Marcelo D2 at Canecão

By Maíra Amorim, Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO – Marcelo D2 is presenting the show “A Arte do Barulho” (The Art of Noise) at Canecão on July 31 and August 1, from the album of the same name released at the beginning of 2009. The rapper, who used to be part of a pro-marijuana group called Planet Hemp, was arrested a few times for drug use. He has since apologized and seems to be changing his lifestyle.

He started his solo career in 1997, releasing “Eu tiro é onda”. Planet Hemp was a rap, hip hop and rock band that became well-known for making the controversial political statement in defense of the use of marijuana. The curious thing is that, despite their provocative stance, the group gained fame and became mainstream singing hits such as “Eu continuo fumando até a última ponta” (I keep smoking until the last bit).

Marcelo adopted a lighter tone when he decided to quit Planet Hemp. In an interview in 2005, he declared that he did not want to make political commitments or defend the use of marijuana. “I want to smoke, I don’t want to engage on political debates,” he said. But he kept his nickname D2, which comes from a slang expression in Portuguese that refers to smoking marijuana (“dar um dois” or to give a two, said when asking to pass a joint).

The musician started to flirt with samba, the rhythm he listened to as a child growing up in Rio’s North Zone. The albums “A Procura da Batida Perfeita” (Looking for the Perfect Beat, 2003) and “Meu Samba é Assim” (My Samba is Like This, 2006) are produced in a musical style that is quite a departure from his days with Planet Hemp. But D2 didn’t abandon the band’s influence and now mixes rap with samba.

The songs “Desabafo”, from “A Arte do Barulho” or “Qual é?”, from “A Procura da Batida Perfeita” have become instant hits. On the album “Meu Samba é Assim” he invited Zeca Pagodinho and Arlindo Cruz, masters of samba, and Mr. Catra, the popular funk MC, showing that he keeps looking for the perfect beat.

Canecão’s concert will be followed by the party “LUV”. In August, D2 is playing in Portugal and in September will perform in New York. You can check out his tour schedule at the artist’s MySpace.

Marcelo D2
Canecão – 10PM
Av. Venceslau Brás, 215, Botafogo – Tel.: 2105-2000
Tickets from R$90 (students pay R$45)