Valete: Portuguese Rapper – Biography
Valete, the artistic name of Keidje Torres Lima, is a Portuguese rapper of Santomean origin. He actively joined the hip-hop movement in Portugal in 1997. He is known for his anti-capitalist, left-wing stance, and his lyrics address social themes of contemporary society. Currently, he has released two albums and sold approximately 11,000 copies.
Valete: Personal Life and Music Career
Valete, also known as Viris or Keidje Lima, is the son of São Tomé natives. He initially resided in Benfica, later moved to Odivelas, then returned to Benfica, followed by a move to Amora, and finally settled in Damaia.
During his youth, he had affiliations with JCP (Portuguese Communist Youth) and PCP (Portuguese Communist Party). However, in the same interview, he admitted to having issues with the structure and social policies of PCP, despite ideologically identifying with the party. As a result, he prefers to support the Left Bloc, as it aligns more closely with his political references.
In 1997, he began his musical journey and, alongside Adamastor and Bónus, formed the group Canal 115 and later the record label Horizontal Records. At just 16 years old, he started being invited to contribute to mixtapes released by DJs like Bomberjack and Cruzfader. Valete performed with Canal 115 for two years in various concerts across the country before taking a break to focus on his studies. He later obtained a degree in Communication Sciences from the now-closed Universidade Independente (Unl).
Valete: albums and Other Releases
In 2002, he returned with the independently released album “Educação Visual.” With this album, Valete showcased a socially conscious rap style, which many had not previously recognized in him. In the song “Anti-Herói” from his next album, he defined himself as a “Trotskista belicista.”
In 2006, he released the album “Serviço Público.”
In 2009, Valete announced that he would release a new album titled “Homo Libero,” which was meant to follow up on the “Serviço Público” record. However, the release of this album was repeatedly postponed by the rapper.
In 2017, Valete joined the project “Língua Franca” with Emicida, Rael, and Capicua. He participated in three of the ten songs on the album. In June, Valete released two singles: “Poder” and “Rap Consciente,” while also announcing the upcoming release of a new album.
In 2019, he announced that his third album would be titled “Em Movimento” and not “360 Graus” or “Homo Líber,” as previously mentioned over the past eleven years. Valete aims to adopt a style more fitting for modern times with this new album. Consequently, he announced that the album’s tracks would be released separately, eventually resulting in a compilation released in physical format.
The release of the second track from the album “Em Movimento,” titled “BFF,” drew significant criticism from the “bourgeois feminist” community and some Portuguese celebrities, notably actresses.
In 2023, he released the EP titled “APERITIVO.”
