Marcelo D2

Marcelo D2 started his career in music as the leader and singer of the band Planet Hemp and has gone on to become a full blown superstar in his native country of Brazil, recognised as the creator of the Samba Hip Hop sound

Controversial and ideologically straight to the point, D2's first band Planet Hemp sold over 500,000 copies of their first release, 'Usuario' in 1994. The albums that followed, 'A invasao do Sagaz Homem Fumaca', 'Os Caes Ladram e a Caravana nao passa' and 'MTV Live Planet Hemp' made D2 a multi-platinum artist from the start of his career.

Years later, after he toured with the band in countries such as Japan, USA, France, Netherlands and the UK, Marcelo D2 entered a new stage of his career and released his first solo album: 'Eu Tiro E Onda' in 1999. This album marked him as the starter of a revolution in Brazillian music - for mixing samba and hip hop in a unique, elegant and highly contagious way.

D2 released the album 'A Procura da Batida Perfeita' in 2003 on Mr Bongo Records (outside of Brazil), and won all the award he was nominated for over a two year period, including Best Lyrics and Best Composer from the Brazilian Writers Academy, as well as five Brazilian MTV Awards.

Like the preceeding album, it was produced by Mario Caldato (Beastie Boys producer) with the symbiotic process of putting together beats and influences of all the diversity of composers of samba and hip hop into the fertile imagination of D2's lyrics. 'Looking For The Perfect Beat' (the English translation), was released in Asia, USA and Europe and established D2 as the main Brazilian artist in three continents. For two years D2 and his band were on tour promoting this album, playing at all the large cities in Brasil plus four major European tours.

D2 has also guested on many Samba and Hip Hop albums by artists such as Sergio Mendes. In the US, D2 has been considered the Brazilian Jay-Z by Will.I.Am and performed together with names like Steve Wonder, Justin Timberlake and Erykah Badu at the PeaPod Foundation show.

D2 released his third solo album, Meu Samba É Assim in 2007, with special guests from both the Samba and Hip Hop worlds, such as Charli 2na and Zeca Pagodinho. As part of the album tour he also performed at big shows with the Black Eyed Peas and Sergio Mendes as well as at the 25,000 seater Hollywood Bowl in the USA

Marcelo D2 has estabilished himself as one of the most significant artists of all time in Brazilian music.



Above: Marcelo D2 - Qual é official video



Above: Marcelo D2 - Vai Vendo official video



Above: Marcelo D2 - Dor de Verdade official video