Fettes Brot
| Company type | Music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Headquarters | Hamburg , Germany |
| Products | Hip hop music, albums, singles |
Fettes Brot () was a German hip hop ensemble established in 1992. In August 2022, the group declared their intention to conclude their musical journey by the end of 2023.
Origin of the name
The name Fettes Brot translates to fat bread in German. In colloquial terms, "fett" signifies "excellent," while "brot" is slang for "hash." The band adopted this moniker after a fan referred to them as "Fettes Brot" following one of their early performances. Due to their enduring presence, they have been dubbed "Hamburg's hip hop dinosaurs."
Breakthrough with Nordisch by Nature and Jein
Following the dissolution of Poets of Peeze in 1992, members Dokter Renz (Martin Vandreier), Tobi Tobsen, König Boris (Boris Lauterbach), Schiffmeister (Björn Warns), and Mighty came together to form Fettes Brot. After the Schmidt brothers (Tobi and Mighty) departed early on, the remaining trio issued their debut EP, Mitschnacker, through Yo Mama Records. Prior to this, tracks such as "Schwarzbrot – Weißbrot" and "Schule der Gewalt" had appeared on the Endzeit 93 sampler released by Wilde Welt Records.
Their initial commercial success was driven by the single "Nordisch by Nature" and its associated album. The song incorporates dialects like Hamburger Platt and Danish, becoming a regional anthem across Northern Germany. Although it remained on German music charts for four weeks, the group was determined not to be labeled a one-hit wonder.
The first full-length album, Auf einem Auge blöd, featured diverse, witty lyrics coupled with compelling rap narratives. A year later, they launched the single "Jein," a fusion of Ja and Nein ("Yes" and "No"), which helped expand their following throughout German-speaking regions. Additional hits included "Außen Top Hits, innen Geschmack," which cleverly played off a well-known advertising phrase.
Rapper Dendemann achieved wider recognition through his collaboration on "Wildwechsel" alongside Max Herre, Blumentopf, Spax, and Der Tobi & das Bo. During this era, Fettes Brot also created the distinctive radio program Forellentee for Radio Fritz.
Evolution in style
After their initial achievements, the band explored a softer musical approach with the release of "Können diese Augen lügen?" from the album Fettes Brot lässt grüßen. This stylistic shift drew criticism from some hip hop purists. The double A-side single featuring "Viele Wege führen nach Rom" and "Lieblingslied" surpassed previous releases in popularity.
In 1999, collaborating with James Last, the group took a hiatus from songwriting and issued an anthology containing B-sides, remixes, and exclusive tracks. Contributors included Beginner, Smudo of Die Fantastischen Vier, and Der Tobi & Das Bo. The single "Da draußen" was re-released as a collector’s edition in 2000.
Their fourth album, Demotape, arrived in 2001 under alternative aliases signaling a return. Tracks like "Schwule Mädchen" and "The Grosser" defied straightforward genre categorization. A pure hip hop collaboration with Skunk Funk produced the single "Fast 30." Early in 2002, they unveiled the greatest hits compilation Amnesie along with a DVD featuring short films. Subsequent singles included "Welthit" (2002) and a cover of Rio Reiser's "Ich bin müde" (2003), which received notable television airplay. Their joint effort "Tanzverbot" supported Hamburg’s Bambule protest against senator Ronald Schill, released as both a legal MP3 download and limited physical editions.
Return and establishment of their own label
In 2004, Fettes Brot launched their personal record company, Fettes Brot Schallplatten.
Representing Schleswig-Holstein at the Bundesvision Song Contest 2005, they achieved second place with the track "Emanuela," which quickly climbed to number three on the singles charts. Their album Am Wasser gebaut, released on 21 May 2005, became their most commercially successful work to date. This album leaned less on rap elements and embraced more soul influences.
The follow-up single, "An Tagen wie diesen," featured contributions from Pascal Finkenauer and DJ exel. Pauly. The accompanying video depicts a typical day interrupted by tanks rolling through city streets unnoticed by pedestrians.
On 6 October 2005, Fettes Brot earned two Comet Awards: "Best Band" and "Best Song" for "Emanuela," while also receiving nominations in the categories of "Best Video" and "Most Successful Download."
Their largest concert to date took place on 22 December 2005 at Hamburg's Color Line Arena, drawing an audience exceeding 13,000. This performance was broadcast live on MTV as well as various radio stations.
