Direct-to-Disc

Marcelo Peixoto became known through his work with 90s rap-rock band Planet Hemp and their ceaseless cries for the legalisation of marijuana. His 2003 solo album A Procura da Batida Perfeita (In Search of the Perfect Beat) included samba stars Martinho da Vila and Beth Carvalho, and was his most successful attempt at blending samba and hip-hop, turning him into a national rap megastar. He revisits his back catalogue of raps on this release, but with the live samba trio SambaDrive rather than his usual set-up of a DJ and samples. ‘A Maldição do Samba’ is a lively bossa-jazz that specifically references (rather than samples) the eternal bossa classic of ‘Canto de Ossanha’. ‘MD2 (A Sigla No Tag)’ is a funky slice of Rio-jazz in the spirit of Azymuth. It may seem like a retread of old ideas, but the smokey basement style of the band gives these tunes a new dimension.