"I have already been stopped many times by the police. They stopped me at three in the morning, me and four other rappers. What did we have in our car? Guitar, pick-up, CDs and other instruments. We are musicians!" tells us the singer insulted by the fact of having to have a gun pointed at his head for forty minutes.

Toninho complains about the inequality in the treatment that the police have in relation to the young people of the middle or upper classes and the poor people who live in the slums and outskirts." If they want to see marijuana, here I am, in a forest of marijuana, in my CD photo-cover" provoking and declaring "Before saying anything, listen to the music, the name of the album is 'Um toque de amor' (A touch of love").

Black in body and soul

Toninho Crespo is an admirer of black people and of the black culture in Brazil. In his opinion, black people are the creators of Brazilian arts. "The black man created our culture and still hasn't reclaimed the power over it until now", says the musician reminding us that the majority of the Brazilian artistic manifestations recognized internationally come from black people like samba and capoeira. And despite this, in Brazil, "the black people just shovel dirt" he ponders.

But he states that the black man doesn't need power. "The black man is the power to be,” he says mentioning the generosity of the black people who haven't felt hate against white people.

As well as the darkness of their skin Toninho explains that there is another concept: The black identity, in which the colour of the skin doesn't matter. "Anybody can be black, to take part in the black context". He explains that in the outskirts of Sao Paulo racism can be of other forms; it is when people’s attitude is what matters, "There are people
who are black in their skin but haven’t got the attitude, there are others who are white but have got the black attitude".

A warning for the Brazilians

The first time the musician came to London was in 1989. What most caught his attention at that time was the Notting Hill Carnival. Since then Toninho already has come and returned to Brazil five times. Every time he returns to Brazil he brings a little of something new that he has seen in Europe. And, every time that he comes here he tries to bring more about Brazilian culture.

It was on one of these trips to Brazil that Toninho recorded a dub version-a remix of a reggae song with psychedelic effects, which are very much used by the Jamaican DJs. In that time, this was a novelty in Brazil. But the artist complains about the lack of recognition of his pioneering contribution. The artist’s objective, outside the country, is to show Brazil, which according to him, is still unknown. " I want to bring a little bit of what has not arrived here yet, my Brazil from the periphery of Sao Paulo, a contemporary Brazil that doesn't like naked women, Brazil with music and lyrics that aim at raising people’s awareness" he declares.

According to Toninho Crespo, for this "unknown" Brazil to be presented to the rest of the world, it is necessary that the Brazilian community who lives abroad start revealing this other side of the country. In his opinion, on many occasions, Brazil is still seen as a paradise, a false idea given by years of military government. "Half naked women, some guy playing samba, parties, football, and nonexistent racism. Hang on a minute! We
can't be silent", he warns people about it.

We can see that something is happening with Brazil’s image. There is a feeling of nationalism growing in Brazilians; we can't ignore the fact that our country is "in fashion". Toninho Crespo qualifies as a nationalist. "I take all my Brazilian brothers into consideration. I don't assimilate the division that the elite want me to accept. I can't forget the police violence in Sao Paulo against blacks and mulattos".


The musician is happy to see the Brazilian flag spread around the world and also to see that Brazilians are proud to wear the national colours. But he is still a little bit sceptical about it: "I just hope that this isn't a cheap nationalism. I hope its real nationalism". Toninho suggests that the Brazilian community abroad should make the most of this wave of nationalism to speak about our problems. "Let's speak the truth. Police treat people in different ways depending on their social class, the opportunities are different". The artist believes that everyone can find his or her way to speak up. He and musicians from Sao Paulo send their messages through their songs.

Toninho Crespo experienced himself this inequality of treatment and had opportunities denied to him. Two days after arriving from one of his trips to Europe, the musician and a rap band from Sao Paulo were stopped and examined by the police. "It was vicious. They should have gone to war. They have the right to ask for your papers, but they don't
need to treat you violently" he complains.

Against the violence, a touch of love

In the midst of such revolution against the violence and inequality of his country Toninho found time and peace to prepare his album "Um toque de amor" (A touch of love).

"I had to change my line a bit to make this CD. The world is not just revolution. We can't forget that we have to talk about love and the good things in life,” says the artist describing his album as a romantic work, with many reggae love songs and only a few tracks talking about social issues - which is different than his previous CDs, which dealt with social issues in a clear and direct way. Toninho confesses that the change in style can represent a certain softening in his career. He describes "Um toque de amor" as a romantic reggae album dedicated to women.

Apart from his music, Toninho also works with poetry. The artist likes to express his feelings through engaging poetry. Apart from doing this Toninho also puts music to the his friends’ poems, like the poet from Paraiba, who died recently, Arnaldo Xavier, author of the lyrics "Se voce nao fosse voce" (If you weren't you) from the album "Um toque de amor".