Millenium Rap: a big party for the renegade
Kept apart from the Rock In Rio, the hip hop showed its power on Saturday, in São Paulo, when over 30 thousand people attended the greatest rap fest ever in Brazil
Tom Cardoso
15/01/2001
The thousands of people that crowded the Anhembi park on Saturday, in São Paulo, relished with the musical style that's been overlooked by the rock fest being carried in Rio. It was a 12-hour, prime quality bash, with Thaíde & DJ Hum, Xis, 509-E (who got a permit to leave the jail a few hours before) and Racionais MCs. Even Marcelo D2, the only act from out of town, got over the eternal dispute between Rio and São Paulo and did one of the finest sets that night.
Before the official opening of the fest, delayed in three hours, the Rapsoulfunk DJs and the groups Realidade Cruel and Faces da Morte cheered up the audience, still a bit aloof and anxious for the big stars yet to come. Meanwhile, inside the VIP room, Senator Eduardo Suplicy and his son, rocker Supla, shared the space with Ratos do Porão vocalist João Gordo and former child star Simony in an unfriendly mood.
The veteran Brazilian rappers, Thaíde & DJ Hum, hailed as masters by the younger artists, took the stage little before midnight. The duo that gained popularity in the 80s privileged the songs from their latest release, Assim Caminha a Humanidade, but also played some of their greatest hits, such as Sr.Tempo Bom and Malandragem Dá Um Tempo (which, in spite of the exact same title, is not the Bezerra da Silva hit).
Thaíde was annoyed with part of the crowd that would go up the stage to dance beside him. As a matter of fact, the Groove Brothers producers (Racionais vocalist Ice Blue and Primo Preto) have yet to acquire the necessary know-how in roder to organize such big events. The security was a bit too permissive with the crowd right in front of the stage. The delays were also too lengthy. It was past 1 a.m. and Marcelo D2 hadn't gotten on stage.
The Planet Hemp vocalist displayed his unique personality during the solo act (he made the solo CD Eu Tiro É Onda in 1999). He was booed as soon as he got on stage, but managed to manipulate the crowd, especially by including a few Planet Hemp hits like Queimando Tudo, Mantenha o Respeito and Dig Dig Dig. D2 offered a counterpoint to the conservative posture of the rappers from São Paulo, and attacked with samba, doing homage to the late samba singer Jovelina Pérola Negra.
It was 3:30 a.m. when Racionais finally showed up, along with Xis and 509-E's Dexter and Afro-X, the latter arriving straight from the prison. The audience went wild when Mano Brown and his posse did Capítulo 4, Versículo 3, taken from Racionais' classic album, Sobrevivendo no Inferno. The three artists took turns on the stage, performing hits like Diário de Um Detento, Fim de Semana no Parque (Racionais), Us Mano As Mina (Xis) and Hora H (509-E). Mano Brown even let go of the secret involving his group's upcoming release and did a few new songs, such as Vida Loka.
The audience stood on their feet for over 12 hours waiting for Racionais, and most of the crowd didn't even complain, faithfully singing along to all of their songs. Dexter and Afro X were possibly able to see the sun rise before going back to jail. Mano Brown, known for his less than friendly manners, looked like a child, hugging each fan that managed to get up on stage. Definitely a historic night for the Brazilian rap.
Before the official opening of the fest, delayed in three hours, the Rapsoulfunk DJs and the groups Realidade Cruel and Faces da Morte cheered up the audience, still a bit aloof and anxious for the big stars yet to come. Meanwhile, inside the VIP room, Senator Eduardo Suplicy and his son, rocker Supla, shared the space with Ratos do Porão vocalist João Gordo and former child star Simony in an unfriendly mood.
The veteran Brazilian rappers, Thaíde & DJ Hum, hailed as masters by the younger artists, took the stage little before midnight. The duo that gained popularity in the 80s privileged the songs from their latest release, Assim Caminha a Humanidade, but also played some of their greatest hits, such as Sr.Tempo Bom and Malandragem Dá Um Tempo (which, in spite of the exact same title, is not the Bezerra da Silva hit).
Thaíde was annoyed with part of the crowd that would go up the stage to dance beside him. As a matter of fact, the Groove Brothers producers (Racionais vocalist Ice Blue and Primo Preto) have yet to acquire the necessary know-how in roder to organize such big events. The security was a bit too permissive with the crowd right in front of the stage. The delays were also too lengthy. It was past 1 a.m. and Marcelo D2 hadn't gotten on stage.
The Planet Hemp vocalist displayed his unique personality during the solo act (he made the solo CD Eu Tiro É Onda in 1999). He was booed as soon as he got on stage, but managed to manipulate the crowd, especially by including a few Planet Hemp hits like Queimando Tudo, Mantenha o Respeito and Dig Dig Dig. D2 offered a counterpoint to the conservative posture of the rappers from São Paulo, and attacked with samba, doing homage to the late samba singer Jovelina Pérola Negra.
It was 3:30 a.m. when Racionais finally showed up, along with Xis and 509-E's Dexter and Afro-X, the latter arriving straight from the prison. The audience went wild when Mano Brown and his posse did Capítulo 4, Versículo 3, taken from Racionais' classic album, Sobrevivendo no Inferno. The three artists took turns on the stage, performing hits like Diário de Um Detento, Fim de Semana no Parque (Racionais), Us Mano As Mina (Xis) and Hora H (509-E). Mano Brown even let go of the secret involving his group's upcoming release and did a few new songs, such as Vida Loka.
The audience stood on their feet for over 12 hours waiting for Racionais, and most of the crowd didn't even complain, faithfully singing along to all of their songs. Dexter and Afro X were possibly able to see the sun rise before going back to jail. Mano Brown, known for his less than friendly manners, looked like a child, hugging each fan that managed to get up on stage. Definitely a historic night for the Brazilian rap.