Xambala formed in Rio de Janeiro around the turn of the millennium, bringing together musicians who mixed samba with reggae. The group included vocalists Marco Mattoli and Russo Passapusso, along with Rodrigo Campos on accordion, Jorge Continentino on bass, Gustavo Benjão on drums, and Nicolas Krassik on percussion.
They released their first album in 2002, followed by several others including 'Xambalá' in 2004 and 'Ao Meu Lado' in 2010. The song 'Ao Meu Lado' became one of their better-known tracks, blending those samba and reggae elements with soul influences.
Their lyrics sometimes touched on social and political themes, which drew attention alongside their musical style. They kept recording through the 2010s, putting out 'Pra Valer' in 2013 and 'Semente' in 2017.
Keep it compact: a lyric you come back to, a live memory, or the part of the catalog you would point someone toward first.
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