Da Weasel

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Da Weasel is a Portuguese hip-hop band from Almada. They are fronted by MCs Pacman and Virgul. Da Weasel is one of the oldest hip-hop projects in Portugal, having started in 1993. They are notorious for being a full session band, instead of relying on a DJ and samples. Their music uses elements from hard rock, pop and ska.

Da Weasel's first release the EP More Than 30 Motherfuckers, featured only six songs, all in English. The group featured Pacman as the MC, Pedro Quaresma, Jay Jay Neige and Guilherme Silva on live instruments, Yen Sung as backup vocalist and Armando Teixeira as DJ and producer. The following year, in 1994, the band rode the wave of the Rapública compilation, which presented Portuguese hip-hop to the mainstream audience, by releasing their first full album, Dou-lhe Com A Alma. This time, the band wrote all the songs in Portuguese, incorporating influences from Cypress Hill and Public Enemy.

Before production of their third release (3º Capítulo) in 1997, Yen Sung left the band to start a career as an acid jazz producer, as well as DJing. She was replaced by Virgul, a rapper/singer which introduced a few ragga and afro elements to the band's sound, as was seen in the singles "Todagente" and "Duia", with Virgul imposing his personality without outshining main MC Pacman. Da Weasel also went on tour for the first time.

In 1999, after taking part in Mario Caldato Jr.'s Tejo Beat compilation and the Xutos & Pontapés tribute album XX Anos - XX Bandas, Da Weasel went back to the studio to record their fourth album, Iniciação A Uma Vida Banal - O Manual. The critically acclaimed album was the band's first silver record, and helped pull increase their previous release sales enough to grant them a second silver. Da Weasel also served as a warm-up act to Red Hot Chili Peppers' concert at the Atlantic Pavillion in Lisbon.

Armando Teixeira then left the band to pursue a solo career, and experienced pop-rock producer Mário Barreiros helming the recording of Podes Fugir Mas Não Te Podes Esconder in 2001. Da Weasel's work now blended influences from hip-hop, heavy metal, reggae and African music to produce a unique melange that was still undeniably Portuguese. Paris-based Cuban hip-hop trio Orishas was featured on the album. Podes Fugir... soon rose up to gold and later platinum record sales.

In 2004, Mário Barreiros was replaced by João Martins as producer, and DJ Glue joined the band as live DJ, filling a spot vacant for three years. They helped Da Weasel reinvent themselves on their latest album, Re-Definições, a deeply thought-out piece of work which refined the sound heard in the previous album. Music fans responded enthusiastically, with over 80,000 copies sold, making it Da Weasel's best selling album.

In 2005 the band reached its peak with a sold-out concert in the Olympia in Paris, its first ever big international performance.

In 2006 Da Weasel publishes a Track named "Play Up" inspired by the statement of Bob Marley: "Football is Music" which expresses their passion to football.The track is only found on the CD PlayUp – among 15 other football tracks written by various international artist.

[edit] Awards

After a nomination for Best Breakthrough Act in the "Blitz Music Awards" (organized by the Blitz music newspaper) with their first album in 1993, Da Weasel won the paper's "Band of the Year" award with Dou-lhe Com A Alma in 1994. From their third album, 3º Capítulo, the single "Todagente" yielded a "Best Song" award in 1997.

At the 2004 MTV Europe Music Awards Da Weasel got the award for "Best Portuguese Act".