Diamondog
Encyclopedia
Diamantino Edgar Capacassa Feijó (born, August 23, 1980), better known as Diamondog is an Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...

n rapper, currently living in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...

. He is known for making political
Political hip hop
Political hip hop is a sub-genre of hip hop music that developed in the 1980s. Inspired by 1970s political preachers such as The Last Poets and Gil Scott-Heron, Public Enemy were the first political hip hop group...

 and Conscious Hip Hop. Diamondog is a journalist, documentary filmmaker, and has a master´s
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...

 degree in Visual Media and Anthropology
Visual anthropology
Visual anthropology is a subfield of cultural anthropology that is concerned, in part, with the study and production of ethnographic photography, film and, since the mid-1990s, new media...

 from the Freie Universität Berlin.

Biography

Rapper since 1998, Diamondog met the Hip Hop culture at the age 16 when he took a course in journalism at the Middle Institute of Economy of Luanda (IMEL). Influenced by friends and colleagues already knew the Hip Hop culture the longest, Diamondog went from listener to the master of ceremony (MC).

Diamondog has been on tour in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...

 - Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...

, Porto
Porto
Porto , also known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal and one of the major urban areas in the Iberian Peninsula. Its administrative limits include a population of 237,559 inhabitants distributed within 15 civil parishes...

, Braga
Braga
Braga , a city in the Braga Municipality in northwestern Portugal, is the capital of the Braga District, the oldest archdiocese and the third major city of the country. Braga is the oldest Portuguese city and one of the oldest Christian cities in the World...

, Gaia
Vila Nova de Gaia
Vila Nova de Gaia, or simply Gaia is a city in Vila Nova de Gaia Municipality, Portugal. It is located in the Porto District, south of the city of Porto on the other side of the Douro River. The city proper has a population of 178,255 and the municipality contains 24 parishes with a total...

 and Matosinhos
Matosinhos
Matosinhos Municipality is located in Porto District, Portugal. The main city is Matosinhos. It is bordered to the south by the city of Porto and lies within the Greater Porto subregion. The municipality has a population of 168,451 in 10 parishes. Many people have recently moved from the...

 in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...

. and has performed in concerts in Krakow
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...

 in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...

 and in Brazilian cities such as Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...

, Sao Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...

, Salvador, Bahia, Curitiba and Belo Horizonte in the company of Afrika Bambaataa
Afrika Bambaataa
Afrika Bambaataa is an American DJ from the South Bronx, New York who was instrumental in the early development of hip hop throughout the 1980s. Afrika Bambaataa is one of the three originators of break-beat deejaying, and is respectfully known as the "Grandfather" and the Amen Ra of Universal...

, Marcelo D2
Marcelo D2
Marcelo D2 is a Brazilian rapper.- Biography :A former vocalist of the band Planet Hemp, he started his solo career in 1998 with the album Eu Tiro É Onda. The album was recorded in his studio by David Corcos, and was mixed in New York and Los Angeles by Carlos Bass and Mário Caldato Jr...

, Thaide dual Thaide and DJ Hum, Tianastacia, Wilson Sidereal, Leandro Ferrari, Marku Ribas, Black Sonora, Tambolele, Dj Primo, Olodum
Olodum
Olodum is a cultural group based in the Afro Brazilian community of Salvador, the capital city of the state of Bahia, Brazil. It was founded by percussionist, Neguinho do Samba....

 Creative School, Shameema - Godessa (South Africa) and many others.

The participations of Diamondog concerts include: Revolution Carnival (two editions), Pop Rock Brazil Festival 2004 in the company of Marcelo D2
Marcelo D2
Marcelo D2 is a Brazilian rapper.- Biography :A former vocalist of the band Planet Hemp, he started his solo career in 1998 with the album Eu Tiro É Onda. The album was recorded in his studio by David Corcos, and was mixed in New York and Los Angeles by Carlos Bass and Mário Caldato Jr...

 and DJ Primo performing for more than 25 thousand people in the " Independence
Estádio Independência
The Estádio Raimundo Sampaio, usually known as Estádio Independência, is in the neighborhood of Horto in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil and was opened in 1950 for the FIFA World Cup held in Brazil that year. Initially with capacity for 30,000 people, currently has capacity for 25,000 people...

