O Rappa

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Also known as

Rappa

Years Active

1993–2018

Genres

rock, reggae, rap, samba, funk, MPB

Instruments

voz, guitarra, baixo, bateria, teclado, percussão

Biography

Formed in Rio de Janeiro in 1993, O Rappa initially emerged as a backing band for singer Papa Winnie. After the tour, the remaining musicians, including keyboardist Marcelo Lobato and drummer Marcelo Yuka, decided to stay together and recruited lead vocalist Marcelo Falcão through a newspaper ad. The group consolidated a unique sound that fused rock, reggae, rap, and elements of samba and MPB, leaving a mark on Brazilian music with lyrics carrying strong social and political impact.

The band achieved national stardom with the album Rappa Mundi (1996), which brought hits like "Pescador de Ilusões" and a striking cover of "Vapor Barato", a song immortalized by Gal Costa. In 1999, the release of Lado B Lado A elevated the group's status, featuring award-winning music videos and emblematic songs like "Minha Alma (A paz que eu não quero)", with lyrics mostly written by Marcelo Yuka. This period was interrupted by a tragedy in 2000, when Yuka became paraplegic after being shot in a mugging, leading the band to an internal restructuring in which Marcelo Lobato took over the drums.

Even with Yuka's subsequent departure, O Rappa maintained its relevance in the following decades with albums like O Silêncio Q Precede O Esporro and acoustic projects that featured collaborations with artists such as Maria Rita and Siba (from Mestre Ambrósio). Following hiatuses and highly successful tours, the group ended its activities in 2018, leaving a legacy of over 5 million records sold and a discography that reflects the tensions and culture of Brazil's outskirts. In its final years, the group still collaborated with new names on the national scene, such as singer Iza on the hit "Pesadão".

Discography

• O Rappa (1994)
• Rappa Mundi (1996)
• Lado B Lado A (1999)
• Instinto Coletivo Ao Vivo (2001)
• O Silêncio Q Precede o Esporro (2003)
• Acústico MTV (2005)
• 7 Vezes (2008)
• Ao Vivo (2010)
• Nunca Tem Fim... (2013)
• Acústico Oficina Francisco Brennand (2016)
• Acústico Oficina Francisco Brennand [Ao Vivo] (2016)
• Marco Zero (Ao Vivo) (2017)