Fettes Brot

Infobox musical artist
Name = Fettes Brot

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Background = group_or_band
Origin = Hamburg, Germany
Genre = German hip hop, Pop rap
Years_active = 1992-present
Label = Fettes Brot Schallplatten
URL = [http://www.fettesbrot.de/ www.fettesbrot.de]
Current_members = Martin Vandreier
Boris Lauterbach
Björn Warns

Fettes Brot [IPA|ˌfɛtəs ˈbʀoːt] is a German hip hop group founded in 1992.

Fettes Brot is German for "fat bread". Although "fat" is a German slang term for "excellent", the phrase has no meaning at all. The band took the name from a fan who called them "Fettes Brot" after an early gig, which was probably meant as a compliment, but the members considered it so bizarre that they took it as the name for their new group. Fettes Brot's longevity has meant that it is sometimes referred to as "Hamburg's hip-hop-dinosaurs" by its members.

History

uccess with "Nordisch by Nature" and "Jein"

When the group "Poets of Peeze" disbanded in 1992, its members Dokter Renz (Martin Vandreier né Schrader) and Tobi Tobsen together with König (king) Boris (Boris Lauterbach), Schiffmeister (Björn Warns) and Mighty founded the band Fettes Brot. The Schmidt brothers (Tobi & Mighty) left the newly founded band early on, to pursue other projects, so the band released their first album, the "EP Mitschnacker" on "Yo Mama Records", as a trio. Prior to Mitschnacker the songs "Schwarzbrot- Weißbrot" (Blackbread - Whitebread) and "Schule der Gewalt" (School of Violence) appeared on the sampler, "Endzeit 93", from the Independent record label "Wilde Welt Records".

Commercial success first came with the single "Nordisch by Nature" ("Northern by Nature") and its album. The song begins with the sound of a foghorn and is sung with a strong Plattdeutsch accent, which makes the song something of an anthem for persons from Northern Germany. The single remained in the German charts for a full month and the band was determined to let this commercial success make them become something like a one hit wonder. The group demonstrated their technical maturity with their first LP "Auf einem Auge blöd" ("Stupid on one eye", a parody of the phrase "Auf einem Auge blind" meaning "Blind on one eye"), which boasts versatile and humorous lyrics. The narrated stories and interwoven lines of their rapping were received very well.

A year later Fettes Brot released their second biggest commercial hit and quasi-anthem "Jein" (a portmanteau of "Ja" and "Nein", meaning both "Yes" and "No"). The main line of the song's chorus asks the sticky question: „Soll ich's wirklich machen oder lass ich's lieber sein?“ ("Should I really do it or should I let it go?") and established a strong fanbase in German speaking countries. Further singles from the following album "Außen Top Hits, innen Geschmack" (a persiflage on a popular commercial jingle for the aluminum foil Toppits: "Außen Toppits - innen Geschmack" (Toppits on the outside - flavor within) where the like-sounding Album title means "Top hits on the outside - flavor within") were just as successful. The rapper Dendemann (then a member of the "Arme Ritter", meaning "Poor Knights" but also "French toast") had his first introduction to the mainstream in his collaboration track, "Wildwechsel", also with Max Herre, Blumentopf, Spax (German) and Der Tobi & das Bo (German) which became representative of these artists. Fettes Brot were at this time very active in other areas, for instance, they created a unique radio transmission called "Forellentee" for Radio Fritz (German).

Quieter times

After the end of 1998, with the single "Können diese Augen lügen?" ("Can these Eyes Lie?") and its corresponding album "Fettes Brot lässt grüßen" ("Fettes Brot Says Hello") 1999, it was somewhat quiet for the Trio. Many purists voiced criticism as the band explored new paths, no longer focussed on pure Hip Hop music style. "Viele Wege führen nach Rom" ("Many Roads Lead to Rome") and "Lieblingslied" ("Favourite Song") were successful as a combined single which turned out to become a hit even bigger than both previous albums. With the cooperation of James Last, the three said goodbye to writing tunes in 1999, and embarked on a creative pause. This pause was relieved for their fans with the publishing of an anthology of B-sides, remixes, and some exclusive material. Beginner, and Smudo of the Fantastischen Vier (Fantastic Four) as much as Der Tobi & Das Bo made personal contributions on this anthology. Furthermore, the widely successful single "Da draussen" ("Out there") was released for collectors in 2000.