" stadium in Belo Horizonte (Brazil), Eletronika Festival at Belo Horizonte, Black Arts Festival at the invitation of Africa Bambaataa with whom he shared the stage twice, respectively in Brazil and Berlin, Germany, FILE (International Festival of Electronic Language), Bread and Butter in Barcelona, Coca Cola Music Festival, Fetê de la Musique in Berlin 2008 and 2009, Karneval der Kulturen 2009, Wolfsburg Festival, among other events.

1998: The First Steps

Together with the Angolan rapper MC Kamba, who lives now in Spain and who formed a duo in the past. Diamondog wrote his first song call “If You Want To Be Happy”. The song was first aired on the extinct program of Hip Hop at radio FM Express, which was presented by the host Moises Luis who was then the most heard in the Angolan capital.

1999-2000: Political Asylum (Brazil) and Clandestino

Due to civil war
War
War is a state of organized, armed, and often prolonged conflict carried on between states, nations, or other parties typified by extreme aggression, social disruption, and usually high mortality. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread armed conflict between political...

 in Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...

 which until then lasted 24 years, Diamondog moves to Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

 where he received political asylum
Right of asylum
Right of asylum is an ancient juridical notion, under which a person persecuted for political opinions or religious beliefs in his or her own country may be protected by another sovereign authority, a foreign country, or church sanctuaries...

. Soon his arrival in Brazil, he met Alexandre Lopes Muzzillo better known as DJ Primo, Jonathan o Gralha and Bill, who formed the group Blackout and with whom in contact, he immersed in the Hip Hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...

 scene in Curitiba
Curitiba
Curitiba is the capital of the Brazilian state of Paraná. It is the largest city with the biggest economy of both Paraná and southern Brazil. The population of Curitiba numbers approximately 1.75 million people and the latest GDP figures for the city surpass US$61 billion according to...

, the city where he lived after arriving in Brazil. In 2000 invited by the rapper Maskot from Curitiba, Diamondog wrote his first musical participation in Brazil, in a song produced by DJ Primo and featured also by the rapper Tio Fresh, from the rap group from Sao Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...

 called, SP Funk. And Also in the same year, Diamondog form along with the Brazilian rapper Jazzrell AKA Mic Forté, the duo called "Clandestino", which means family together by destiny.

2004: A Tribute to Our Nations

In 2004 the duet Clandestino recorded an independent album which was titled: “A Tribute to Our Nations”. The disc included the special participation of the Rappers: Cubanito (Havana), Kunkalopi (Cape Verde), Kaio Estrao (USA), Toaster Eddie and Rena Engels, respectively from Brazil, and brought songs mostly related to the social issues and anti-war songs, with highlighted songs: Hands Wielding Pens and Spread the Peace.

2005-2006: Food to Eat Compadres

In 2005 Diamondog was part of the CD Comida de Comer ("Food to Eat")philanthropic album organized by Podé Nastasia, which also participated musicians and groups such as Uakti
Uakti
Uakti can mean several things:*Uakti is a mythical musician described by the Tukano Indians of South America.*Uakti is a Brazilian percussion quartet...

, Marina Machado (Milton Nascimento
Milton Nascimento
-Biography:Nascimento's mother was the maid Maria Nascimento. As a baby, Milton Nascimento was adopted by his mother's former employers: the couple Josino Brito Campos, a banker employee, mathematics teacher and electronic technician; and Lília Silva Campos, a music teacher and choir singer...

 backing vocal), Glauco Nastasia among others.

In the following year, invited by the musician Leandro Ferrari, to participate in the Project "Compadres" Diamondog took part in three tracks, one being with his partner, rapper Cubanito.

