General D

biography General D is a Portuguese rapper and singer, considered one of the pioneers of national hip-hop. His stage name is an abbreviation for Diamantino José Correia, born in Luanda, Angola, on May 9, 1974. Son of Cape Verdean parents, General D came to Portugal at the age of 12 and grew up in the Cova da Moura neighborhood, in Amadora. General D began his musical career in the late 80s, joining Machine Gun Poetry, a rap collective that also included Pacman (from Black Company) and Ivan Cristiano (from Da Weasel). In 1992, he released his first single, “Black Magic Woman”, which was the first rap song in Portuguese to be played on the radio. In 1994, he participated in the compilation album Rapública, together with other names in Portuguese rap, such as Boss AC, Black Company and Da Weasel. It was in this collection that he released the song “PortuKKKal é um Erro”, which became a national hip-hop classic. In 1995, he released his first solo album, Pé Na Tchôn Karapinha Na Céu, which was the first rap album in Portuguese released by a multinational (EMI). The album featured guest appearances by Sam The Kid, Melo D or NBC, and had songs such as “Kanimambo”, “Cara Podre” or “Festa da Paz”. The album was well received by critics and the public, and earned the rapper a Golden Globe nomination. In 1997, he released his second album, Kanimambo, which was a tribute to his homeland, Angola. The album featured guest appearances by Paulo Flores, Bonga or Sara Tavares, and had themes such as “Angola”, “Mãe África” or “Kota Kente”. The album showed a musical evolution for the rapper, who explored more African sounds and more conscious lyrics. The album was also well received, and the rapper continued to give concerts around the country. In 2000, he released his third and final album, Pensamento Sublime, which was a more personal and intimate work. The album featured guest appearances by Rui Veloso, Lura or Nuno Guerreiro, and had songs such as “Pensamento Sublime”, “Amor” or “A Minha Dor”. The album was well received by critics, but had less commercial impact than the previous albums. In 2001, General D announced his retirement from music to dedicate himself to religion. Since then, he has maintained a discreet activity in the Portuguese music scene, giving some concerts at special events or collaborating with other artists. In 2018, he participated in the Iminente Festival, in Lisbon. In 2019, he was honored at the SIC Golden Globes Gala. General D is one of the most respected and influential artists in Portuguese rap, who marked a generation with his irreverent and conscious themes. The rapper is considered a reference for many artists of the genre who emerged later.