Bursting onto Rio's music scene as a teenager in the '80s, multi-instrumentalist Ed Motta went on to juggle singing, composition and production across a long career. His debut with Conexão Japeri bridged funk, soul and Brazilian pop—styles that would faithfully weave their way through his later output. His acclaimed film soundtracks in the '90s prefaced albums like Dwitza (2002) and the English-language Chapter 9 (2003) that established him globally. Building on '70s sounds, bossa nova and jazz, these masterful picks introduce his vision, complete with velvety croons and exhilarating cries.