Portuguese hip-hop

I listen to music almost everyday, and one of my favourite kinds of music is hip-hop. In Portugal, this is a relatively recent (more less fifteen years) and developing musical style, initiated by Da Weasel and Mind da Gap. The first ones are now, and after conquering the portuguese audience, a relative internationalization. Always acclaimed in portuguese music festivals, Da Weasel became famous after singles ‘Agora e para sempre (a paixão)’ and specially, years later, ‘Tás na boa’. After this rap/metal hit, Da Weasel released ‘Re-Definições’, their latest album, in which musics ‘Re-Tratamento’ and ‘Força (uma página de história)’ stand out.

Porto native Mind da Gap are a pure hip-hop group and therefore not as famous as Lisbon originated Da Weasel. Still they became popular after releasing ‘Todos gordos’ and ‘Dedicatória’. More recently ‘Bazamos ou ficamos?’ and ‘Não stresses’ carried on their great work. One of Mind da Gap members, Ace, has recently released his first single, ‘Cor de laranja’. Also from Porto are Dealema, a ten-year music group that isn’t still that successful nationwide. Still they’ve released very good songs like ‘Talento clandestino’ and ‘A cena toda’.

Rapper Boss AC has had a great increase in the last few years. After working with the famous american mixer Troy Hightower, Boss AC came and placed his mark on portuguese soil. After the relative successes ‘Baza baza’, ‘Quieres dinero’ and ‘Eu tou aqui’, his latest album, ‘R.A.P. (Ritmo, amor e palavras)’, has made him reach the national music top. Songs like ‘Hip-Hop (sou eu, és tu)’ and ‘Princesa (Beija-me outra vez)’ are huge successes in Portugal.

Somehow hidden in the national panorama are Sam The Kid, who’s recently released a new single, ‘Não percebes’ and Nel Assassin, the author of ‘O ideal’, among others. Now starting to appear are Angola rappers SP & Wilson, starting to gain fame with single ‘Arrebenta’. Also Guardiões do Subsolo appeared in the beginning of this year with a rap mix of the portuguese pop-rock band GNR. From them you can listen to ‘Popless’, their only single for the moment.

Rui Rocha

Gender labor discrimination

Portugal lived in a fascist dictatorship for nearly five decades (1926-1974) and during that period the majority of women were simply relegated to domestic tasks, while men would work to provide for the family. After the April 25 “coup d’état”, discrimination-ending measures were taken and females could finally be a significant part in the now industrialized country. Legislation established their right to an equal access to work and salary in relation to men, but, more than twenty years later, the practical side still shows a not-slight discrimination in the portuguese society.

In 2002, 52% of the portuguese women between 20-24 years finished the secondary school education, against 35,4% of men. However, in 2005, only 61,7% of women were employed (against 73,4% of men), and only 3-5% integrated executive places in leading public companies. [...] Also they received less 15-20% of men wages. Still they spend per week an average 26 hours in domestic tasks (men only spend 7 hours), also having to take care of the children, of the sick and the elderly on their responsibility».

I believe this discrimination happens mostly because of pregnancy lack of legislation in my country. Portugal doesn’t have a pregnancy women protecting policy; frequently they are expelled from their job because someone (and men are preferred) can do it and therefore the firm has no costs…

Rui Rocha

The biggest heart on Earth

The people only asked for the quarter-finals. They didn’t demand it. But the team became forth in the World. Fairly? I believe so, although the matches against England and France could perfectly have had a different result…

The portuguese participation in the World Cup is mostly characterized by an outstanding attitude from its players; moreover, the team has been awarded ‘The Most Entertaining Team’ for “racing more than any other team”. The squad summoned by Scolari, besides practically the same of the Euro 2004, isn’t so uniformly qualitative as some of this World Cup participants: the winner Italy, the disappointing Brazil and the spectacular Argentina. But our coach, certainly not the best in the World, is a great psychologist (somehow similar to the portuguese José Mourinho), and instills in his players a different feeling and a willingness to win that strengthen their performance in the field. This amazes specially who saw Miguel staring in a mediocre season, Maniche having two disastrous years, Costinha not having game rhythm since four months ago and Figo appearing to have lost pace at Inter Milan. In Germany, they all seemed two years younger, as if their careers didn’t have decreased since the european tournament in Portugal.

The portuguese squad was criticized for the alleged “dives” made by Cristiano Ronaldo and Maniche, mostly. This seems to be, unfortunately, one of today’s latin football characteristics, and may have costed to the winger winning the “Best Young Player” award. But not only the portuguese players should have been ‘crucified’; also Italian playmaker Totti exaggerated.

After the loss against Germany, an ultra-effective team in their last game, no less than 10.000 portuguese awaited the national heroes. Some in the airport, other in the National Stadium, where the team went afterwards, but all singing and agitating thousands of green and red flags, in an ambiance that just, as you can see, couldn’t make Scolari indifferent.

Rui Rocha