German hip hop

German hip hop refers to hip-hop music produced in Germany. Elements of American hip-hop culture, such as graffiti art and breakdancing, diffused into Western Europe in the early 1980s.

History

1980–1990

Early underground artists included Cora E. and Advanced Chemistry. It was not until the early 1990s that German hip hop entered the mainstream as groups like Die Fantastischen Vier and the Rödelheim Hartreim Projekt gained popularity. German hip hop was heavily influenced by films, leading to a strong emphasis on visual and cultural elements such as graffiti and breakdancing beyond the music itself.

In addition to films, such as Wild Style and Beat Street, American soldiers stationed in Germany facilitated the introduction of hip-hop music and culture into German pop culture.

GLS United released the first German-language hip-hop song, "Rappers Deutsch" in 1980. While the group (consisting of three radio DJs) was formed explicitly for the one song, and the song was intended primarily as a parody, it was none-the-less the first German hip-hop group and first German-language hip-hop track.