Gabriel o Pensador facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gabriel o Pensador
Background information
Birth name	Gabriel Contino
Born	(1974-03-04) March 4, 1974 (age 51) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Genres	Hip hop
Occupation(s)	Rapper, writer, composer
Years active	1992–present
Labels	Sony-BMG
Associated acts	Detonautas Roque Clube, Ithaka (Ithaka Darin Pappas), Boss AC, Fabio Fonseca, , Itaal Shur, Lulu Santos, General D

Gabriel Contino (born March 4, 1974) is a famous Brazilian rapper, writer, and composer. He is better known by his stage name, Gabriel o Pensador. In Portuguese, this means "Gabriel the Thinker." He is known for writing smart lyrics that make people think about important topics. His songs often talk about social problems, politics, and fairness.

Gabriel's music career took off in 1992. He released a demo tape with the song "Tô Feliz (Matei o Presidente)," which means "I'm Happy (I Killed the President)." The song was a protest, not a real threat. It got him a record deal with Sony Music. Since then, he has released eight albums and written three books. One of his books, "Um Garoto Chamado Rorbeto," won a major award for children's literature in Brazil.

Musical Career

Gabriel grew up in a middle-class family in Rio de Janeiro. This was different from many other Brazilian rappers at the time. His father was a well-known journalist. His music quickly became popular across Brazil.

Protest Songs and Rise to Fame

In 1992, Gabriel became famous for his song "Tô Feliz (Matei o Presidente)." This song was a protest against Brazil's president at the time, Fernando Collor de Mello. Many people believed the president's government was not honest. The song's bold title got a lot of attention and helped launch Gabriel's career.

His first album included other hit songs that brought hip hop to a wider audience in Brazil. While some songs were about everyday life, others focused on serious issues. For example, his song "O Resto do Mundo" ("The Rest of the World") was about the struggles of homeless people. Gabriel became known for using his music to talk about problems in Brazilian society, like poverty and racism.

Musical Style and Success

Gabriel's later albums were also very successful. His third album, Quebra-Cabeça (which means Jigsaw Puzzle), was released in 1997 and sold over one million copies.

His music is a mix of different styles. He was influenced by Brazilian music like bossa nova and samba. He also used samples from American jazz, funk, and disco music. For example, his song "2345meia78" includes a sample from the song "Good Times" by the band Chic.

Gabriel is also popular in other Portuguese-speaking countries, like Portugal and Angola. In 2004, he recorded his first song in English, called "Who's The Enemy?".

Helping Others

Besides making music, Gabriel is also an author and works to help his community.

Books and Other Projects

Gabriel has written three books. "Um garoto chamado Rorbeto" is a children's book that won the "Prêmio Jabuti," a famous book award in Brazil. He also wrote "Meu Pequeno Rubro-Negro," a book for young fans of the Flamengo soccer team, which he also supports.

He was also a judge on a popular TV spelling bee contest called "Soletrando."

Charity Work

Gabriel is dedicated to helping children in his hometown of Rio de Janeiro. He started a group called "Pensando Junto," which means "Thinking Together." This organization helps kids in the Rocinha community. It gives them access to education, culture, food, and healthcare.

The group offers tutoring and classes to help children succeed. Gabriel is also a member of the Dreams Can Be Foundation. This charity helps street children and young people in Brazil by giving them opportunities for a better future.

Discography

Here is a list of Gabriel o Pensador's studio and live albums.

Studio Albums

Live Albums

See also

In Spanish: Gabriel o Pensador para niños