1997

The front man for the band Nação Zumbi and main man of the Mangue Beat movement from Pernambuco (Northeast Brazil) had his career precociously aborted by a car crash. Chico Science was engaged in hip hop and break dance groups in the early 80s. By the end of that decade, he joined bands like Orla Orbe and Loustal, who drew their inspiration from soul, funk and hip hop. The fusion with Northeastern rhythms, especially maracatu, came in 1991, when Science met with rhythmic group Lamento Negro in the outskirts of the town of Olinda. He proceeded to mix up percussive beats with the sounds of his old group, so as to form Nação Zumbi. As a band, CSNZ started performing in Recife (state capital) and Olinda, generating the Mangue Beat "movement", which included a manifesto ("Caranguejos com Cérebro", or "Crabs with Brains"). In 1993, on a quick tour around São Paulo and Belo Horizonte, he managed to attract media attention. The first album, "Da Lama ao Caos", awarded the band with national recognition. The second, "Afrociberdelia", more pop and electronic, confirmed Chico’s innovative trends and helped boost a series of Europe and US gigs, where they were acclaimed both by audiences and critics. After the death of their leader, Nação Zumbi cut a double record, in 1998, featuring new songs, live versions, DJ remixes and the track "Chico – Death of a Rockstar" specially written by Goldie.