General D
General D in Lisbon, early 1990s
General D in Lisbon, early 1990s
Background information
Birth nameSergio Matsinhe
Born28 October 1971 (1971-10-28) (age 52)
Maputo, Mozambique
GenresWorld music, Hip hop
Occupation(s)vocalist, lyricist, songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active1992–present
LabelsEMI, Valentim de Carvalho
Websitewww.discogs.com/artist/222370-General-D

General D is a rapper, Hip hop tuga and World music artist. Being the first rapper in Portugal to sign a major record deal, he is considered the Godfather Of Portuguese Hip Hop. Although largely influenced by big name U.S. rap acts such as Public Enemy, Ice Cube and Ice-T, his music carried a distinct African flavor incorporating many live tribal percussion instruments. He recorded two solo albums for EMI-Valentim de Carvalho and has also appeared as a guest on other artists' releases including; Ithaka, Cool Hipnoise, Água d'Amanhã and Pop Dell'Arte.[1][2][3]

Early life

General D (Sergio Matsinhe) was born in Maputo (then Lourenço Marques) the capital city of the Mozambique, (a former Portuguese colony), his family immigrated to Barreiro on the southern shore of the Tagus river near Lisbon, Portugal when he was two years old. As a youth he competed in Track and field events and set regional records for both the 100-meter dash and the 4 × 100 metres relay.[1][4]

Early career

In 1990, at the age of nineteen, General D was one of organizers of the very first rap festival in Portugal. The event was held at the Sociedade Filarmónica Incrível Almadense, in Almada. There he presented the rap group Black Company (of which he was one of the founding members) and also the project, Africa Power. He also performed with his first band along with co-members, singer Maimuna Jalles and the rapper, Lince.

In 1991 he made his first studio recording as a guest vocalists and lyricist on the track "MC Holy" by the Portuguese new-wave band, Pop dell'Arte for their album, Ready-Made.

It was through the TV program, Lentes de Contacto (produced by Latina Europa), where General D met composer/producer Tiago Lopes who in 1993 invited him to record the track "Norte Sul" for the film, Até amanhã, Mário (See You Tomorrow Mario). This gained the attention of several Portuguese record labels and General D eventually signed a multiple-album deal with Valentim de Carvalho, a local sub-division of EMI Records.[5][6]

In 1994 he released the controversial EP "PortuKKKal É Um Erro" (Portugal is Error), lyrically shedding light on Portugal's previously hidden racism. The attention derived from this record frequently got General D invited to primetime television talk shows, to discuss the problems of African immigrants to Portugal, from the former Portuguese colonies[7][8][9]

In 1995, he released his first full-length album "Pé na Tchôn, Karapinha Na Céu", recorded with a group live African musicians, known as Os Karapinhas. The first single was "Black Magic Woman" (featuring Sam). The song's well-produced video was a favorite on MTV Portugal at the time, leading to many opportunities for live performances.[10][11][12][13][14]

In 1997, General D released his second album "Kanimambo". It was produced by Joe Fossard and recorded at Regiestúdio in Lisbon and featured several guest performers including the legendary António Chainho on Portuguese Guitar for the song, "Hora Di Bai". Nuno Guerreiro contributed vocals on a politically oriented track entitled, "Xanana Gusmão". The percussionist, Netos Do N'Gumbé performed on the song, "Respeito". Lyrics for the song, "Rappi Ta Doddo" were written by Brazilian superstar Gabriel O Pensador. And singer Marta Dias and Californian rapper/lyricist Ithaka appeared on the song, "Ekos do Passado". General D toured extensively with this album nationally and also performed in Spain and France.[15]

Disappearance From Portugal

A few years later, General D then spent several months in Jamaica preparing his third album with legendary reggae duo Sly and Robbie (as producers), but the disc was never released by EMI-Valentim de Carvalho and until this day has never been heard by the public. In the years that followed, General D went missing. Rumors circulated on the rapper's whereabout, but were never confirmed until 2014.

Reappearance And Career Comeback

After eventually being tracked down by acclaimed writer and culture journalist, Vitor Belanciano in London, General D gave an exclusive interview to Belanciano for an issue of Ipsilon Magazine, a supplement of the Portuguese newspaper, Público. General D confessed that he had seen hard times abroad mostly living in London, and at one point was even cleaning the streets in New York City. He appeared on the cover of that issue of the magazine, an exposure that brought about many reunions in the music industry.

