Cidade Negra

Origin

Belford Roxo, RJ

Years Active

1986–2022

Genres

reggae, pop reggae, MPB

Instruments

bass, vocals, guitar, drums, percussion

Biography

Cidade Negra is a renowned Brazilian reggae band formed in 1986 in Belford Roxo, Rio de Janeiro. The group was originally established by musicians Bino Farias, Ras Bernardo, Da Ghama, and Lazão, who fused their shared passion for Jamaican rhythm, 1970s soul and funk, and classic rock. In 1994, vocalist Toni Garrido joined the band, helping steer their sound toward a more diverse and commercially successful pop-reggae style while maintaining deep social and political roots.

Throughout their decades-long career, the band released numerous landmark albums such as Sobre Todas as Forças and O Erê, producing major hits like "Pensamento", "A Sombra da Maldade", and "A Estrada". They collaborated with prominent Brazilian artists including Gilberto Gil, Nando Reis, Marisa Monte, and Lulu Santos, as well as international acts. Despite lineup changes, legal disputes over the band's name, and a temporary disbandment, the group remains a foundational pillar of Brazilian reggae music.

Discography

• Lute para Viver (1990)
• Negro No Poder (1992)
• Zumbi (1992)
• Sobre Todas as Forças (1994)
• A Sombra da Maldade (1994)
• O Erê (1996)
• Quanto Mais Curtido Melhor (1998)
• Dubs (1999)
• Enquanto O Mundo Gira (2000)
• Acústico MTV (2002)
• Perto de Deus (2004)
• Direto (Ao Vivo) (2006)
• Diversão (Ao Vivo) (2007)
• Que Assim Seja (2010)
• Hei, Afro! (2012)
• Reggae na Veia (Ao Vivo) (2012)
• Martinho da Vila - Cidade Negra - Emicida – Rock In Rio (Ao Vivo) (2013)