Abaixo de Zero: Hello Hell
Black Alien
2019
Why This Album Matters
Abaixo de Zero: Hello Hell, released on 12 April 2019, is the third studio album by the acclaimed rapper Black Alien and represents an undeniable milestone in his already legendary career. Produced by Papatinho, the work stands out for its lyrical and musical depth, delving into crucial themes such as mental health, chemical dependency, politics, and reflections on Brazilian society. The album is celebrated for managing to balance classic hip-hop influences with a contemporary sound, avoiding the dominant trends of trap and acoustic rap, and opting for beats that flirt with jazz and blues. Its brutal honesty and Black Alien's unique ability to distil complex personal experiences into elaborate rhymes make it an essential work, further elevating the artist's status as one of Brazil's greatest MCs.
Context
The trajectory of Gustavo de Almeida Ribeiro, artistically known as Black Alien, is marked by technical genius and a winding path. From his first forays into music with the duo SpeedFreaks in 1991 and his time with the iconic Planet Hemp in the 90s, the rapper has built a legacy of participations and collaborations spanning various genres. However, his solo career was punctuated by long hiatuses, especially between the volumes of his acclaimed Babylon By Gus series (Vol. 1 in 2004 and Vol. 2 in 2015). These intervals were widely attributed to intense personal battles against chemical dependency, a theme the artist began to address with remarkable frankness. Abaixo de Zero: Hello Hell emerges as a testament to this overcoming, recorded during a period of sobriety since 2014, which gives the album even greater urgency and emotional depth, being a more direct and raw account of his journey than his previous works.
Recording
The production of Abaixo de Zero: Hello Hell was handled by beatmaker Papatinho, known for his work with Cone Crew Diretoria, marking a new phase in Black Alien's sound. This was the rapper's first solo album without the collaboration of his long-time partner, producer Alexandre Basa, which allowed Papatinho to imprint a distinct sonic identity, with classy beats and influences from R&B, jazz, and blues, distancing itself from the market's trap trends. The recording process featured Choppinho on audio capture and 2F Uflow on mixing and mastering, ensuring the technical quality of the project. The album's conception began to take shape with the composition of "Carta para Amy" in April 2018, consolidating in October of the same year. The result is a concise album, with nine tracks and an approximate duration of 26 to 29 minutes, which cohesively conveys the artist's vision and experiences.
Songs
The nine tracks of Abaixo de Zero: Hello Hell form an autobiographical mosaic of overcoming and reflection. Songs such as "Área 51", "Vai Baby", "Que Nem o Meu Cachorro", "Take Ten", "Au Revoir", "Aniversário de Sobriedade", "Jamais Serão", and "Capítulo Zero", in addition to the already mentioned "Carta Pra Amy", delve into the complexities of mental health and chemical dependency. "Carta pra Amy" is a particularly poignant track, where Black Alien reflects on his addiction and rehabilitation, weaving dialogues with the trajectories of figures like Amy Winehouse, Kurt Cobain, and Nina Simone, and pondering the weight of fame. "Aniversário de Sobriedade" directly addresses the fight against cocaine with a distinctive beat and a surprising saxophone solo, while "Au Revoir" is the album's romantic song, demonstrating the MC's lyrical versatility. The album culminates in "Capítulo Zero", a prologue symbolising rebirth and the farewell to oppressive systems and vices, with the expression 'Babylon bye-bye'. Black Alien's lyricism remains sharp, with elaborate rhymes, a less frenetic flow than in previous works, but laden with self-reflection and brutal honesty, alternating between metaphorical and explicit verses to narrate his journey from emotional instability to redemption.
Legacy
Abaixo de Zero: Hello Hell was acclaimed by specialised critics and the public, receiving the prestigious Multishow and Associação Paulista de Críticos de Arte (APCA) Album of the Year awards, solidifying its place as one of the most important works in national rap of the decade. Critics such as Guilherme Sobotta, from the O Estado de São Paulo newspaper, classified the album as "Black Alien's most powerful creative statement since 2004". João Lucas Dusi, from Tenho mais discos que amigos, described it as "a punch in the face, as they say. A good, accurate punch, to make you alert", highlighting its visceral impact. The album is widely considered one of the best releases of 2019 and a "modern classic", which not only elevates Black Alien's status but also celebrates his resilience and sobriety, marking an inspiring "comeback on top". Its ability to engage with the public through relevant lyrical content and a sound that defies momentary trends reinforces its influence and the timelessness of its art.
