O Rappa

O Rappa (pronounced "U Hah-pah") is a popular Brazilian reggae/rock band from Rio de Janeiro. Their sound is a rich, refreshing meddle of reggae and rock often combined with elements of funk, hip-hop, rap and samba. They are also known for their smart, socially conscious lyrics; the members themselves work on numerous social projects in the country. Current Formation * Marcelo Falcão - vocals * Xandão (Alexandre Menezes) - guitars * Lauro Farias - bass * Nelson Meirelles - keyboards * Marcelo Lobato- drums Origins O Rappa got their start in 1993, when Jamaican reggae artist Papa Winnie arrived in Brazil for a series of show and needed a back up band to support him. Four people were immediately picked: Nelson Meirelles, a well-known Rio de Janeiro indie producer; Marcelo Lobato, former member of África Gumbe; Alexandre (Xandão) Menezes, a musician with African influences; and Marcelo Yuka, a prolific songwriter and member of KMD-5 at the time. After the shows with Winnie, the foursome decided to keep the band going and added a vocalist and fifth member, Marcelo Falcão, recruited through an ad in Rio’s main newspaper. In 1994, they released their first album, O Rappa, on the Warner label. Tragedy In 2001, Marcelo Lobato who was originally on keyboard had to take over drum duties after the band’s original drummer and main songwriter, Marcelo Yuka, was shot multiple times during a robbery near his house in Rio, which severely compromised movement in both his legs and one of his arms. Yuka has been the biggest contributor of the band's social projects for years, even after turning paralytic. He is currently working on other music projects such as F.Ur.T.O. Discography * O Rappa - 1994 * Rappa Mundi - 1996 * Lado B Lado A (Side B, Side A) - 1999 * Instinto Coletivo - ao vivo (Collective Instinct - Live) - 2001 * O Silêncio Que Precede o Esporro (The Silence Before the Scolding) - 2003 * Lual MTV - 2004 * Acústico MTV (MTV Unplugged) - 2005 * 7 Vezes - 2008