Biography
Formed in 1993 within the Upper Austrian city of Linz, the five-piece hip-hop outfit Texta features MCs Flip (Philipp Kroll), Huckey (Harald Renner), Laima (Klaus Laimer, also billed as Dalai Laima), Skero (Martin Skerwald), and DJ Dan (Daniel Reisinger, sometimes listed as DJ Dan da Man). Every rapper contributes to the German-language lyrics, although Flip typically supplies the beats. While American hip-hop acts clearly shape their sound, the group built a loyal following through raps delivered in their native Upper Austrian dialect, a steadfast D.I.Y. ethos, and an unapologetic embrace of their Austrian identity.
Their first vinyl EP, Geschmeidig, appeared on Ducksquad Records in 1995; a 12" single, “Sei Lieb zu Mir/Da Raw Shit,” followed the next year on the same imprint. Numerous live performances ensued, including dates alongside Fettes Brot, Massive Töne, and House of Pain, while additional tracks surfaced on various compilations. December 1997 brought the debut album Gediegen and an extensive German tour shared with Blumentopf and Total Chaos. An instrumental edition titled Geschwiegen reached stores in 1998 and later circulated in both Japan and the United States.
The 12" single “Fragestude” surfaced in 1999, the same year the second album Gegenüber arrived and surpassed 15,000 copies sold. Its instrumental counterpart, Vis-à-Vis, was issued shortly afterward. Sprachbarrieren, an EP, came out in 2000, and an Amadeus Award nomination arrived in 2001. Kaleidoskop, another EP, preceded the January 2002 release of the third album Blickwinkel, which climbed into the Austrian Top 40; FM4 placed the single “Wer?” in heavy rotation. So Oder So followed in 2004 and likewise charted, remaining in the Top 40 for five straight weeks.
Texta subsequently launched their own imprint, Tonträger Records, which has issued projects by local newcomers including Rückgrat, Brotlose Kunst, and Kayo & Phekt. In 2006 the collective formed the side project Die Unsichtbaren with several of those protégés, resulting in the album Schwarze Erde. Their fifth album, Paroli, appeared in 2007.
Their first vinyl EP, Geschmeidig, appeared on Ducksquad Records in 1995; a 12" single, “Sei Lieb zu Mir/Da Raw Shit,” followed the next year on the same imprint. Numerous live performances ensued, including dates alongside Fettes Brot, Massive Töne, and House of Pain, while additional tracks surfaced on various compilations. December 1997 brought the debut album Gediegen and an extensive German tour shared with Blumentopf and Total Chaos. An instrumental edition titled Geschwiegen reached stores in 1998 and later circulated in both Japan and the United States.
The 12" single “Fragestude” surfaced in 1999, the same year the second album Gegenüber arrived and surpassed 15,000 copies sold. Its instrumental counterpart, Vis-à-Vis, was issued shortly afterward. Sprachbarrieren, an EP, came out in 2000, and an Amadeus Award nomination arrived in 2001. Kaleidoskop, another EP, preceded the January 2002 release of the third album Blickwinkel, which climbed into the Austrian Top 40; FM4 placed the single “Wer?” in heavy rotation. So Oder So followed in 2004 and likewise charted, remaining in the Top 40 for five straight weeks.
Texta subsequently launched their own imprint, Tonträger Records, which has issued projects by local newcomers including Rückgrat, Brotlose Kunst, and Kayo & Phekt. In 2006 the collective formed the side project Die Unsichtbaren with several of those protégés, resulting in the album Schwarze Erde. Their fifth album, Paroli, appeared in 2007.