Gabriel O Pensador

Born into privilege, Gabriel Contino first sought entry into the peripheral rap circles of São Paulo before November 1992 delivered his initial breakthrough: the composition “Tô Feliz (Matei o Presidente)” secured rotation on RPC radio, only to be removed by censors. Sony then issued his debut album, Gabriel o Pensador, in 1994; the track “Lôraburra” later earned a gold record once released in Portugal. His sophomore effort, Ainda É Só O Começo, appeared in June 1995, with “Estudo Errado” and “FDP Ao Cubo” provoking debate while the project fell short of its predecessor’s sales. Mid-1997 brought the third album, Quebra-Cabeça, anchored by the pop single “2345meia78,” already a nationwide radio success. Producer Memê’s commercially oriented dance arrangements later turned “Cachimbo Da Paz” and “Festa da música” into further hits, pushing total sales past one million copies. In 1998 U2 invited o Pensador to open the Brazilian leg of their tour. Nádegas a Declarar followed in 1999, its title track co-written and performed with Fernanda Abreu.