Digitaldubs

Formed in 2001, the group Digitaldubs was the first reggae sound system in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. For the last years they have played club dates throughout Brazil, including a regular party in Rio, exposing dancehall and soundsystem culture to a new, eager audience.

The original and current members of the group are MPC (selector, producer), Nelson Meirelles (selector, musician, producer), and Cristiano Dubmaster (selector, toaster, and percussionist).

Besides playing live as a soundsystem, Digitaldubs produces music in their studio, named Muzambinho. The first release is "Digitaldubs Apresenta Brasil Riddims Volume 1" (April 2006 on the Muzamba label), a collection of songs featuring artists like B Negão (former member of Planet Hemp). Mr. Catra (the king of Baile Funk), Ras Bernardo (pioneering brazillian reggae artist)and others. The second album, “Diaspora Riddim” brings Lone Ranger (Jamaica), Sylvia Tella (UK), Prince Wadada (Protugal), Biggaton (Jamaica), Manik Balam (México), Nabby Clifford (Guana) along side other brazillian artists.

Other Digitaldubs productions are also promoting Brazilian reggae to the wider world reggae scene. The Compilation "Roots of Dub Funk 5" (Tanty Records UK 2006) featured them alongside other international dub groups such as Zion Train, Vibronics and Groundation. "Made in Brasil" (Word Sound USA 2006) featured both the group and MPC individually. On the last album of the UK dub pionners Alpha and Omega – “City of Dub” - there is a collaboration with Digitaldubs.

Live, the group has seen historic nights playing with famed internacional artists like Lee Perry, Mad Professor (UK), Ranking Joe (Jamaica), Stone Love Sound system (Jamaica), Zion Train (UK) and others.

Between the club shows and studio work the group has helped inspire a whole new Brazilian music scene, spawning bands, clubs, and other soundsystems, and connecting like-minded musicians, DJs, and audiences around the country. Like its cousin, baile funk, which also evolved out of a strictly local club scene, Brazilian sound system culture (baile dancehall?) is ready to be heard outside Brazil, by anyone with an interest in musical innovation, especially danceable musical innovation.


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