With most hip-hop coming out of Brazil being to put it most politely a work in progress, at least in terms of musicality, former Planet Hemp front-man Marcelo D2 draws upon the tried and true rhythms of samba to form the basis of his attempted fusion of these two very distinct genres. Its an experiment that pays off in dividends, pushing to the fore a profoundly danceable element of a genre where most of his peers are focused almost entirely on lyrical and cerebral stimulation. The heavy influence of American hip-hop on D2 as an artist who again enlists the services of long-time producer Mario Caldato Jr. and features the razor sharp cuts of Mixmaster Mike on a number of the albums tracks presents itself not only musically, but also in the emcees cadence and flow. Indeed, the albums very title, Looking for the Perfect Beat, is a testament to American hip-hops storied past, as is b-boy anthem "Pilotando o Bonde da Ercursão, which borrows from the "Rappers Delight melody. Conversely, "Profissão M.C., with its stuttered, choppy beat, and the full rhythmic live percussion and traditional, samba-styled chorus of "Re: Batucada, represent the new school of Brazilian hip-hop. Looking for the Perfect Beat is a welcome example of the sub-genres musical possibilities
(Mr. Bongo)Marcelo D2
Looking for the Perfect Beat
BY Kevin JonesPublished Jul 1, 2005