Gabriel o Pensador facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gabriel o Pensador
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Gabriel Contino |
| Born | March 4, 1974 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), known as Gabriel o Pensador (which means "Gabriel the Thinker" in Portuguese), is a famous Brazilian rapper, writer, and composer. He is known for his thoughtful songs that talk about important topics. These include being active for good causes, issues of race, politics, social problems, and even the Catholic church.
Gabriel started his music journey when he made a demo tape with a song called "Tô Feliz (Matei o Presidente)" (meaning "I'm Happy (I killed the President)"). This song helped him get a contract with Sony Music. Since then, he has released eight music albums. He has also written three books, and one of them, "Um Garoto Chamado Rorbeto," won an award for best children's literature.
Contents
Gabriel's Life Story
Gabriel comes from a middle-class family, which was a bit unusual for Brazilian rappers at the time. His father was a well-known journalist in Brazil. Gabriel became famous in 1992 with his first song, "Tô Feliz (Matei o Presidente)." This song was a way to speak out against the government of President Fernando Collor de Mello, who was involved in corruption.
Even though he rapped about everyday life, Gabriel also spoke about unfairness in society. His song "O Resto do Mundo" ("The Leftovers of the World") was a sad song about people who are homeless. Gabriel became known for his strong messages against big problems in Brazilian society, like poverty, racism, and violence.
His next albums were also very popular. They mixed songs about social issues with catchy pop songs for the radio. His third album, Quebra-Cabeça, sold over one million copies. Gabriel was inspired by other Brazilian music styles like bossa nova and samba. He also used hip hop's way of sampling sounds from jazz, funk, and disco music. For example, his song "2345meia78" used parts of the song "Good Times" by the band Chic.
In 1994, while on tour in Portugal, Gabriel's song "Lavagem Cerebral" (Brainwashing) was highly praised. People saw it as a strong message criticizing Brazilian society and the ideas of the powerful classes.
Besides Brazil, Gabriel o Pensador is also well-known in other Portuguese-speaking countries. These include Portugal, Angola, Cape Verde, and Mozambique. He has worked with musicians from Portugal, like Sérgio Godinho. In 2004, he recorded his first song in English, called "Who's The Enemy?". This song was on an album by American rapper Ithaka.
Other Cool Projects
Gabriel has written three books. "Diário Noturno" has poems and short stories. "Um garoto chamado Rorbeto" is a fiction poetry book for children. "Meu Pequeno Rubro-Negro" is about children who support the Flamengo soccer team, just like him. He was also a judge on a spelling contest show called "Soletrando."
Gabriel was worried about kids skipping school in Rocinha, a community in Rio de Janeiro. So, he started an organization called "Pensando Junto" (which means Thinking Together in Portuguese). This group helps children and young people in Rocinha by offering them access to culture, education, fun activities, food, and even medical and dental care. The organization provides tutoring and classes for kids who need help in the Rocinha area, where Gabriel still lives today. Gabriel is also part of the Dreams Can Be Foundation. This group helps street children and young people in Brazil who are struggling. They work with local organizations to provide education, support, and new chances for these kids.
Gabriel's Music Albums
Gabriel o Pensador has released many successful albums. Here are some of his main studio albums:
- Gabriel o Pensador (1993)
- Ainda É Só o Começo (1995)
- Quebra-Cabeça (1997)
- Nádegas a Declarar (1999)
- Seja Você Mesmo (mas não Seja sempre o Mesmo) (2001)
- Cavaleiro Andante (2005)
- Sem Crise (2012)
He also has a live album:
- MTV ao Vivo (2003)
And some compilation albums with his best songs:
- Gabriel o Pensador: As Melhores (1999)
- Tás a Ver: O Melhor de Gabriel o Pensador (2003)
- Como um Vício (2008)
Popular Songs
Gabriel has many popular songs that have been hits. Here are some of them:
- "Tô Feliz (Matei o Presidente)" (1993)
- "Lavagem Cerebral" (1993)
- "Estudo Errado" (1995)
- "2345meia78" (1997)
- "Astronauta" (with Lulu Santos) (1999)
- "Cachorrada" (1999)
- "Até Quando?" (2001)
- "Palavras Repetidas" (2005)
- "Surfista Solitário" (with Jorge Ben Jor) (2012)
- "Fé na Luta" (2016)
Images for kids
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Gabriel o Pensador
See also
In Spanish: Gabriel o Pensador para niños
