Hip Hop In Berlin

No other city in Germany is as full of hip-hop as Berlin. Graffiti and rap in particular play a major role in the capital. Trends were and are set here. Berlin is not only sexy, but above all extremely cool. Berlin hip-hop is in. And controversial: everyone here is aggro, dangerous to the public and massive Bushido – if you believe the public opinion. And when hip hop, violence and young people with a migration background are mentioned in one breath, the headline is perfect. One thing is certain: this youth culture is alive, diverse and multifaceted. In this book, the protagonists themselves are primarily interviewed. World-class DJs and breakdance legends have their say, which started in Berlin’s youth institutions, graffiti writers talk about their work in schools, a rap project in the juvenile detention center, Gangway Beatz Berlin and other projects related to the focus on hip-hop culture presented, and of course the hotly discussed topics of ” gangsta rap ” and women & hip hop are also taken up. The title as a program: The book tries to give a detailed insight into the hip hop landscape of Berlin. Critical distance from the prevailing clichés, which are generally associated with this subculture, is deliberately kept. The presence of sexisms or aggressive gangster stereotypes in hip hop is not denied, but neither is it increased. Instead, the book consists of many interviews with active rappers, break dancers, graffiti writers, but also social workers who describe their own view of the culture and its problems. One positive aspect is that the aspect of ‘women in hip-hop’ is superimposed across the book. For example, by talking to the Tatsumaki San breaker crew or documenting a graffiti session in which only women participated. It can also be seen that youth culture work and hip-hop have been put together and possibilities of connection have been explored. The book is rounded off by a helpful list of literature and a detailed glossary that explains typical terms and thus improves readability for ‘uninitiated’. The use of many color images and photos also increases reading enjoyment. In the end, it should be noted that the editors have managed to create a dedicated overview of the Berlin hip-hop scene, in which an internal perspective and critical reflection are not mutually exclusive.