ANTILOPEN GANG

In 2009 the satirical hip-hop outfit Antilopen Gang took shape in Germany, weaving in strands of gangsta rap alongside its pointed humor. Brothers Danger Dan and Panik Panzer joined Koljah and NMZS to form the quartet; the four had already been active in hip-hop since 2005 as part of Anti Alles Aktion and later operated briefly under the name Caught in the Crack before settling on Antilopen Gang. When journalists asked about the name’s source, each member supplied contradictory and outlandish stories, ranging from supposed “boy scout experiences” to a memorable antelope dish encountered at one of Christian Rach’s restaurants.

Their first release, the free-download album Spastik Desaster, appeared in 2009 and featured the breakout track “Fick die Uni,” which quickly spread online. Individual members then issued solo material. In early 2013 the group announced the suicide of NMZS; soon afterward they issued his unfinished solo project Der Ekelhafte, completed with producer Pitlab.

The remaining members signed with JKP, the vanity label established by Die Toten Hosen, in 2014. Their first single for the imprint, “Beate Zschäpe Hört U2,” drew public attention for its sharp critique of resurgent right-wing extremism in parts of Germany. Later that year the album Aversion followed, dedicated to NMZS. In 2015 they issued the bridging mixtape Abwasser and collected two honors: the VIA Award for Best Newcomer and the political Amadeu Antonio Award. Early 2017 brought their third full-length, Anarchie und Alltag, which reached number one on the German albums chart and drew acclaim for its mix of humor and incisive lyricism.