Die Fantastischen Vier

Pioneers within the German hip-hop scene, Die Fantastischen Vier issued the first rap album recorded entirely in their native tongue when Jetzt Geht's Ab arrived in 1991. The quartet—Andreas Rieke (aka And.Y), Michael B. Schmidt (aka Smudo), Michael Beck (aka Hausmarke) and Thomas Dürr (aka Thomas D)—first assembled in 1989 under the Terminal Team banner before swiftly adopting the name Die Fantastischen Vier, also shortened to Fanta4 in reference to the comic-book team. After pressing their own debut, the group landed a deal with Columbia, which delivered their breakout single “Die Da!?!” in 1992. Energetic concerts paired with a consistent run of catchy releases kept them charting throughout the decade, while each member pursued side projects that met with differing degrees of success. Following a four-year hiatus, they returned in 1999 with 4:99 on their Columbia-affiliated imprint Four Music. Although a tougher style had become dominant in German rap, the band held on to its audience through bold choices such as the acoustic set Unplugged in 2000 and the decision to enlist left-field producer Aphex Twin for a remix of the hit “Der Krieger.” A 2005 compilation, Best of 1990-2005, mixed fresh material with earlier singles while the members supplied voices for the German-language version of the animated feature Madagascar. The 2007 single “Ernten Was Wir Säen” previewed their ninth studio album, Fornika, which reached the top of the German charts. Two years later the triple set Heimspiel entered the listings just outside the top ten, after which the band scored another German number-one record with 2010’s Für Dich Immer Noch Fanta Sie and its single “Gebt Uns Ruhig Die Schuld (Den Rest Könnt Ihr Behalten).”