At the age of 14, while writing in a notebook in Mogi das Cruzes, in Greater São Paulo, rapper Ajulliacosta had no idea that, at 28, she would be taking the Afropunk Brasil stage for the second time. The event is considered the largest black culture festival in the world and takes place on the 7th and 8th of November, at the Salvador Exhibition Park.
The singer's return to the festival, three years after her first performance, comes at a time of greater maturity. "I come back with more maturity, I even come back with a certain gratitude for the festival, because, from there, it opened many doors for me", he said in an interview with g1.
Preparation involves different elements of the performance, such as ballet, costumes, stage structure and special appearances. The artist preferred not to reveal details about the surprises planned for the show, but stated that she is working to transform the presentation into a special experience both for the audience and for her own career.
Ajulliacosta celebrates roots in rap, highlights the strength of AFROPUNK Brasil and prepares for the Latin Grammys — Photo: Disclosure
The relationship with the festival, however, goes beyond the opportunity to sing at a major event. For the rapper, Afropunk plays an important role in creating an environment in which black artists can be recognized based on cultural references and a sensitivity that they do not always find in other spaces.
"Only us to look at us with such sensitivity."
For Aju, as she is affectionately called by her fans, the identification between artists and the public is one of the central characteristics of the festival, which celebrates their bodies, their aesthetics and their references without having to adapt to external standards. The rapper also highlights that fashion, music and different individual expressions meet and form a collective movement of belonging.
"It's a moment where we feel at ease, where we can be free with our bodies, with our aesthetics. It's where fashion is also very present and everyone brings their own reference, you know? And it creates a great movement," he explained.
Another point highlighted by the São Paulo native was the fact that the stages were side by side. "[In 2023] I sang on a stage that was the same as Alcione's, which was next to Alcione's. There is no place to diminish the artist. [The organization] puts us on a level of equality just because it is promoting and continuing what others have done", he emphasized.
From notebook to stage
Ajulliacosta competes for the Latin Grammy with the album “Novo Testament” — Photo: Divulgação/Michelle Gomes
Music has always been present in Ajulliacosta's life, but it was through writing that the artist discovered her own space in rap. As a teenager, she used to record ideas in a notebook, without imagining that those words could go beyond the paper and conquer the world.
At the time, just 14 years old, the singer believed that writing was something common, without realizing that that ability could be a differentiator. It was the contact with other artists and the recognition of people close to her that helped her understand that there was space for her voice in music.
"I don't just write, I'm also good at what I write."
The trajectory built since then gained new chapters with the return to Afropunk Brasil and the nomination for the Latin Grammy. For the singer, both events represent opportunities to expand the reach of her own work, but also to reaffirm the values that guide her relationship with rap.
Help at the Latin Grammys
Ajulliacosta was nominated for a Latin Grammy — Photo: Disclosure
A few days after the festival, Ajulliacosta has another important commitment: participating in the Latin Grammys. The nomination was received with surprise by the artist, who competes with "Novo Testament" (2025) in the Best Urban Music Album in Portuguese Language category. “It was a delight to be nominated for a Grammy, it was really good,” she said.
The expectation of winning the trophy exists, of course, but she also considers it important to enjoy the process as part of her training and professional career.
"Of course we want to bring the Grammys home. Everyone's like: 'Let's bring it, let's get it'. But, anyway, I'm going to live this moment."
The nomination represents another milestone for the young woman’s career. From the rap scene in Mogi das Cruzes to an international award, the singer's journey included recognition of her work, the occupation of new spaces and the preservation of an artistic identity linked to rap.
Between music and entrepreneurship
In addition to his musical career, Ajulliacosta also manages AjcShop, an authorial clothing brand connected to hip-hop culture, black aesthetics and the appreciation of different bodies and identities.
Reconciling the two activities has required changes in the way she works, especially because she needs to share responsibilities and entrust processes to other people.
For a long time, the artist tried to closely monitor all stages of the projects:
in the business, she participated in tasks such as sewing and customer service;
In music, I also liked to be directly involved in everything that happened.
As activities grew, however, she realized that it would not be possible to maintain the same level of participation in every detail.
"For me, the hardest learning experience is that I couldn't handle everything."
The challenge, according to the singer, is related to attachment to one's own processes and the difficulty of delegating tasks when one has a specific vision of how something should be done. At the same time, she began to recognize that other people can contribute different and equally good solutions.
The leadership experience, in this way, also became a learning process, since sharing responsibilities does not mean giving up control over one's own trajectory, but creating conditions for projects to continue growing without depending exclusively on one person.
'What does Julia want? What will Julia be?'
Ajulliacosta talks about legacy in rap — Photo: Disclosure
When she thinks about the way she would like to be remembered, Ajulliacosta highlights what she intends to build for Brazilian music. The singer wants to be recognized as an artist who occupied the spaces she considered possible and necessary, without limiting herself to the barriers imposed along the way.
One of the central points of this vision is the relationship with rap. For her, professional growth should not mean moving away from the references that helped form her identity.
"I think rap shaped me as a human being, so it has to be in my attitudes too, in the things I'm going to bring to the world."
The artist's concern goes beyond the continuity of a musical genre in her repertoire. Her greatest desire is to help rap continue to change and maintain its strength.
When looking at his own story, Ajulliacosta brings together different dimensions of the artistic experience: the writing that began in a notebook, the support of those who recognized his talent, the construction of a career, the challenges of entrepreneurship and reaching international stages.
What connects these moments is precisely the intention to grow without breaking with one’s origins. For the singer, occupying new spaces does not need to mean leaving behind what formed her, on the contrary: it is from this identity that she intends to continue building her place in Brazilian music.
