Planet Hemp
- Origin
- Rio de Janeiro, RJ
- Years active
- 1993–2025
- Genres
- rap rock, rap, hardcore punk, psychedelic rock, ragga
- Instruments
- vocals, guitar, bass guitar, drums, turntables, keyboards
Biography
Planet Hemp is a seminal Brazilian rap rock band formed in 1993 in the Catete neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro. Founded by Marcelo D2 and the late Skunk, the group became a cultural phenomenon for blending hip hop, hardcore punk, and psychedelic rock—a style they dubbed "Raprocknrollpsicodeliahardcoreragga." Their lyrics were notoriously centered on the legalization of cannabis, which made them both pioneers of the 1990s counterculture and targets of judicial censorship during the mid-1990s. \n\nAfter the tragic passing of Skunk in 1994, BNegão joined the lineup, helping the band achieve mainstream success with albums like Usuário (1995) and Os Cães Ladram mas a Caravana Não Pára (1997). The latter's title proved prophetic when the entire band was arrested in 1997 in Brasília for "drug advocacy" during a tour. This event galvanized the Brazilian artistic community and turned the band into symbols of freedom of expression. During their peak, they shared stages with major Brazilian acts such as Raimundos and O Rappa, and helped launch the successful solo careers of its vocalists. \n\nThe band initially disbanded in 2001 as members focused on solo projects, most notably Marcelo D2’s fusion of rap and samba. However, they reunited multiple times over the following decades, culminating in a major return with the Grammy-winning album Jardineiros in 2022. Collaborating with contemporary artists like Criolo and Pitty, Planet Hemp cemented their legacy as a cornerstone of Brazilian urban music before announcing their definitive retirement with the "Última Ponta" farewell tour in 2025.