Black Company

biography Black Company is a Portuguese rap group, formed in the 1980s, which became known for the song “Nadar”, considered the first national hip-hop hit. The group is made up of rappers Bantú (also known as Gutto), Bambino and Makkas, and previously featured DJs KJB and Soon. The group emerged in 1988, on the south bank of Lisbon, under the name Machine Gun Poetry, and included several musicians, such as General D and Ivan Cristiano. The project lasted three years, until Guto, Bambino and Tucha reformulated the line-up and changed the name to Black Company, in 1993. That year, they gave their first concert, filmed for the program “Outras Margens”, on RTP. In 1994, they participated in the compilation Rapública, together with other names in Portuguese rap, such as Boss AC and LNM. It was in this collection that they released the song “Nadar”, which became a popular phenomenon in the summer of that year, thanks to the support of radio and television. The expression “Don’t know how to swim” entered the Portuguese vocabulary, and the group gained fame and prestige. The following year, they released the single “Nadar”, with four remixes, and another single, entitled “Abreu”. In 1996, they released their first album of originals, “Geração Rasca”, which included songs such as “No Dia D Na Hora H” and “É Só Malucos”. The album was well received by critics and the public, and earned the group a Golden Globe nomination. In 1998, the group's second album, “Filhos da Rua”, was released, which featured Adelaide Ferreira on the track “É Só Malucos”. The album showed a musical evolution of the group, which explored more varied sounds and more mature lyrics. The album was also well received, and the group continued to give concerts around the country. In 2000, the group took a break from its career, and its members dedicated themselves to solo projects or in collaboration with other artists. Bantú released two albums as Gutto, “Só Quero Dançar” (2002) and “Mais Carne” (2005), and collaborated with artists such as Anselmo Ralph, Rita Guerra and Paulo Gonzo. Bambino released one album as Maddnigga, “Maddnigga” (2002), and collaborated with artists such as Sam The Kid, Valete and Da Weasel. Makkas released an album as Max The Criminal, “Max The Criminal” (2003), and collaborated with artists such as Boss AC, Mind Da Gap and Dealema. In 2008, the group got together again to celebrate 20 years of career, and released a new album, “Black Company - 20 Years After”. The album included new and old songs from the group, as well as special appearances by artists such as Virgul (from Da Weasel), Gutto or Sam The Kid. The group also performed some concerts to promote the album. Since then, the group has maintained sporadic activity in the Portuguese music scene, giving some concerts at festivals or special events. In 2018, they participated in the Iminente Festival, in Lisbon. In 2019, they were honored at the SIC Golden Globes Gala. Black Company is one of the pioneering groups of Portuguese rap, which marked a generation with its irreverent and contagious themes. The group is considered a reference for many artists of the genre who emerged later.