O Rappa

O Rappa was a Brazilian reggae-rock band from Rio de Janeiro known for blending reggae, rock, funk, hip hop, and samba. Formed in the early 1990s, the group became widely respected for music that strongly criticized social inequality, violence, and political issues in Brazil. Beyond music, the band members were actively involved in social and community projects, reflecting the messages in their lyrics. The band’s origins trace back to 1993, when reggae artist Papa Winnie assembled Nelson Meirelles, Marcelo Lobato, Alexandre Menezes, and Marcelo Yuka as his backing band during a Brazilian tour. Afterward, the musicians stayed together and recruited Falcão as lead vocalist. Their debut album O Rappa (1994) gained underground recognition, while Rappa Mundi (1996) expanded their audience, helped by the popular cover of “Hey Joe.” Major success arrived with Lado B Lado A (1999), which sold over 150,000 copies and earned multiple MTV Brasil awards, particularly for the song “Minha Alma.” In 2000, drummer Marcelo Yuka was shot during a robbery and left paraplegic, leading to his departure from the band. O Rappa continued releasing influential work, including live albums and DVDs, such as Instinto Coletivo ao Vivo (2001) and Ao Vivo na Rocinha (2010), recorded in Rio’s largest favela. They performed at major global events like Live Earth in 2007 and released their final studio album 7 Vezes in 2008. In May 2017, the band announced an indefinite pause following their farewell tour, which ended in February 2018.