Expensive Soul are a Portuguese hip-hop duo formed in Leça da Palmeira in 1999, consisting of Demo as the group's MC and New Max as its singer, MC and producer. Expensive Soul's musical style incorporates various genres, ranging from

soul In many religious and philosophical traditions, there is a belief that a soul is "the immaterial aspect or essence of a human being". Etymology The Modern English noun '':wikt:soul, soul'' is derived from Old English ''sāwol, sāwel''. The ea ...

and

reggae Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, "Do the Reggay" was the first popular song to use the ...

to R&B. In their live performances, the duo is joined by the Jaguar Band. The group released their debut album ''B.I.'' in 2004, with which they rose to mainstream prominence. Some of their most famous songs have featured in Portuguese

telenovela A telenovela is a type of a television serial drama or soap opera produced primarily in Latin America. The word combines ''tele'' (for "television") and ''novela'' (meaning "novel"). Similar drama genres around the world include '' teleserye'' ( ...

s, such as the track "O Amor É Mágico" from their 2010 album ''Utopia''. Other famous tracks include "Dou te Nada" (2010) and "Cúpido" (2013).

Formation and early years

Tiago Novo and António Conde attended the same class in high school in Leça da Palmeira,

Matosinhos Matosinhos, Porto, Portugal () is a city and a municipality in the northern Porto district of Portugal, bordered in the south by the city of Porto (8 km from the city centre). The population in 2011 was 175,478, and covered an area of approx ...

. The duo started their project Expensive Soul in 1999 adopting, in the process, the artistic names New Max and Demo. Their debut album ''B.I.'', released in 2004, features the single "Eu Não Sei", which appeared in the popular teen

Morangos com Açúcar ''Morangos com Açúcar'' (lit. ''Strawberries with Sugar''; distributed internationally as ''Sweet Strawberries'') is a Portuguese teen drama. It was broadcast daily on the Portuguese TV station TVI between 30 August 2003 to 15 September 2012. ...

''. The track's success made the group known to the general public. In their live performances, the duo is accompanied by the instrumental ensemble Jaguar Band; New Max has been described as the most reserved half of the duo, whereas Demo has been noted to exude a "natural magnetism" and a more energetic approach to their shows.

Discography

Albums

* ''B.I.'' (CD, 2004) * ''Alma Cara'' (CD, 2006) * ''Utopia'' (CD, 2010) * ''Sonhador'' (CD, 2014)

Live albums

* ''Ao Vivo Nos Coliseus'' (2016)

DVDs

* ''Expensive Soul Symphonic Experience'' (DVD, 2012)

References

External links

Official website
{{Authority control Portuguese hip hop groups Hip hop duos Male musical duos Musical groups established in 1999