Inspired by the success of Gorillaz, Brazilian music producer Rick Bonadio
created Dogão, an irreverent virtual rapper in the form of an anthropomorphic
dog. Dogão was voiced by rapper Suave (of Jigaboo fame) and was joined by two
other characters: producer Manu Cabuloso on the turntables and his girlfriend,
Nega Ganja, on backing vocals. His only album, Dogão É Mau (2004) gained Dogão a
nomination for the Hutúz Prize, Brazil’s most famous hip-hop award, and spawned
its own clothing line. Mostly rooted in old-school hip-hop, the LP also included
reggae-inspired numbers (“Cadê A G...