Country: United States
Thievery Corporation is an American electronic music duo formed in 1995 in Washington, D.C., by Rob Garza and Eric Hilton at the Eighteenth Street Lounge. Their sound blends dub, acid jazz, reggae, Indian classical, Middle Eastern music, hip hop, electronica, and Brazilian bossa nova. The duo launched their own label, Eighteenth Street Lounge Music, in 1996 and quickly drew attention with early releases such as the 12-inch singles "Shaolin Satellite" and "2001: A Spliff Odyssey," as well as their debut album Sounds from the Thievery Hi-Fi. Their early work established them as pioneers in fusing electronic music with global influences, particularly Brazilian culture and bossa nova. Throughout their career, Thievery Corporation has released a series of critically acclaimed albums, including The Richest Man in Babylon (2002), The Cosmic Game (2004), Radio Retaliation (2008), Culture of Fear (2011), Saudade (2014), and The Temple of I & I (2017). They have collaborated with numerous vocalists, including Emilíana Torrini, Pam Bricker, Wayne Coyne, David Byrne, and Puma Ptah, and their music has appeared in films, video games, and benefit albums. Their live shows and tours, such as sold-out performances at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C., and appearances opening for Paul McCartney, have further cemented their reputation as a dynamic live act. Politically and socially, Thievery Corporation has been outspoken, advocating against war, exploitative trade, and human rights abuses while supporting humanitarian causes such as the World Food Programme. Their 2008 album Radio Retaliation contains explicitly political messaging, reflecting the duo’s engagement with global issues. Linguistically diverse, their songs feature lyrics in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Persian, Portuguese, Romanian, and Hindi, emphasizing their world music influences. Across decades, Thievery Corporation has remained a unique voice in electronic and global music, blending rhythm, politics, and multicultural sounds into a distinctive sonic identity.
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