac, and Maejor Ali on the single “Vai Malandra,” which reached number four on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart.