Tropical Diaspora® Records to Release “Olhos Negros Vivo” LP by São Paulo Periphery Artist Renato Gama
Berlin, São Paulo, Brazil – Tropical Diaspora® Records, a label dedicated to amplifying the authentic and often unheard voices from the margins of the African diaspora, proudly announces the upcoming vinyl release of “Olhos Negros Vivo” by acclaimed São Paulo-based musician and cultural force, Renato Gama.
Hailing from Vila Nhocuné in the East Periphery of São Paulo (Zona Leste), Renato Gama is a powerful voice embodying the creative resilience and potent social commentary that flourishes in Brazil's overlooked communities. His work is a profound pulse against prejudice and social injustice, giving sound to the realities that mainstream society often chooses to ignore.
Renato Gama’s music is an act of cultural and artistic crossbreeding, a tool for social emancipation. Through diverse projects, including his renowned Nhocuné Soul band, he transforms the narrative of the periphery. His art speaks to the hostile environments and systemic disadvantages, but more importantly, it celebrates the irrepressible creative soul that persists—a spirit that raps, jazzes, writes poetry, and tells powerful stories from within the cracks of inequality.
The forthcoming LP, “Olhos Negros Vivo” (Black Eyes Live), is a raw and poignant live performance that delves into the Black experience in Brazil. It is a project about feeling, love, parenting, and the harsh truths of suicide and murder. The album’s genesis is as powerful as its content; during an interview about the project, conducted in a narrow alley of his community, a police siren abruptly pierced the air. Gama, lowering his voice, stated calmly, “You see, this is the siren that shapes our world and makes up the things that we see etched in the retina of those ‘olhos negros’.”
“Olhos Negros Vivo” is more than an album; it is a vital document of life in the periphery. It gives voice to the experience of living there, of reinventing it, and of creating art that speaks the language of its people. Renato Gama’s work stands as a crucial resistance against the standardization of cultural expression and social relations.
For Tropical Diaspora® Records, releasing this project is a core part of its mission. The label is committed to platforming stories and sounds that represent the true diversity and depth of the tropical diaspora, and Renato Gama’s powerful narrative and artistry exemplify this commitment.
“Renato Gama’s story is exactly the story we are here to support and amplify. We are immensely proud to give a wider voice to his vital work,” said a representative for Tropical Diaspora® Records.