In 2012, Stellwerk Hamburg began going through a deep-rooted transition from a jazz club to a subcultural center. Hip hop organisers have become like creative artists. Nevertheless, they never forgot their roots and have seen many beautiful concerts with U.S. rap acts, as well as with bands based here in their country. Corona has cashed in on their birthday party, but they still want to get something done in this post-Covid era!
DJ Play Dead is a fixture in Hamburg’s turntable scene. The finest and rarest pieces of vinyl adorn his collection, and he is not too bad at scratching either. As part of the No Tv Raps Radio Show, you can listen to him frequently every first or third Friday of the month from 5-7 pm on FSK Radio.
I have also filmed the following acts at the Stellwerk Hamburg:
“Aphroe is one of the key figures of the German hip-hop scene. Beginning his modest–but–influential career in the early 90s, when hip-hop jam culture was a big thing in Germany and all over Europe, Aphroe and his partner DJ Wiz (Beat Sampraz) formed the duo RAID.
In the mid-90s, RAID joined forces with fellow crew Filo Joes to form RAG – whose influence can still be felt today. “
One could compress it hastily and leave it there, but it would not be failing to understand its creative breadth. For the fans, the songs like “Silent Post”, Aphroe’s feature in the track “Zeitreise” (Time Travel) on the MC Rene release, or ‘Stratego’ under the “Unter Tage” LP, are Milestones in the History of German Rap.
In recent years there has also been a documentary release about “We almost lost Bochum” telling the history of R.A.G. and Aphroe’s new EP “Akribie”. The latter got very little visibility and was very little showcased on stage due to this annoying Covid virus!
You can follow him on Facebook if you would like to stay updated with his work!
Almost three years after the painful loss of band partner and friend dude26, the first solo LP of Phaeb is released with phonography. The pictures are exposed. Their memories emerge from the darkroom and get written. The album breathes a gentle melancholy in which the feeling of the Saudade of Portuguese Fado is combined with the wanderlust of early Afro-Futuristic trends.
Phaeb’s voice has depth and structure, creates closeness, and draws the listeners into a great story that spans the entire album length. The beats from the multi-instrumentalist and ‘Daily Concept’ label colleague IAMPAUL are the perfect musical framing for Phaebs’ associative visual language.
Nostalgic, timeless, grown-up – the phonography has been published on 18.12.2020 via ‘Daily Concept’.
Only in his early 30s and has already been infected by a hip hop bug for 20 years. He delivers a conscious rap on sample-based beats – no reinvented wheel, but it still reaches its goal.
In the meantime, Sherlock F., who can be found at any local freestyle sessions, also plans small explorations into garage grime realms and still plays for 3 days with a classical ensemble at Stellwerk Hamburg.
During the sherLockdown, there was no creative break, but new ways were explored. In his project “Beats, Rhymes and History” he now raps his way through streets and museums as a postcolonial cultural mediator. With his DJ Chris Cutwell from Club27, they have played for the last 2 years mainly open-air and at galas and both are happy to feel the sweat dripping from the ceiling again.
A good while ago I came across a music competition run on Ford’s Facebook fan page.
Although I wasn’t much interested in the car company, I still decided to enter the competition, in order to discover new artists and vote for my favourite ones.
The final winner was the one that had the highest voting counts received by fans during the competition. His/her music would then be advertised in a Ford advertising campaign.
In the voting process, I have been able to download free rn’b and hip hop tracks like DeShaude “Can’t Rush Love” and Saiah “V.I.P”. These can be found on Youtube or Itunes. Through MySpace, you can also listen to their playlists and also demand the artist to come and give a concert in your town!
So, while I haven’t continued liking the Ford page, I must say it was an effective way to promote new emerging artists. However, I’m very little convinced that Ford got much more than a short-term attention!
And you, have you discovered recently new artists through a similar campaign ? If so, share your experience with us!
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