hard asses
Kuduro is punk; a wonderful example of "Do it yourself". In developed countries, where reality offers different possibilities, the philosophy of DIY is mostly an attitude.
In other places such as Angola, however, DIY is not a philosophy but rather an essential element in the everyday fight for survival. There is no other choice. That's why the Kuduro music, just like Favela Funk, Reggaeton and other contemporary third world music is pure punk... Until we in the first world gets our hands on it, that is. Strong mixture of rhythm
Kuduro is basically a massive mixture of traditional Angolan music, Sungura, Ragga, Semba and Afro Zouk rhythms added to European house and electronic techno beats. It first appeared in the 80s when Luanda producers started mixing the above mentioned music and rhythms as they showed off their DJ skills at dance halls and different party events. The new very danceable beat was a huge success. Kuduro music spread rapidly thanks mainly to Luanda candonga (bus) drivers. Musicians would give their music to the drivers and they would play it on their buses. If the passengers liked it, it would go on again and again, the passengers would eventually record the music and... if not, well, back to the drawing board for something new. Kuduro lyrics are simple and direct. Mostly sung in Portuguese, many other Angolan tongues are also used at the same time. There are no rules in Kuduro. It's all about mixing stuff. The country's socio-political situation is often focused on by musicians. This is probably why those in power are not exactly huge fans of the music.
Hard asses dancing
The word Kuduro is a combination of the words culo (ass) and duro (hard). The reason why is because when you dance to this music, you have to tense the cheeks of your bum (and according to one theory it's because the guy who came up the dance has a hard ass himself). Tony Amado, Kuduro "guru", says he first came up with the dance watching a Jean Claude Van Damme film. He realized his music and Van Damme's movements sat perfectly together and he based the dance movements on this. Kuduro dancing, nevertheless, really reaches the heights when it's danced by highly women. The moves are you basically stick your butt out, tense it, and you swivel your hips. We swear that there is not a man alive who can stop his blood rushing to his nether regions when confronted by the spectacle.
From Angoa to Lisbon...
From Lisbon to the world
Kuduro reached the poverty-stricken neighbourhoods of Lisbon via the local Angolan immigrant community. It quickly found its way into the dancehalls and street sound systems in the port area. Local musicians soon began to experiment with the music. The most well-known Kuduro band, Buraka Som Sistema, come from one of those barrios, Buraca. They are now to be seen at any huge festival anywhere in the world and they collaborate with artists like MIA. But they are not the only ones. Here you have a few more "hard asses" that might interest you: Helder, o Rei do Kuduro, DJ Manya, DJ SL, Daviz, Dog Murras, Tony Amado, DJ Nike, DJ Joao Reis, DJ Beleza, DJ Amorim, DJ Paulo Jorge, DJ Baby T, Sebem, Dj revolution, Dj znoobia, Bruno M, Puto Prata, Os F4, De Faya,...
In other places such as Angola, however, DIY is not a philosophy but rather an essential element in the everyday fight for survival. There is no other choice. That's why the Kuduro music, just like Favela Funk, Reggaeton and other contemporary third world music is pure punk... Until we in the first world gets our hands on it, that is. Strong mixture of rhythm
Kuduro is basically a massive mixture of traditional Angolan music, Sungura, Ragga, Semba and Afro Zouk rhythms added to European house and electronic techno beats. It first appeared in the 80s when Luanda producers started mixing the above mentioned music and rhythms as they showed off their DJ skills at dance halls and different party events. The new very danceable beat was a huge success. Kuduro music spread rapidly thanks mainly to Luanda candonga (bus) drivers. Musicians would give their music to the drivers and they would play it on their buses. If the passengers liked it, it would go on again and again, the passengers would eventually record the music and... if not, well, back to the drawing board for something new. Kuduro lyrics are simple and direct. Mostly sung in Portuguese, many other Angolan tongues are also used at the same time. There are no rules in Kuduro. It's all about mixing stuff. The country's socio-political situation is often focused on by musicians. This is probably why those in power are not exactly huge fans of the music.
Hard asses dancing
The word Kuduro is a combination of the words culo (ass) and duro (hard). The reason why is because when you dance to this music, you have to tense the cheeks of your bum (and according to one theory it's because the guy who came up the dance has a hard ass himself). Tony Amado, Kuduro "guru", says he first came up with the dance watching a Jean Claude Van Damme film. He realized his music and Van Damme's movements sat perfectly together and he based the dance movements on this. Kuduro dancing, nevertheless, really reaches the heights when it's danced by highly women. The moves are you basically stick your butt out, tense it, and you swivel your hips. We swear that there is not a man alive who can stop his blood rushing to his nether regions when confronted by the spectacle.
From Angoa to Lisbon...
From Lisbon to the world
Kuduro reached the poverty-stricken neighbourhoods of Lisbon via the local Angolan immigrant community. It quickly found its way into the dancehalls and street sound systems in the port area. Local musicians soon began to experiment with the music. The most well-known Kuduro band, Buraka Som Sistema, come from one of those barrios, Buraca. They are now to be seen at any huge festival anywhere in the world and they collaborate with artists like MIA. But they are not the only ones. Here you have a few more "hard asses" that might interest you: Helder, o Rei do Kuduro, DJ Manya, DJ SL, Daviz, Dog Murras, Tony Amado, DJ Nike, DJ Joao Reis, DJ Beleza, DJ Amorim, DJ Paulo Jorge, DJ Baby T, Sebem, Dj revolution, Dj znoobia, Bruno M, Puto Prata, Os F4, De Faya,...
