In an era where internet culture can elevate songs to global audiences overnight, few collaborations represent the intersection of different music worlds quite like “FAVELA,” the record bringing together producer MXZI and UK artist Deno.
Released in November 2025, the track arrived through an unprecedented partnership between two powerful music platforms: NoCopyrightSounds (NCS), and Mixtape Madness.
A Rare Meeting of Two Music Giants
Both platforms involved in the release bring enormous audiences.
NoCopyrightSounds, founded in 2011, has become one of the most influential electronic music outlets on YouTube, boasting over 34 million subscribers and more than 12 billion total video views. The label built its reputation by releasing copyright-free electronic music that creators can use in videos, making it one of the most widely used music sources across YouTube, Twitch, and gaming culture.
Meanwhile, Mixtape Madness has established itself as one of the UK’s most influential rap platforms, with its YouTube channel attracting around 1.8 million subscribers and producing viral freestyle series like Next Up and Mad About Bars.
While both brands dominate their own lanes—NCS in electronic music and Mixtape Madness in UK rap—collaborations between the two remain rare. That made “FAVELA” stand out immediately. The track marked a joint release between the two brands, merging their audiences and creating a bridge between phonk-driven electronic production and melodic UK rap vocals.
MXZI at the Center of the Collaboration
At the heart of the record is “dominic balog” (known as MXZI), whose rise over the past few years has turned him into one of the most streamed producers emerging from the modern Brazilian Phonk movement.
The London-based producer now attracts over 16 million monthly listeners on Spotify, while his catalog has generated billions of streams across platforms. His breakout “Montagem” series, including tracks like Montagem Xonada and Montagem Tomada has collectively accumulated hundreds of millions of plays.
Those numbers have positioned MXZI as one of the producers shaping the high-energy montagem-style wave of phonk, a sound built for viral edits.
The collaboration with Deno represents another expansion of his influence. Rather than staying within purely electronic circles, MXZI stepped directly into the UK rap scene, bringing his production style into a space traditionally dominated by grime, afroswing, and melodic drill.
The Deno Factor
For Deno Michael Mebrahtu, the collaboration added another chapter to an already successful career. Born in Brixton, London, the British-Eritrean singer and rapper first gained attention through viral freestyles posted online before collaborating with major UK artists.
His breakout single “Advice” with Cadet became a major UK hit, reaching No. 14 on the UK Singles Chart and earning BPI Gold certification.
Over the years, Deno has accumulated hundreds of millions of streams, with his catalog surpassing 586 million total Spotify plays and attracting a global fanbase.
A Song Built for the Internet Era
Like much of MXZI’s catalog, “FAVELA” was built with the creator and short-form content in mind.
The track runs just over two minutes, maintains a fast 130 BPM, and features tightly structured drops designed to work seamlessly in montage edits and short-form content. This structure has become a defining characteristic of the modern phonk wave music.
With NCS’s creator-driven distribution model and Mixtape Madness’s deep connection to UK rap audiences, the collaboration effectively placed the track in front of millions of listeners across multiple communities at once.
MXZI, Deno – FAVELA | Funk | NCS x Mixtape Madness – Copyright Free Music
A Symbol of MXZI’s Growing Influence
The release of “FAVELA” highlights MXZI’s expanding influence across different corners of the music industry.
Few producers move seamlessly between electronic music platforms and established UK rap outlets, but MXZI’s viral reach has positioned him as a bridge between those worlds.
For MXZI, bringing together powerhouse names in this unprecedented collaboration demonstrates the growing influence he now carries within the industry.
FOLLOW MXZI:
Instagram: @mxziofc
TikTok: @mxziofc
Official YouTube: @MXZIOFC
YouTube Music: MXZI Artist Page
FOLLOW DENO:
Instagram: @denodriz
TikTok: @denodriz
X (Twitter): @denodriz
