Usuário

Planet Hemp

1995

Cover of Usuário
Top 100

Why This Album Matters

Usuário, released in March 1995, marks Planet Hemp's explosive debut, consolidating the innovative style the band self-dubbed "Raprocknrollpsicodeliahardcoreragga". The album quickly stood out for its audacious fusion of rap, rock, psychedelia, and hardcore, elements that defined an entirely new and original sound in the Brazilian music scene. Beyond its provocative lyrics about marijuana and legalisation, which generated hits such as "Legalize Já", the album is a landmark due to its complex musical architecture. It incorporates influences from Black culture and new trends in North American rock, showing the band was completely attuned to the most innovative developments of the era. The presence of names like DJ Zé Gonzales and Black Alien even on their first work demonstrates the breadth and sonic vanguard that Planet Hemp aimed to establish.

Context

Planet Hemp emerged in Rio de Janeiro in 1993, born from the encounter between Marcelo D2 and Skunk. Initially conceived as a rock band, a lack of instrumental knowledge led them to rap, but the line-up soon expanded with the addition of Rafael Crespo on guitar, Bacalhau on drums, and Formigão on bass. This new configuration allowed for the creation of a hybrid sound, which broke genre barriers right from their first rehearsals. After composing six songs in just two rehearsals and performing shows on the alternative circuit, the band faced a critical moment with the death of Skunk in 1994, a victim of AIDS. However, BNegão took over vocals alongside D2, and the group secured a contract with Sony Music (Superdemo / Chaos), preparing the ground for the release of Usuário, their first album under this label.

Songs

The album Usuário is punctuated by songs that challenged the status quo, with "Legalize Já" emerging as one of its biggest successes, despite its music video suffering censorship. The lyrics, openly engaged in the discussion about the legalisation of marijuana, were just one facet of its artistic proposal. The sound of the tracks is a crucial point, representing a rich fusion of genres that fed on the diverse influences of its members. The participation of talents like DJ Zé Gonzales and vocalist Black Alien contributed to the musical complexity, resulting in a work that incorporated Black culture and the latest trends in global rock.

Legacy

Usuário established Planet Hemp as a prominent force in Brazilian music, with the hit "Legalize Já" becoming an anthem, even with the restrictions imposed on its music video. The album's success was considerable, paving the way for the subsequent record with sales of one hundred and fifty thousand copies even before the release of their second work. This album not only launched Marcelo D2 and BNegão into stardom, but also marked the group's entry into a multinational record label, Sony Music, during a period when musical renewal was sought through influences from Black culture and rock trends. Usuário's relevance lies in its ability to provoke social debates and, at the same time, present an innovative sound that resonated widely within the Brazilian music scene.

Rankings

Tracks

Credits

A&R

Jorge Davidson

Executive-Producer

Elza Cohen

Producer

Planet Hemp

Producer, Recorded By, Mixed By

Fábio Henriques

Vocals

B Negão, Marcelo D2

Bass

Formigão

Drums

Bacalhau

Guitar

Rafael Crespo

Mastered By

Ricardo Garcia

Coordinator

Ronaldo Viana

Photography By

Daniela Dacorso

Podcasts

30 anos de USUÁRIO do PLANET HEMP c/ Pedro De Luna (biógrafo) | RD #078

Redação DISCONECTA · Disconecta

1h 1min·23 Sept 2025

Nessa edição do Redação DISCONECTA mergulhamos no álbum Usuário do Planet Hemp que completou 30 anos em abril de 2025. Pra isso, contamos com convidado ilustre, Pedro De Luna, biógrafo da banda que está trabalhando na segunda edição do livro por sua própria editora, a Ilustre Editora.Quer adquirir a 2° edição do livro Planet Hemp - Mantenha o Respeito atualizada?Participe do financiamento coletivo

Planet Hemp encontra seus usuários - A estréia da banda

Prosa Estéreo · Costa Brothers

59 min·2 Jun 2020

Os músicos Marvin Costa (AKA Guevara Songs) e Alex Costa conversam sobre o disco "Usuário" da banda carioca Planet Hemp. Na pauta, histórias sobre as gravações, curiosidades sobre as músicas e interpretações pessoais do álbum que marcou um novo panorama para o discurso das bandas de rock no Brasil.

#41 Usuário (1995) - Planet Hemp [NA AGULHA]

Ultradiscos Podcast · Fernando Lima

1h 5min·21 Mar 2021

Um dos discos mais polêmicos da música brasileira. Sua potência rendeu fama e cana aos integrantes do Planet Hemp. Usuário é o assunto deste episódio.

Videos

"Usuário" - Planet Hemp | Melhores discos brasileiros dos anos 90 | Alta Fidelidade

Alta Fidelidade

Films

Books

Analyses

Discogs

Usuário – Discogs

discogs.com