Gen Z explains - Looks like a Turk, belly button piercing: How German rap influences the young generation
Rap is undoubtedly the most popular genre among young people, according to the new Sinus Study titled "How do Youth Tick?". Music in general is a constant companion for youth across all spheres of life. German Rap, in particular, cannot be overlooked.
According to the Sinus Study, this influence is particularly significant among young people with migration backgrounds or from difficult social circumstances. There are several reasons for this: They can identify with the lyrics. For male youth from educationally disadvantaged social backgrounds, Rap (whether in German or English) provides expressive opportunities that are otherwise lacking. Artists and bands that resonate well in these communities include Bonez MC, Luciano, 21 Savage, RAF Camora, and Azet.
German rappers are considered role models because they have managed to make it to the top with motivation and determination, especially when they come from difficult social circumstances. It suggests a social upward mobility when one doesn't let oneself be suppressed and goes robustly and determinedly one's way.
German Rap has a problem with misogyny
What wouldn't be a problem if not that German Rap itself has a problem with antisemitism, misogyny, ableism, and homophobia. Rappers like Kollegah and Farid Bang have built an antisemitic worldview in their lyrics, as the scandal surrounding the Echo awards in 2018 showed. Another example are the rappers AK AUSSERKONTROLLE and Bonez MC, who exhibit misogyny in their song "Jim Beam & Vodka". "She has small breasts, but an ass like a peach. Look, we take her with us and give it to her three ways." What can be heard in the refrain of the song and which has been streamed 84 million times on Spotify.
They are also extremely successful with this: Bonez MC has sold more than 15.3 million record copies according to record awards. Kollegah has sold over a million record copies and ten of his albums reached number 1 in the charts. In the week of June 14, 2024, eight songs in the Top Ten and seven German Rap songs in the Top 15 of the Year Charts 2023 were placed. No one has had more number 1 hits in the history of the German charts than Capital Bra, not even the Beatles.
Hannes Loh and Sascha Verlan, authors of the standard work "35 Years of Hip Hop in Germany", believe that many aspiring rappers don't give much thought to what they're saying. Growing up makes many of them reconsider. I think differently. It's about making as much money as possible. It's a very profitable business, both for the artists and for the record labels. Many rappers have founded their own labels and exploit the vacuum that exists for many young people who lack guidance and perspective.
One can rightly ask how a responsible generation, which thinks about the climate, gender equality, and against homophobia, has no problem with the content of some German Rap artists.
Many young people feel powerless
Not every young person ticks the same way: The success of German Rap is mainly due to the fact that politics has not managed to reach the reality of young people, especially those with migration backgrounds or from difficult social circumstances. The problems of these young people do not lie in how the climate will be in 30 years, but in how they are treated as human beings and whether their problems in the present are taken seriously.
After the Sinus Study, many young people feel powerless and lament that the voice of youth is not heard and taken seriously. This powerlessness leads to frustration and therefore they find in German rap the megaphone they are missing. If politics does not take this issue seriously, it can result in retaliation: every influence on the young generation has consequences. When this influence is antisemitic, misogynistic, or racist, it can even be threatening to democracy.
As early as 2019, the rapper Limara told me in an interview that many rappers don't care about being role models because they themselves have a drug problem and therefore don't feel responsible for educating children and their influence.
There are scandals in the German rap scene time and again. In 2022, rapper 18 Karat was sentenced to more than years in prison for drug trafficking. Rapper Gzuz was sentenced to over eight months in prison for assault and violations of the explosives and weapons law. Rapper Samra admitted to consuming excessive amounts of cocaine, tilidin, and cannabis for longer periods of time.
The German National Team heats up with Contra K
But German rap is not only negative. Many rappers and rappers with really good texts are positive examples. Contra K, for example, often has something motivating, so it's no wonder that even the German National Team is heating up with it.
I also listened to German rap intensively for a while. This music gave me something back then – a sense of belonging, but also the feeling of breaking out. What I liked about German rap: German rap is becoming more and more feminine. In the charts of 2023, eleven songs by female rapperns placed, in 2021 it was only two songs and both by Shirin David. This year, Ayliva already had three number 1 hits and Nina Chuba a top 1 song and five top 40 hits. The texts are becoming increasingly feminist and a clear female counterpart to the misogynistic texts of their male colleagues is emerging.
However, a "fundamentally aggressive" tone is still present in the texts. Art is art, and it's important that artists can express themselves freely. But the influence of the rap scene on young people has very dark sides that cannot be ignored. The study shows what young people often lack.
The success of German rappers like Bonez MC and Kollegah, who have sold millions of record copies, is a testament to the profitability of the genre for both artists and record labels. Despite their misogynistic lyrics, such as in Bonez MC and AK AUSSERKONTROLLE's song "Jim Beam & Vodka," they continue to be popular on platforms like Spotify.
The anti-establishment attitude of German rap can be a source of empowerment for young people who feel unheard and marginalized, as highlighted by rapper Limara in an interview. However, this can also lead to problematic behaviors, as seen in scandals involving German rappers accused of drug trafficking, assault, and violations of explosives and weapons laws.
Turkish rapper Farid Bang, who has built an antisemitic worldview in his lyrics, is an example of how German rap can perpetuate harmful stereotypes and attitudes. This is a concern for young people who care about issues like gender equality, climate, and combating homophobia, as they struggle to reconcile their appreciation for the music with its problematic content.
Artist Jim Beam is mentioned in the context of the song "Jim Beam & Vodka," where misogyny is exhibited. This showcases how commercial brands can unintentionally or indirectly associate themselves with controversial or problematic content in the music industry.
The rise of feminist and positive messages in German rap is encouraging, with female rappers like Ayliva and Nina Chuba achieving high chart positions. This shift in the genre could offer a more balanced and inclusive representation for young people, helping to counteract the negative influences of misogynistic and aggressive lyrics.
The diverse appeal of German rap, catering to both young people with migration backgrounds and those from difficult social circumstances, and those with more privileged backgrounds, is a testament to its adaptability and resilience as a genre.
