She participated, in 1995, in the recording of Jorge Ben Jor's 23 as a backing vocalist and became a member, in 1997, of the soul music band Zomba (with which she recorded the independent Zomba), having performed in shows by the rap duo Thaíde & DJ Hum (also recording a track for them). In 1998, she joined the funk big band Funk Como Le Gusta, recording with them the album Roda de Funk in 1999. Her earliest solo performances are from this period, at the Hipódromo Up (Rio de Janeiro) and at São Paulo. Lima also participated in the soundtrack of the film Amores Possíveis. In January 2001, the band performed at the Humaitá Pra Peixe festival at the Sérgio Porto cultural center in Rio with special guests Daúde and Gerson King Combo. On her first solo album, É Isso Aí, Lima was given a new song by Ben Jor, "A Paz Dançando na Avenida." She also had Ed Motta as an arranger and singer on two tracks written by her and Motta (with Bernardo Vilhena, the co-producer): "As Famosas Gargalhadas do Yuca" and "Perdão Talvez." The album also had the participation of guest artists Gerson King Combo, Xis, Cláudio Zoli, Ivo Meirelles, and Banda Black Rio. ~ Alvaro Neder