Diego Raphael Villanueva, known professionally as Mr.Thug, was born on September 15, 1990, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He began his music career by co-founding the group Bonde da Stronda with Léo Schulz in 2006. As the main songwriter of the group, Mr.Thug's lyrics often reflected his personal experiences and those of his friends.
In 2012, Mr.Thug released his solo single "Tem Espaço? Faz Tatuagem!" which included a music video showcasing his passion for tattoos. He later founded the record label ZeroUM Records, through which he continued to release solo works alongside other artists. His discography includes notable albums such as THUGLUV (2016) and NOVEMBRO (2017).