2007: Arrebite/Documentário/WFD e Input-Junkies

In 2007 at the invitation of the Brazilian producers Raul Costa and Rafael Ferreira Costa, Diamondog integrates the collective Arrebiter as MC and they record the Vinyl called also Arrebite, the same name of the group. The LP was released in Germany by Phantanoise Records and was distributed by Juno Records, Alphacut Records and by Sbmonline, simultaneously was featured in the British magazine specializing in electronic music "XLR8R
XLR8R
XLR8R is a magazine and website thatcovers music, culture, style, and technology. It was founded as anewsprint ‘zine in 1993 by publisher Andrew Smith in Seattle; themagazine currently has offices in San Francisco and New York...

" that released three tracks on their website.

In the same year, Diamondog was invited by photographer director Marcelo Trotta (City of God
City of God
City of God may refer to:*the unity between the Holy Roman Empire and the Church in the Middle Ages*City of God , 5th century book by St...

), he participated in the documentary film Beyond Coffee Oil and Diamonds that competed in festivals, won the prize for best director at the Festival of Pernambuco and Honorable Mention at the Human Rights Festival of Sao Paulo.

In mid-2007 Diamondog moved to Berlin at the invitation of the German NGO WFD (Weltfriedensdienst) Service for World Peace, to do workshops in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...

 and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

 showing the youths that Hip Hop can be a powerful tool to express oneself and resolve conflict.

Also in 2007 Diamondog was part of the project "Input-Junkies and recorded together with the South African female rapper Shameema, from the well known group Godessa, the song International Monkey Business, portraying in an ironic way the ignorance of many Westerners about the African continent.

2008: Malucofonia

Although he recorded in Brazil in 2007 the Music (Eu quero uma dama) "I want a lady, a homage to the black women, only in 2008 it was released, by the label Acla in the compilation Malucofonia.

2009: Volkswagen Sound Foundation and Nomadic Wax

In 2009 the Diamondog’s work gain recognition by being chosen with his band - DJ Werd (scratches), Steffen Scholz (keyboards), Lars Rüetschi (guitar), Stefan Fuhr (bass), Daniel Allen (trumpet) und Jan Pfennig (drums) - as one of the artists of the year 2009 by Volkswagen. So Diamondog was sponsored through the project, Volkswagen Sound Foundation, which in addition to various artistic incentives, he receive a mini bus for touring over a period of one year.

Also in 2008 at the invitation of American label Nomadic Wax, Diamondog recorded together with DJ Werd, the song "Alexis Sinduhije Needs freedom" to promote the release of the Burundi journalist Alexis Sinduhije
Alexis Sinduhije
Alexis Sinduhije is a Burundian journalist. He founded the Radio Publique Africaine as a means of bringing about peace between his fellow Tutsi and the Hutu in his often war-torn country...

,named by Time Magazine´s
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...

, one of the 100 most influential people of 2008.

2010: Hip Hop Evolution in the World and Coptic

In early 2010 Diamondog was included by BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...

  on the map on the Hip Hop evolution in the world. On the map of Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...

 Diamondog interprets the song "Time and Money" about corruption and greed of human beings, facing chronic poverty that surround the world. The song was produced by German rapper and producer LMNZ and was also featured U.S. R&B and Soul singer Lady Daisey.

In 2010 Diamondog has confirmed participation in the album's producer was Coptic, which has in curriculum productions for rappers like Notorious BIG, P. Diddy, KRS One, Buckshot, G-Dep, Jermaine Dupri
Jermaine Dupri
Jermaine Dupri Mauldin , known as Jermaine Dupri or JD, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper.- Early life and career :...

among others. The album is still in works and will be called Close to my Roots. It aims to put Africans and American recognized rappers together in the same tracks.

Currently Diamondog is working on his first solo album, with no predicted release date, which probably will call Never Muzzled and will be probably in English.

Discography/Compilations and Featurings

  • Clandestino - Um Tributo às Nossas Nações 2004
  • Coletania - Comida de Comer 2005
  • Input - Junkies 2007
  • Arrebite 2007
  • Malucofonia 2008
  • Mixtape - Democracy in Burundi 2008
  • Gimme my Microphone Check 2009
  • LMNZ - Hip Hop World Wide 2010
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