From the Portuguese Rapública to CPLP’s transnationalism: Lusophone hip hop from Lisbon (1994-2015)

This presentation sketches aspects of lusophone hip hop in Lisbon over the last twenty years. Roughly coinciding with the foundation of RDP and RTP África, dedicated to Portuguese emission to lusophone Africa, and the foundation of the CPLP, the 1990s were age of transformation for a generation of urban, hip hop influenced musicians, often the offspring of migrants from lusophone African countries. Apparently reconciling incipient notions of lusofonia and new multiculturalism, the Portuguese rap movement launched compilations such as Rapública (1994) and Tejo Beat (1998), and participated in the documentary Lusofonia, a (R)evolução (2006). Shortly discussing recent festivals, celebrative events and phonograms, I argue that this course of events inspired rappers not only to collaborate across borders, but also to integrate references to traditional lusophone musics in their work.