Príncipe Discos: Our Favourite Records
“Push the envelope, watch it bend” (from Lateralus)
It is entirely plausible that the artists of Principe Discos do not approach what they do as primarily ‘pushing the envelope’ (admittedly a loaded term in itself), as they probably live and breathe this music every day, from bedrooms studios to pulsating weekends at MusicBox. But for the rest of us from all around the world, circa-2017, it has been an episode of Prison Break. An episode in which we imagine ourselves being finally freed from the doldrums of grayscale techno, top 40 radio, youtube house, Boat Parties, hypersexualized hiphop & rnb, and ordering music online (and whatever else was trending at the time). This envelope was being sealed and delivered, in unbeknown ways, to unknown parts, for unknown pleasures. As the label co-founder Pedro Gomes notes:
"This music has something that most music in the West does not have, it has a truly profound inter-continental appeal. This can work in Africa. This can work in all of Latin and North America, in Asia and, of course, in Europe. This music has been brewing for centuries, through the slave trade, through immigration, and now through digital technology. Fruity Loops is a miracle for this secular brewing process, because finally you get this pristine percussive complexity translated directly to digital and then onto the vinyl. Now you can finally translate all these centuries of rhythmic advancement. Because it has that kind of richness to it, it can work. Because it's been brewing for so long, it can work anywhere. But it's not populist. It's not global in the sense of United Colours Of Benetton bullshit. It just works. People just react to it."
Based in Lisbon and founded in 2011, Príncipe Discos has been dedicated to showcasing contemporary dance music emerging from the city's suburbs and marginalized communities. The label’s aim has been to amplify the unheard voices and unique sounds of Lisbon's underground music scene, under the broad umbrella of batida, that including genres like kuduro, kizomba, funaná, and tarrachinha; characterized by new sounds, forms, and structures, with their own poetic and cultural identity. Márcio Matos, one of the label's founders, hand-paints and stencils each record, making every copy unique with a distinct DIY feel. To cap it all off, Príncipe has been fostering a close-knit community through its legendary "Noite Príncipe" parties at Lisbon's Musicbox, where artists test out new material while the label scouts new talent. Nearly 15 years later, it seems like nothing has changed.
As we get ready to host #13 with one of Príncipe’s finest (Nuno Beats), we mulled over (13 of) our favourite records from the label. The records were picked to cover both stylistic breadth and historic(al) progression of the esteemed institution (whilst leaning towards longer-players over singles/12”s) – thus potentially, a good entry point for the uninitiated.
V/A – Dj’S Do Guetto Vol. 1 (2013)
Considered a foundational piece in the development of what we know today as batida, the compilation (now a cult classic) was originally released in 2006 by a group of young DJs from the musical hotspots surrounding Lisbon. It was later re-released in 2013 by Príncipe, revealing the early dynamics of the scene’s salad years to a wider audience. The music within, characterized by its breakneck, complex rhythms and underscored by percussive intensity and sonic texture, helped establish Lisbon as a hub for electronic music and brought attention to the talents of Marfox, N.K., Pausas, Jesse and the legendary DJ godfather– Nervoso.
DJ Nigga Fox – O Meu Estilo EP (2013)
A towering figure of the Príncipe camp, Nigga Fox’s 2013 debut arrived like a bat out of hell, to shock-and-awe the system. Translating to “my style”, the EP contains fearless beat workouts from one of the best in the business: the hypnotic “Hwwambo”, the propelling “Powerr”, the marching “Weed” and the trippy “O Badaah”, four tracks that could dismantle any dancefloor on any given Friday. Accordions, violins, buzzy synths, teacups, wild chants – it’s all here, but cushioned by the tactile fibrocartilage of Fox’s polyrhythms.
DJ Firmeza – Alma Do Meu Pai EP (2015)
DJ Firmeza seems to be a master of percussion – minimalist in scope, maximalist in impact. Objective: to cook up raw percussive stabs into a woozy, hypnotic frenzy. Melody is sparse, and whatever remains (strings, flutes and vocal samples) drift around in the mix only to aid and abet this exercise, having only one thing in mind (“beat sex”). The title track, a prime example, morphs into a 6-minute cyclone of immersive rhythm.