After three years, in 2001, the fourth regular Fettes Brot album was released. The trio marketed a small comeback with the title "Demotape" using new alternative pseudonyms. The hit singles "Schwule Mädchen" (literally meaning "gay girls": a pun since the word "schwul" can never applied to girls - it is also a German insult for a male person supposedly being a homosexual and a "sissy") and "The Grosser" could not be clearly categorized into a musical style. Then against this they released a collaboration with Skunk Funk (German) the pure Hip Hop single "Fast 30" ("Almost 30"). Only a year later, in early 2002 they released their Greatest Hits Compilation "Amnesie" ("Amnesia") and a like-named DVD with extra short films. Three more singles appeared, beginning in 2002 with "Welthit" ("World Hit"), found on their Greatest Hits CD. In 2003 they released the Rio Reiser cover "Ich bin müde" ("I Am Tired"), written by Reiser and Wolfgang Michels (German) for Michels' 1983 album "Keine Probleme" ("No Problems"), which received heavy rotation on television. They made the collaboration "Tanzverbot" ("Dancing Prohibition") available as a legal MP3 download (as well as a limited CD and Vinyl run), as part of the Hamburg Bambule (German) protest together with Bela B. (German) against the Hamburg senator Ronald Schill.

Comeback and their own record label

In 2004, they founded their own record label, "Fettes Brot Schallplatten GmbH" (Fettes Brot Records).

With their "Comeback!" of 2005, the Fettes Brot won second place in the Bundesvision Song Contest with the Song "Emanuela". A few days later on Valentines day this single went up to third place on the singles charts. On May 21, 2005 their most successful album to date appeared, "Am Wasser gebaut" ("Built by the water", but also a term describing a very emotional person who cries easily). This was not so much a rap album like their previous ones, as it was more of a soul record.

The second single from "Am Wasser gebaut" was "An Tagen wie diesen" ("On days like this"), working with Pascal Finkenauer (German). Its video, in which Finkenauer and Dj exel. Pauly (German) appear, depicts the activities of an ordinary day. It is ordinary, except armoured tanks drive through the streets as if they were cars, and the people take little notice of them.

On October 6, 2005, the three rappers for the first time won the Comet Award (German) twice at once. They won both the category for "Best Band" and for "Best Song" ("Emanuela"). They were also nominated for "Best Video" and "Most Successful Download" ("Emanuela").

On December 22, 2005, the Fettes Brot gave the largest concert of their careers at the Color Line Arena in Hamburg for over 13,000 people. The concert was televised by MTV and numerous radio station (e.g. Radio Fritz) broadcast it live.

D.O.C.H.!

Fettes Brot has sometimes used the pseudonym D.O.C.H.! ("" is a German word meaning "yet", "to the contrary", and "but", amongst other things - most often, though, it means an emphatic, "damn right!" or "oh yes!") to publish songs which would not be suitable for the Hip Hop genre (compare Sascha Schmitz's alias, "Dick Brave"). This began with a big PR gag: in January 2006, Fettes Brot announced that they had signed the "Power pop" band D.O.C.H.! to their label. The band was to consist of three 17-year-old Berliners named Boy, Paolo, and Typ. News followed promising a first single and a Hungarian tour in April, and the release of an album in September. As the single "Was in der Zeitung steht" ("What's in the news") hit radio and television for the first time, a distinct similarity to the B-side of the "An Tagen wie diesen" single was noticed. (Doktor Renz had sung both songs.) After this, fans began to suspect the photos on the band's [http://www.doch-online.de/ website] were counterfeit. An announcement was made on MTV's TRL program, May 9th, that the three members of D.O.C.H.! had accused Fettes Brot of having stolen their song (but the announcement was definitely made up by Fettes Brot).

