Killer Opening Songs: "Convoque seu Buda" by Criolo

For more than three decades rap has been mainly known as an Anglophone, US-born, African-American-driven musical phenomenon. At the beginning, lyrics focused more on social and political issues. However, with the passing of time and with the wealth-accumulating habits of certain rap artists, the genre has lost its initial bite somewhat.

Not everywhere, mind you. There still exist places around the world where rap is being used as a weapon of war to address important issues. Killer Opening Songs is proud to introduce an artist who has done precisely this since his scene-stealing debut album No Na Orelha in 2011.

Criolo is a slum-raised Brazilian singer (and singer is the key word here as he not only raps but also has the pipes to deliver some of the most beguiling and beautiful melodies ever. For evidence of this, please, listen to the third track on No Na Orelha, Não Existe Amor em SP). It is to his second album, Convoque seu Buda, that K.O.S. is turning its attention tonight, especially its Killer Opener, the title track. The song builds on the same elements that made its predecessor, No Na Orelha, Rolling Stone magazine’s Best Album of the year almost half a decade ago. There’s the hard-hitting commentary on the economic, social and political situation of Brazil, especially in the build-up to the Olympic Games next year. All this is mixed with catchy, foot-tapping beats and delivered with panache and maturity.

Whilst rap is Criolo’s main means of expression, the album Convoque seu Buda (literally, Invoke your Buddha) is testament to other styles this son of São Paulo has adopted. There is reggae, Afrobeat and samba throughout the record. Killer Opening Songs even detected the influence of Tropicália, the 60s and 70s musical movement that sought to blend different styles such as rock and funk with more traditional Brazilian rhythms. As mentioned before, Criolo is not just an outstanding rapper but also an excellent singer songwriter as demonstrated in the fourth track, Casa de Papelão, a haunting song whose harsh subject matter, homelessness, contrasts beautifully against its sophisticated arrangements. It also has one of the better bass hooks Killer Opening Songs has heard in a long time.

It is again the K.O.S. that is the leading character in this album. Convoque seu Buda, both title track and album show that rap has not died a slow death; killed by corporate appropriation and greed. No, rap has found a new lease of life, but now it is singing in Portuguese… and Spanish.

© 2015

Next Post: “Saturday Evenings: Stay In, Sit Up and Switch On”, to be published on Saturday 12^th December (GMT)

Food, Music, Food, Music, Food, Music... Ad Infinitum

One of my favourite sections on this blog is making a comeback. Although I should say that it never really went away. But I wish sometimes I could post more articles about food. Especially about food in relation to music.

Summer is on its way out finally (honestly, my gente, I can't stand it! I know, I know. I was born in Cuba, tropical country with warm weather. But I'm a sucker for autumn... and spring). Anyhoo, as I was saying, or rather, writing, summer is taking its final bow and what better way to sign it off than with this tasty pork recipe? By the way, I didn't use pak choi when I made this. I don't even know what it looks like, but I think it's something like this.  Pork has a natural strong flavour, although my experience in the UK is that unless you go to a butcher's, you will be very disappointed by what they sell in supermarkets. The recipe is by Angela Harnett, who's slowly become one of my favourite chefs. I just hope she doesn't dethrone Nigel Slater. He's still my número uno.

Pork escalope with peppers and pak choi

(Serves four)
50ml olive oil
2 red romano peppers, thinly sliced, seeds removed
2 pak choi, sliced, thick roots and green leaves separated
1 tbsp sage, chopped
Pinch of salt
8 pork escalopes, approximately 80g each
2 tbsp of lemon juice

Put 30ml of the olive oil into a large frying pan. Add the sliced peppers and saute for 10 minutes on a low heat.

Add the pak choi roots and saute for two minutes, throw in the green leaves and continue to cook on a low heat for a further two minutes. Add the sage and check seasoning. If the vegetables look as if they are drying out, add a little hot water.

Remove the vegetables, dry the pan with kitchen roll and add the remaining oil. Get your pan nice and hot, season the escalopes and fry on a medium heat for two minutes on each side.

Remove the pork, deglaze the pan with the lemon juice and add the vegetables for long enough to ensure they are hot through.

Rest the escalopes on top of the vegetables to serve.

As for the music I chose to go with this dish it mirrors the season. The transition from summer to autumn, which means that the melodies I selected move from an upbeat tone to a more subdued mood. When Angela writes about sage and peppers that makes think of seasoning. Just like Chila Lynn's Real Woman makes me think of cool, catchy pop. She's a Cuban-born singer who performs in both Spanish and English. I hope you enjoy this track from her debut album, Real Woman.



Ex-Cranberries, post-Cranberries, still-Cranberries? I've no idea, all I know that the first time I heard the lilting, strong Irish accent of Dolores O'Riordan, I was smitten. I still have a tape where a friend of mine recorded a couple of tracks by The Cranberries as fillers. This song, Black Widow, might well represent the first leaf that falls from a tree as soon as August gives way to September. The song is apparently about Dolores's mother-in-law's death. O'Riordan's voice reminds me of cooking on a low heat. Although normally high-pitched, she can bring her tone down to a husky whisper. Now, that's what I call singing.



My last musical offering tonight comes all the way from Brazil. I "discovered" Criolo back in the summer through a compilation CD that came with my copy of Songlines magazine. This track, Não Existe Amor em SP (There's no love in Sao Paulo) is about the lack of love and hope in that city. Criolo is actually a rapper but he can also put his soul hat on and belt out a heartfelt tune like this. I recommend that you check out his other clips on youtube. Brilliant performer, and the band ain't 'alf bad either, innit? Just like that simmering pork, I hope you enjoy the music. Ta.



Angela Hartnett is chef patron at Murano restaurant and consults at the Whitechapel Gallery and Dining Room, London. Twitter.com/angelahartnett. Photograph: Sarah Lee for the Guardian

© 2012

Next Post: "Sunday Mornings: Coffee, Reflections and Music", to be published on Sunday 30th September at 10am (GMT)