Melo D

𝙊𝙪𝙧𝙤 𝙉𝙚𝙜𝙧𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙨 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙚𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣 𝙗𝙮 𝙈𝙚𝙡𝙤 𝘿 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙋𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙜𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙪𝙧𝙗𝙖𝙣 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙘, 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙨 𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙮, 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙫𝙤𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙧𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚. 𝙍𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙗𝙪𝙢 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙩𝙝 𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙧𝙮, 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙖 𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣 𝙋𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙜𝙖𝙡’𝙨 𝘽𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠-𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙘 𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙚.

Since the early years of the 21st century, Melo D has built a singular path, balancing his work as a DJ with an extensive career as a vocalist, always approaching music through a broad and inclusive understanding of Black musical languages. On "Ouro Negro", that accumulated experience is evident in every track, from the way his voice shifts naturally between different rhythmic frameworks to the refined sense of timing and melody that runs throughout the album. There is no excess here, only control, intention and a deep sense of groove.

The record also reflects a long history of collaborations across multiple scenes, moving seamlessly between reggae with Mercado Negro, hip-hop soul with the Soul Movement collective, drum’n’bass with Cool Train Crew, and African-influenced music alongside Meu Kamba Som Sistema. Rather than feeling fragmented, these influences are absorbed into a coherent musical vision where flow, balance and songcraft take priority.
Close creative relationships with DJs and producers such as Rui Murka, DJ Nelassasin, DJ Kwan, Spaceboys, DJ Johnny and Rocky Marciano have helped shape an album that breathes soundsystem culture, club energy and street knowledge, without sacrificing depth or subtlety. "Ouro Negro" works equally well as a movement-driven listen or a focused, immersive experience, revealing new details with each play.

More than a simple comeback, this album reaffirms Melo D as a key figure in Portuguese urban music, an artist who has crossed generations without ever diluting his identity. "Ouro Negro" stands as a statement of artistic longevity, respect for roots and a voice that continues to resonate with strength, authenticity and character.