Presente Renato Russo album

"Presente" (English: Gift) is Renato Russo's fourth solo album and his second posthumous release, launched in March 2003, seven years after his death. The project was conceived by journalist Marcelo Fróes, who combed through Russo's personal archives and EMI's collection to gather material for the album. Although a similar idea had been previously rejected, EMI's artistic manager Jorge Davidson eventually took charge of the project, leading to disputes over credits and song ordering.

The album features a mix of rare recordings, covers, and collaborations. Notable tracks include "Hoje," a duet with Leila Pinheiro, recorded years before Russo's death but shelved until its rediscovery; "Boomerang Blues," a reworked version of a song co-written by Russo and Flávio Venturini; and "Cathedral Song / Catedral," a bilingual track produced using Pro Tools. Other highlights are "Mais uma Vez," featuring Moska and Billy Brandão on guitars, and "Thunder Road."

The album's curation included interviews Russo had given to José Maurício Machline, used to fill gaps in the production timeline. Collaborators like Nilo Romero, Gabriela Azevedo, and Loup De Ville contributed technical expertise, while notable duets planned with Dorival Caymmi and Adriana Calcanhotto were later released in a separate album, *Duetos*. The title "Presente" was suggested by lawyer Silvia Gandelman, coinciding with Russo's birthday.