"Görlitzer Park": Grimmer Mood on the Latest K.I.Z Record
For the enthusiasts, it was like unwrapping a Christmas box in the heat of summer: Leading up to the formal release of "Görlitzer Park" (21st of June), German rap group K.I.Z unveiled a track from their fresh album every day since early June. On social media, the Berlin artists Maxim, Nico, and Tarek posted a brief clip alongside each song ("to ensure text security").
This rap troupe ("Hurra die Welt geht unter", "Rap about Hate") is notorious for their uninhibited, provocative lyrics, witty jabs, substantial social criticism, and political activism. On their new album "Görlitzer Park", they adopt a more somber and less ironic approach in 15 songs, as a fan noted in an Instagram comment: "How many social issues do they tackle in their album? KIZ: YES".
Song stands for flawed social policies
It discusses (youth) violence, racism, peace, and botched social policies. The latter is evident from the lead song of the album, which they previously released in September. The notorious Görlitzer Park in Berlin-Kreuzberg, known for drug peddling and one of the crime hotspots in the city, is the subject of discussion regarding building a fence around the green area and closing it at night.
The rappers encapsulate the contrast between drug den and playground into a Kreuzberg vibe, but they also acknowledge: "Even people from the opposite end of the city say: 'Oh, it's just a park'." In the song "Sensibel", Tarek employs biting lines to criticize racism and Germany's handling of discrimination: "If the assailant was named Mohammed or Peter, the victims are equal, if you're curious about their attackers' identities."
"Album alongside the album" scheduled for Friday
While their previous album "Rap about Hate" (2021) evoked memories of the group's early days with disturbing and brutal lyrics, "Görlitzer Park" now appears darker and more subdued - sometimes with melancholic and sometimes with danceable electronic beats.
Even though many fans have already listened to the album through the aforementioned countdown before its release, K.I.Z also announced an accompanying album with the title "K.I.Z and the Attack on the U8" for the same day. They had already released a similar companion album with their previous album "Rap about Hate". Their only festival concerts this year will be as headliners at Hurricane and Southside. The festivals occur from the 21st to the 23rd of June.
