Frankfurt: The new stronghold of German rap is conquering the scene!

Frankfurt: The new stronghold of German rap is conquering the scene!

The discussion about the German-speaking rap scene shows that Berlin is often viewed as the heart of the genre, but Frankfurt am Main lays claim to the title of the upcoming capital of German rap. While the Berliners set the pace for many trends, there are solid arguments that indicate that Frankfurt is profiling itself as a serious challenger. Important artists such as arrest warrant and reezy caused the city's pulse to continue to swell, which brought Frankfurt into focus as a cultural location. Red Bull sheds light on the development of this exciting rivalry.

The beginning of Frankfurt rap led to a change in the early 90s. While the typical feel-good sound was widespread in German rap, the Rödelheim Hartreim project, founded by Moses Pelham and Thomas Hofmann, created a new direction. Their debut album sold 160,000 copies in the year it was released and was a decisive factor for the German rap scene at the time. The project brought real street rap back to the clubs and streets and symbolized the burgeoning interest in authentic stories and harder beats. Heckmeck points out that the success of the Frankfurt pioneers had a lasting impact on both musical culture and the concept of city identification in German rap.

The evolutionary journey of German rap

The development of German rap between the 90s and today is characterized by both ups and downs. The early days were characterized by pioneers such as Advanced Chemistry and Massive Tones, who addressed social issues and racism in their lyrics. But new protagonists appeared on the stage in the late 90s. Artists like Azad and arrest warrant helped street rap gain instant popularity and reshaped the sound of urban life in Frankfurt. Azad's solo debut, which was released in 1999, offered blunt insights into life on Frankfurter Straße and its challenges - a development that Beat Brücke impressively traces.

arrest warrant revolutionized the German language in rap and attracted fans in droves with his unique style and creative choice of words. His label Azzlackz established itself as a support for numerous emerging talents, including Ćelo and Abdï. These artists helped solidify Frankfurt as an important player in the rap scene.

The new generation and the future of Frankfurt rapeseed

In the 2010s, a new generation of Frankfurt rappers emerged who brought a breath of fresh air into the scene. Vega, Olexesh, Nimo and reezy are just a few names that contribute to the diversity of the genre today. Reezy, known for hits like “Phantom” and “Sandmann”, recently collaborated with Luciano, which shows that the Frankfurters still have their finger on the pulse.

This will also be impressively demonstrated on October 31st when reezy performs at the Red Bull Symphonic. This show impressively describes the central role that Frankfurt plays in the current events of the German rap scene. The city has not only established itself as a place of origin for important artists, but is increasingly perceived as a creative center that will continue to have a major influence on the music landscape in the future.

How Berlin and Frankfurt will continue to develop in the fight for the title of German rap capital remains exciting. One thing is certain, however: the scene is more diverse than ever and is increasingly becoming the cultural voice of an entire generation.