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Eli Efi and DJ Laylo are a powerful hip hop duo that believes in the strength of music to deliver a message. Blending banging beats with sharp lyrics, Eli Efi & Laylo bring forth the best of Brazilian Hip Hop. Eli Efi is a hip hop legend from São Paulo, Brasil. In 1988, he founded the politically charged rap group DMN and went on to record five albums receiving praise from the hip hop community and music industry alike. The group was nominated for best video and best rap group at the MTV Brazil Video Music Awards, best rap song of the year at the Hutus Hip Hop Awards Festival, and won best music video at the São Paulo Shorts Film Festival. In 2004, he left DMN and now continues his musical career alongside DJ Laylo.

Representing the Bronx, DJ Laylo is a pleasant surprise in any music scene. Her unrelenting commitment to good music and rocking the crowd has earned her a reputation for being able to give any venue a house party vibe. Born in Puerto Rico to Dominican parents, her musical selection reflects her upbringing in New York City. DJ Laylo effortlessly blends Hip Hop, Soul, Salsa, House, Merengue, Reggae, and Afrobeat to the delight of partygoers everywhere. She is the co-founder and resident DJ at Liberation Lounge NYC.

Together, they bring hip hop back to a place where MCs rocked alongside DJs to move the crowd but with an international flavor with LF rhyming in Portuguese and Laylo always finding a way to blend some Samba or Salsa into the brew.

Their signature style and captivating stage presence has pleased the ears and souls of many. They have performed throughout the United States, Brasil, Mexico, Colombia, and Chile sharing the stage with the biggest names in international hip hop as well as U.S. based artists such as Styles P, Dead Prez, Talib Kweli, Jean Grae, Jeru da Damaja, Immortal Technique, Ras Kass, Lord Finesse, CL Smooth, Welfare Poets, Hurricane G, David Banner, among many others.

DJ Laylo is also currently co-producing and directing Estilo Hip Hop, a documentary the chronicles the revolutionary inspired hip hop movements of Brasil, Chile, Cuba, and Mexico. Estilo Hip Hop was recently funded by ITVS and will air nationally on PBS in 2008.

Both Eli Efi and Laylo are firm believers in community action. Because of this, they are involved in numerous grassroots projects. Eli Efi is a member of ABEVIC, a neighborhood association that works with young people and adults to address community problems. Laylo is currently the director of The Reel X Project, which is a video training and personal development program for young women of color in the Bronx.

In addition to performances, Eli Efi and Laylo are available to lead workshops and speak on panels. Past workshop and panel topics include: Hip Hop & Social Justice, Afro-Brazilian Youth & Hip Hop, Women in Hip Hop, Hip hop in Latin America, DJ workshop for women, among many others.