Nei Brás Lopes, born May 9, 1942, in Rio de Janeiro, is a Brazilian singer and
composer. He shifted his focus to music in the early 1970s. As a professional
composer since 1972, Lopes gained prominence through his collaborations with
Wilson Moreira, whose work was recorded by many traditional samba interpreters.
In the 1980s, he supported the Pagode movement, which took samba back to the
airwaves. He also collaborated with prominent figures such as Guinga, Zé Renato,
and Chico Buarque. Notable albums include Negro Mesmo (1983), Canto Banto
(1996), and De Letra & Música (2000).