DESCRIPTION
Some albums redefine a genre — the kind that observe, absorb, and then flip expectations entirely. Think OutKast’s Speakerboxxx / The Love Below or Primal Scream’s Screamadelica. Albums that become cultural moments.
Rubel’s As Palavras, Vol. 1 & 2 is one of those records. Nominated for a Latin Grammy, this expansive 20-track epic sees one of Rio’s brightest voices fusing the contemporary with the classic, soaking in Brazil’s rich musical heritage and reimagining what MPB can be.
Across its two volumes, Rubel incorporates styles like forró, MPB, pagode, and samba, while pushing boundaries through baile funk, rasteirinha, and hip-hop. The result is an album that playfully and provocatively juggles the familiar with the futuristic — an exhilarating sonic journey through Brazil’s past and present.
The opener ‘Forró Violento (Instrumental)’ sets the tone with a choral and rhythmic swell, immediately bridging tradition and innovation. Collaborations abound:
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‘Não Vou Reclamar de Deus’, produced by Ana Frango Elétrico, flexes samba-soul brilliance
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‘As Palavras’ with Tim Bernardes blends classic MPB with electronic and hip-hop textures
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‘Torto Arado’, featuring Liniker and Luedji Luna, references themes of racial injustice and resilience from Itamar Vieira Júnior’s acclaimed novel
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‘Na Mão do Palhaço’ delivers biting satire through the story of a conservative man saved by carnival's redemptive chaos
The album finds balance in intimacy and energy. Tracks like ‘Toda Beleza’ (with Bala Desejo) and ‘Lua de Garrafa’ (written with Milton Nascimento) offer gentle odes to beauty and friendship. In contrast, ‘Put@ria!’ explodes with favela-rooted baile funk energy, with BK’ and MC Carol trading bars, while ‘Rubelía’ glides between reggaeton, funk, and hip-hop — a nod to Rosalía’s genre-bending influence.
At its heart, As Palavras Vol. 1 & 2 is about connection — across generations, styles, and experiences. In a country increasingly divided, Rubel uses music as a unifying force, grounded in the rhythms and stories that define Brazil.
TRACKLIST
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Forró Violento (Instrumental)
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Grão De Areia
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Não Vou Reclamar De Deus
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Toda Beleza
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Put@ria!
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Rubelía
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Posso Dizer
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Vinheta As Palavras
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As Palavras
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Forró Violento
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Torto Arado
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Lua De Garrafa
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Na Mão Do Palhaço
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Doutor Albieri
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Samba De Amanda E Té
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Amor De Mãe
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Vinheta As Palavras II
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Assum Preto
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Forró No Escuro
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Toda Beleza (Pelos Loirinhos)