"Bette Frost" and "Strom und Drang"

In 2006, Fettes Brot released a single named Fussball ist immer noch wichtig ("Soccer is still important") for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, but because of the German Soccer Boom (Germany made it much farther than most Germans expected), not many people recognize this song. After many touring in 2005 and 2006, Fettes Brot worked in 2007 on a new Album. In December, they held several small secret concerts under the name "Bette Frost" and played the new songs. Just the most harcore fans knew that. On January 1, 2008 they unveiled the new single Bettina, zieh dir bitte etwas an ("Bettina, please put on some clothes!"), but at the time, the song was known as Bettina, pack deine Brüste ein ("Bettina, pack your boobs"), since Fettes Brot had changed it at the last minute. The song is about the German model Bettina Ballhaus, who at this time hosted a late night quiz show, and with every question answered correctly, she took some of her clothes off. She also happened to unveil her breasts, hence the title of the song. However, before the single came out, Bettina Ballhaus left the show. Fettes Brot released this single on February 15th, 2008. They also have stopped making soul music and have gone back to the "old" Fettes Brot, making Partysongs and Rap.

Fettes Brot released their new album Strom und Drang ("Electricity and Stress") in March 2008. The album's name alludes to a 19th century epoch of German art and literature, called Sturm und Drang.

Members

* Boris Lauterbach (aka König Boris, Kay Bee Baby, Rock'n'Roll Coseng, Long Leg Lauterbach)
* Martin Schrader (aka Dokter Renz, Rektor Donz, Roktor Denz, Speedy Konsalik, Martin Vandreier, Rostige Pforte, Hektor Ronz)
* Björn Warns (aka Schiffmeister, Björn Beton, Flash Müller, Papa Geil)

Trivia

Björn Warns took the name "Schiffmeister" from the classic computer game Pirates!. In that game when his pirate ship suffered a mutiny, an announcement came up starting with the English words "Shipmaster Warns: ...". The German language does not have a direct equivalent for "Shipmaster" ("Kapitän" is used instead, like the English "Captain"), but when Warns translated it he made up the word "Schiffmeister". Schiffmeister also means "pissmaster" in German.

Discography

tudio albums

* 1995 – "Auf einem Auge blöd" ("Stupid in one eye", an allusion to "Auf einem Auge blind" - "blind on one eye")
* 1996 – "Außen Top Hits, innen Geschmack" ("Top Hits Outside, Taste Within", a play on an advertising slogan)
* 1998 – "Fettes Brot lässt grüßen" ("Fettes Brot Send Their Regards")
* 2001 – "Demotape"
* 2005 – "Am Wasser gebaut" ("Built By The Water", a German saying for someone who cries easily; The Band says: “Enter unknown territory“)
* 2008 - "Strom und Drang" ("Electricity and Stress", an allusion to "Sturm und Drang")

Other albums

* 2000 – "Fettes Brot für die Welt" ("Fat Bread For The World", referring to the German aid organisation "Brot für die Welt" which means "Bread for the world") (Compiled with B-Sides, rare and unpublished pieces, and three new songs.)
* 2002 – "Amnesie" (with the DVD, all singles up to 2002 except "Gangsta Rap")
* 2007 - "Strandgut" (flotsam & jetsam)