Rankings
Tracks
Credits
Extrapunk Extrafunk Entretenimento
Papatinho
William Carvalho
2F Uflow
Choppinho, Papatinho
Parteum
Podcasts
Boteco do Platão · Boteco Do Platão
Neste episódio comentei sobre o lindo e belo albúm de rap abaixo de zero hello hell do Black Alien. Segue nós @botecodoplatao NO COPYRIGHT
É chegado o momento de falar do Mr. Niterói nesse programa! Mas as conexões aqui são muito mais profundas que o uso de uma referência ou outra. E é exatamente por isso que eu chamei a Jéssica Balbino, que foi referência para construção do Conexões sobre Icarus, novo disco do BK', para trocar uma ideia bacana sobre os sentidos do último disco do Black Alien, Abaixo de Zero: Hello Hell, desde o seu
Vritu na voz · Victor Ferreira
A complexidade e talento de Gustavo Black Alien de Babylon By Gus vol.1, passando pelo volume 2 e chegando ao Abaixo de Zero: Hello Hell, disco que arrebatou nossos corações a ponto de ouvi-lo sem pular sequer uma faixa! A lirica bereta não quer mais saber de treta e nem de stress, nem eu. Quela fé!
Ensaio de Mesa · Estúdio Elétrico
O 19º episódio do Ensaio de Mesa traz um bate papo sobre o disco Abaixo de Zero: Hello Hell, do grande nome do rap nacional, Black Alien! Com o trio de ouro da podosfera musical, Álvaro Camões Padilha, Renato Zaccaro e Rodrigo Vita. Dê o play e confira a prosa boa!
Sinusite · Ale Costa
No comentando sobre álbum de hoje eu deixo bem claro o meu amor por esse disco do Black Alien que virou clássico mesmo sendo lançado a pouco (2019). É uma tentativa (desesperada?) de te convencer a ouvi-lo também, espero que funcione.
Videos
"Hello Hell: Abaixo de Zero", do Black Alien | Resenha de Segunda
Pietro Reis
Resenha Black Alien, Abaixo de Zero: Hello Hell
NonaOrelha
Analyses
Abaixo de Zero: Hello Hell – Wikipedia
Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
Review: Black Alien - Abaixo de Zero: Hello Hell (2019)
collectorsroom.com.br
Indispensável não só para quem gosta de rap, mas para todos os amantes da boa música e que apreciam um conteúdo lírico relevante, temos aqui com certeza um dos melhores discos do ano e que eleva ainda mais o status de Black Alien como um dos grandes rappers do Brasil.
Resenha: "Abaixo de Zero: Hello Hell" - Black Alien (2019)
br.nacaodamusica.com
Resenha do álbum "Abaixo de Zero: Hello Hell", lançado no dia 12 de abril de 2019 pelo cantor Black Alien, ex membro do Planet Hemp.
Em "Abaixo de Zero: Hello Hell", Black Alien analisa as perspectivas da ...
tenhomaisdiscosqueamigos.com
Leia a resenha do Tenho Mais Discos Que Amigos! para "Abaixo de Zero: Hello Hell", o aclamado novo disco do rapper Black Alien.
Crítica | "Abaixo de Zero: Hello Hell", Black Alien - Música Instantânea
musicainstantanea.com.br
A rima crua explícita logo nos primeiros minutos de Área 51, música de abertura de Abaixo de Zero: Hello Hell (2019, Extrapunk Extrafunk), diz muito sobre o caminho percorrido por Gustavo de Almeida Ribeiro no terceiro álbum de estúdio como Black Alien.
Discogs
Abaixo de Zero: Hello Hell – Discogs
discogs.com