DJ Marfox – Chapa Quente EP (2016)
An icon in Lisbon’s bubbling club circuit even before his Príncipe days, DJ Marfox is the figurehead around whom the label found its footing (note: Marfox is the first artist to sign for Principe, kicking it off with the Eu Sei Quem Sou EP). Chapa Quente, his second outing on the label, is laser-focused on the floorboards, with 6 tracks of high-octane heaters: “Cobra Preta” is a ridiculous World Party, and the “Kassumbula” is straight voodoo business.
DJ Lilocox – Paz & Amor (2018)
Acknowledged as a breakthrough release at the time, Paz & Amor contains deep atmospherics and relentless groove. Its sound leans towards tribal and afro-house, maybe a testimony to its wider appeal. An integral member of the Príncipe camp, Lilocox builds massively spacious pads within a haunting, widescreen soundscape. Sprinkled on them are rattling handcrafted drumwork – a winning combo: an intriguing intersection of batida and house music.
Niagara – Apologia (2018)
Niagara is a band of worldly influences, and they add another dimension to the Príncipe catalogue. Apologia arrives as slow-burning, psychedelic immersion, not dancefloor detonation. The album's strength lies in its textural depth: intricate soundscapes built on crystalline arpeggios gliding over distorted guitar and manipulated vocals. Tracks like "Sangue Bom" and "Húmus" unfold at almost glacial pace, demanding complete dominion. There's a tangible sense of analog warmth, a feeling of tape hiss and circuit-bent experimentation that lends things an organic feel. It's a sound that feels both futuristic and oddly nostalgic, like a radio transmission from a forgotten era. A singular album nestled in a special corner of the label.
DJ Nigga Fox – Cartas Na Manga (2019)
Nigga Fox’s second entry on the list is also one of the catalogue’s finest: It seemed that with Cartas Na Manga Fox discovered a secret extra gear – tying up the Kuduro with few more layers of jazz, techno, acid (and congas) into a woozy, melted hotpot of rhythm. The beats here are high-speed and headlights-on, and rolled up in jazzy horns, pinging piano, steely clangs. In 2019, very little else sounded like this. Too early for Modern Classic status?
RS* – Saúde Em 1÷ Lugar (2022)
Founded in 2016 in Rinchoa, RS (Rinchoa Stress) Produções is a crew of Portuguese artists that include DJ Narciso, Nuno Beats and Farucox Beats, and their second full-length album is one part dancefloor-heat and one part jagged-melancholia. The sequencing of dizzying batida juxtaposed with soft tarraxho makes for special listening, from the chirping grooves of “ORACAO” and “ARMADILHA” to the brooding blues of “Valentines Day 2K17” and “Sem Cabeca”, not to mention the g-funk of “PrinCIPES”. A long player, range wide.
DJ Danifox – Ansiedade (2022)
Moody, pensive, delicate Batida, weighted just right. DJ Danifox laces Ansiedade with his intriguing vox, cinemalike chords, Robert Johnson guitar, and probing bass notes that hit deep and wide. 100% groove and 0% clutter, with near-perfect spatial arrangements. Old world charm. Slow, swinging club music that sounds like an intimate Tropicalia classic from the 1960s (Caetano Veloso?). Sublime.
Nuno Beats – Sai Do Coração
RS Produções mainstay Nuno Beats seems wise beyond his years: Sai Do Coração is cool, shimmery soul, made with a sage, scholarly touch. He explores the other side of the batida coin effortlessly, with the flair of the slickest of operators. From its Drexciyan melodies and longing chords to feet-dragging drums. Basslines bubble up in your ear. Late night tales. A dash of Patrón, chased with lemon drops. Pure silk.
Nídia – 95 Mindjeres (2023)
Nidia Minaj is a star. On 95 Mindjeres (“95 Women”), the kinetics of Batida and Tarraxho is refracted through a prism of deeply personal and historical narratives. The understated low-end, rather than simply providing a foundation, acts as force, shaping the sonic contours. Subtle shifts in texture and spatialization create a sense of constant movement. The album's dedication to the women fighters of the PAIGC gives it all a sense of historical resonance. And storytelling.
DJ Lycox – Guetto Star (2024)
No better album to end this list with. Guetto Star begins with a “YAAAH” and ends with “Energia”, and sandwiched in between the air of suspense are songs of love and loss – and electrifying bounce. Hailing from Paris, everything Lycox has touched so far has been nothing short of tier one. Another percussive hero, his work is busy and bustling, but somehow carries the déjà vu of a timeless Western, melody intact. He attacks it at all angles: head, heart and hip. Consider the envelope – bent.
By: DJ Infrastructur
March 2025