Rubel - Casas *Pre-Order

Release Date Friday 18th September 2026
All pre-orders will be dispatched/made ready for collection on that day.

Brazilian artist Rubel isn't one to be pigeonholed and typecast into staying in
one sound Casas, the follow-up to his debut album Pearl from 2015, brought a bigger, more epic, and richer production quality to the table. Fusing the worlds of MPB and hip hop, Rubel' s sophomore LP built on the momentum of its predecessor, gaining a LatinGrammy nomination along the way. Mr Bongo is proud to be giving Casas its first worldwide release on vinyl and CD outside of Brazil and Japan.

The cliche they say is that the second album is always the trickiest; however, Rubel
doesn't seem to have had any problems on Casas . It's a fountain of creativity and
originality, marking an artist in full flow. Conceived after Rubel spent six months living in Los Angeles, Casas is MPB- leaning at its core but is also driven by a hip hop
inspired pulse. There is a clear influence from hip hop's aesthetic across the 2010s
woven subtly but fundamentally throughout. Nods to Frank Ocean, Kendrick Lamar
and Tyler, The Creator can be heard across an album full of playful edge and
personality. Luscious string-led arrangements and tracks that explore the rich folkloric rhythms of Brazil, sit next to songs with low- fi drum machines and features from acclaimed Brazilian rappers. One of the highlights of the album, 'Mantra', starts with a traditional Brazilian rhythm that morphs into a hazy hip hop beat. A sublime song with a hooky call and response chorus, it features a guest appearance and verse by the Brazilian MC Emicida . Another highlight is the epic 'Colegio' (College) which further showcases the melding of stripped back drum machine beats with cinematic, sweeping arrangements. Elsewhere, 'Partilhar' is a swaying, heartwarming hug. A tale of longing and love that has become a singalong fan favourite at Rubel's concerts.

Casas also shines a light on a string of key players in Brazil's new vanguard, such as
Pedro Fonte , Gus Levy , and Brazilian rapper / poet Rincon Sapiencia to name a
handful. The record has pop sensibilities yet also feels underground. It beats with the
heart of a singer-songwriter, a feeling that was felt so strongly on Pearl, yet this time is bolstered by a level of arrangement and richness of sound that take it to another
dimension - soaring horn and string sections elevating the songs from home
recording to stadium-ready anthems.

Casas cemented Rubel's status as one of Brazil's leading contemporary talents and a
key figure enriching the country's already effervescent scene

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