ingles

* 1994 – "Definition von Fett" ("Definition of fat")
* 1995 – "Männer" ("Men")
* 1995 – "Nordisch by Nature" ("Northern by Nature")
* 1995 – "Gangsta Rap" (only on vinyl)
* 1996 – "Jein" (Portmanteau of "Yes" and "No")
* 1996 – "Mal sehen" ("We'll see")
* 1997 – "Silberfische in meinem Bett" ("Silverfish in my bed")
* 1997 – "Sekt oder Selters" ("Sparkling wine, or seltzer")
* 1997 – "Lieblingslied" ("Favourite song")
* 1998 – "Viele Wege führen nach Rom" ("Many roads lead to Rome")
* 1998 – "Können diese Augen lügen?" ("Can these eyes lie?")
* 1999 – "Ruf mich an" ("Call me") (in collaboration with James Last.)
* 2000 – "Da draussen" ("There, outside")
* 2001 – "Schwule Mädchen" ("Gay/Queer girls")
* 2001 – "Fast 30" ("Almost 30") (in collaboration with Skunk Funk.)
* 2001 – "The Grosser" ("The greater")
* 2002 – "Welthit" ("World hit")
* 2003 – "Tanzverbot (Schill to Hell)" ("Dance ban") (in collaboration with Bela B.)
* 2003 – "Ich bin müde" ("I'm tired") (Cover of Wolfgang Michels and Rio Reiser.)
* 2005 – "Emanuela"
* 2005 – An Tagen wie diesen("On days like these") (in collaboration Pascal Finkenauer.)
* 2006 – "Soll das alles sein" ("Is this supposed to be it")
* 2006 - "Fußball ist immer noch wichtig" ("Soccer is still important") (together with Bela B., Marcus Wiebusch of Kettcar and Carsten Friedrichs of Superpunk)
* 2008 - "Bettina, zieh dir bitte etwas an!" ("Bettina, please put on some clothes!")
* 2008 – "Erdbeben" ("Earthquake/s")

EPs

* 1994 – "Mitschnacker" (Northern German slang for "Kidnapper", but also "chatting guy")

DVDs

* 2002 – "Amnesie" (Archive DVD with music videos and other Material, supplementary CD with all singles except "Gangsta Rap".)

Compilations

* 1993 - "Endzeit 93" ("Final hour 93") (two songs)

Awards

* ECHO 1996 als "Erfolgreichste deutsche Nachwuchsband" (most successful new German band)
* Comet 2005 for "Beste Band" (Best Band) and for "Besten Song" (Best Song) ("Emanuela")
* GQ "Man of the Year 2005" as "Beste Musiker" (Best Musician)
* Eins Live Krone 2005 for "Beste Single" (Best Single) ("Emanuela")
* Gold Record for "Am Wasser gebaut" (Germany) and "Emanuela" (Germany and Austria)
* ECHO 2006 for best "Hip-Hop/R&B national" Act
* Bravo Otto Gold 2006 for best "Hip-Hop national" Act

Tours

* 1995 – "Klasse von '95" (Class of '95) – with Main Concept, Massive Töne, ZM Jay, MC René, F.A.B., Der Tobi & Das Bo
* 1996 – "Sven, Sven & Sven live" Inkognito-Club-Tour, November
* 1996/97 – "Spiel mir das Lied vom Brot" (Play for me the song of bread) – with Blumentopf, Massive Töne
* 1998 – "Harte Tour '98" (Hard Tour '98) – with Eins Zwo und DJ I.L.L. Will
* 2001 – "Schlechtwetterfront" (Bad Weather Front) – with DJ Pauly & Skunk Funk
* 2003 – "Gute Laune Hölle" (Good Mood Hell) (only in Theaters) – with Die Herren
* 2003 – "Jenseits der Grenze des Zumutbaren" (Beyond The Reasonable Limit) for Die Ärzte with Fettes Brot and opening band
* 2005 – "Am Wasser gebaut" Part 1 – with Pascal Finkenauer, Emel & J-Luv, Opener: Fiva MC & DJ Radrum
* 2005 – "Am Wasser gebaut" Part 2 – with Pascal Finkenauer, Emel & Patrick Gwada, no opener
* 2008 - "Strom und Drang" Part 1 - with eight musicians, Opener: Superpunk, Die Türen, 1000 Robota, Bernadettte La Hengzt

External links

* [http://www.fettesbrot.de/ Fettes Brot homepage (German)]
* [http://www.diefalschenleute.de/ DieFalschenLeute.de Fettes Brot Community]
* [http://www.nuscheltiere.de/ Nuscheltiere.de - Fettes Brot fanpage (German)]
* [http://www.definition-von-fett.de Definition-von-Fett.de - Fettes Brot fanpage (German)]
* [http://www.fettes-brot-ist-doof.de Fettes Brot ist doof - Fettes Brot Fanpage (German)]