In 2015, a double-disc release featuring both of his studio albums, Pé na Tchôn, Karapinha Na Céu and Kanimambo were released by his original label EMI-Valentim de Carvalho. And General D finally returned to the stages that had defined his early career.[16][17]

On 8 March 2019 a large concert took place called "A História Do Hip-Hop Tuga" (The History of Portuguese Hip Hop) at the Altice Arena, part of the Parque das Nações complex, just outside of Lisbon (he site of the former Expo'98). The show, produced by Música no Coração, featured many of the founding fathers of hip hop in Portugal, many with their roots directly from Africa. Performers included; General D, Boss AC, Black Company, Chullage, NBC e Sir Scratch.[18][19]

Album Cover Art

The photographs on the covers, back covers and cd booklets of all General D's releases (and even the image for his 2014 cover issue of Ipsilon Magazine) were made by his personal friend, the; recording artist, sculptor and hip hop photographer Ithaka Darin Pappas, a Californian who had lived in Lisbon during the formation period of Hip hop tuga. Before moving to Portugal in 1992, Ithaka had previously been working in Los Angeles with artists such as Eazy E, N.W.A. and Ice Cube for Priority Records.[20][15][21][22][4]

Albums

Singles

Guest appearances On Other Artists' Songs

  • 1992 "MC Holy" Pop Dell'Arte feat. General D – Album: Ready-Made /Label: Variodisc[28]
  • 1995 "Soldadinho" Cool Hipnoise feat. General D – Album: Nascer Do Soul / Label: Nortesul[29]
  • 1995 "Erase the Slate Of Hate" Ithaka feat. General D – Album: Flowers And The Color Of Paint – Label: Fábrica De Sons[30]
  • 1998 "Regadinho" Água d'Amanhã feat. General D[2]

References

  1. 1 2 "General D". Discogs.
  2. 1 2 "Água d'Amanhã – Água d'Amanhã". Discogs.
  3. ↑ Carvalho, João. "Hip-Hop Tuga: The History Of Portuguese Hip-Hop". Culture Trip.
  4. 1 2 Belanciano, Vítor. "General D: Uma história nunca contada". PÚBLICO.
  5. ↑ "Norte-Sul – The Swedish Film Database".
  6. ↑ "General D – Rossio Music Publishing". www.rossiomusic.pt.
  7. ↑ Unknown. "General D — Portukkkal é Um Erro (1994) – As Nossas Raizes Vol.2".
  8. ↑ Nielsen Business Media, Inc (25 March 1995). "Billboard". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. – via Internet Archive. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  9. ↑ "RAPRODUÇÕES DE MEMÓRIA, CULTURA POPULAR E SOCIEDADE: GENERAL D". Mural Sonoro by Soraia Simões.
  10. ↑ ""A história do hip-hop tuga" é contada esta sexta-feira no palco da Altice Arena em Lisboa". Jornal Expresso.
  11. ↑ "Mural Sonoro". Mural Sonoro by Soraia Simões.
  12. ↑ Warner Music Portugal (5 March 2018). "GENERAL D – Black Magic Woman – [ Official Music Video ]" – via YouTube.
  13. ↑ "Biblioteca Municipal de Sobral de Monte Agraço". www.bibliotecasobral.com.pt.
  14. ↑ "Black Magic Woman — General D". Last.fm.
  15. 1 2 3 "General D – Kanimambo". Discogs.
  16. ↑ "Vítor Belanciano". IMDb.
  17. ↑ "Hip hop pioneer General D returns for hommage to 20 years of lusophone rap". 17 April 2019.
  18. ↑ ""A história do hip-hop tuga" e as raízes africanas – DW – 08.03.2019". DW.COM.
  19. ↑ pilar, patricia (8 March 2019). "The story of hip-hop 'tuga' is told today on the stage of Altice Arena". portugalinews.
  20. 1 2 "General D e Os Karapinhas* – Pé Na Tchôn, Karapinha Na Céu". Discogs.
  21. ↑ "Eazy-E – We Want Eazy (Remix)". Discogs.
  22. ↑ "N.W.A* – Express Yourself". Discogs.
  23. ↑ "General D – Kanimambo / Pé Na Tchôn, Karapinha Na Céu". Discogs.
  24. ↑ "General D – PortuKKKal". Discogs.
  25. ↑ https://www.discogs.com/General-D-Black-Magik-*1997 https://www.discogs.com/General-D-Rappi-Ta-Doddo/release/5804894/release/5314940
  26. ↑ "General D – Rappi Ta Doddo". Discogs.
  27. ↑ "General D – Estado De Sítio (O Ke É Ke Se Passa)". Discogs. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  28. ↑ "Pop Dell'Arte – Ready-Made". Discogs.
  29. ↑ "Cool Hipnoise – Nascer Do Soul". Discogs.
  30. ↑ Ithaka Official (7 April 2017). "Ithaka & General D "Erase The Slate Of Hate" (1995)" – via YouTube.
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