D.O.C.H.! alias
Occasionally, Fettes Brot adopted the pseudonym D.O.C.H.! to release tracks outside their usual hip hop style. This began as a marketing stunt in January 2006 when they announced signing a power pop group called D.O.C.H.!—purportedly three Berlin teenagers aged 17. They promised a single release, a tour in Hungary, and an album. However, the single "Was in der Zeitung steht" strongly resembled a Fettes Brot B-side sung by Doktor Renz. Fans questioned the band's legitimacy, and during MTV's TRL on 9 May, supposed D.O.C.H.! members accused Fettes Brot of plagiarizing their song.
Bette Frost and the Strom und Drang era
In 2006, Fettes Brot issued singles connected to the 2006 FIFA World Cup, such as "Fussball ist immer noch wichtig" and "Falsche Entscheidung," featuring former football players Boris Amadeus and Stefan Bach who participated without payment due to their enthusiasm for the band. Following extensive touring throughout 2005–2006, the group previewed new songs in December 2007 under the alias Bette Frost during secret performances.
On 1 January 2008, they unveiled the single "Bettina, zieh dir bitte etwas an," which was later retitled "Bettina, pack deine Brüste ein." The title references German model Bettie Ballhaus’s late-night quiz show where she removed clothing after correct answers. The single was released on 15 February 2008 after Ballhaus had ceased hosting the program. Around this period, Fettes Brot returned from soul influences to their original party anthem and rap style.
Their album Strom und Drang ("Electricity and Stress") followed in March 2008, its title alluding to the late-18th-century German cultural movement Sturm und Drang.
Band members
- Boris Lauterbach (also known as König Boris, Kay Bee Baby, Rock'n'Roll Coseng, Long Leg Lauterbach)
- Martin Vandreier (aliases include Dokter Renz, Rektor Donz, Roktor Denz, Speedy Konsalik, Rostige Pforte, Hektor Ronz)
- Björn Warns (known as Björn Beton, Schiffmeister, Flash Müller, Papa Geil)
Additional information
Björn Warns created the nickname Schiffmeister inspired by the video game Sid Meier's Pirates!, where a mutiny alert begins with "Shipmaster Warns: ...". Since there is no direct German equivalent for "Shipmaster," Warns invented "Schiffmeister," which also carries the humorous meaning of "piss master" in northern German dialect.
Fettes Brot appeared briefly in the German indie film ABCs of Superheroes (2015).
Studio albums
- 1995: Auf einem Auge blöd GER#29, SWI#22
- 1996: Außen Top Hits, innen Geschmack GER#10, AUT#21, SWI#14
- 1998: Fettes Brot lässt grüßen GER#9, AUT#30, SWI#27
- 2001: Demotape GER#9, AUT#30, SWI#27
- 2005: Am Wasser gebaut GER#4, AUT#9, SWI#23
- 2008: Strom und Drang GER#3, AUT#9, SWI#14
- 2013: 3 is ne Party GER#3, AUT#20, SWI#19
- 2015: Teenager vom Mars GER#7, AUT#29, SWI#27
- 2019: Lovestory GER#12
Other albums
- 2000: Fettes Brot für die Welt (collection of B-sides and rare tracks) GER#10, AUT#32, SWI#55
- 2002: Amnesie (DVD compiling singles up to 2002 except for Gangsta Rap) GER#41
- 2007: Strandgut
Live albums
- 2010: Fettes GER#4
- 2010: Brot GER#4
- 2017: Gebäck in the Days – Live in Hamburg 2016 GER#62
Singles
- 1994: Definition von Fett
- 1995: Männer
- 1995: Nordisch by Nature GER#17
- 1995: Gangsta Rap (vinyl release only)
- 1996: Jein GER#10, SWI#7
- 1996: Mal sehen GER#68, SWI#23
- 1997: Silberfische in meinem Bett
- 1997: Sekt oder Selters GER#81
- 1997: Lieblingslied GER#81
- 1998: Viele Wege führen nach Rom GER#96
- 1998: Können diese Augen lügen? GER#100
- 1999: Ruf mich an (featuring James Last) GER#53, SWI#39
- 2000: Da draußen GER#35, SWI#58
- 2001: Schwule Mädchen GER#9, AUS#11, SWI#74
- 2001: Fast 30 (collaboration with Skunk Funk)
- 2001: The Grosser (cover of Steve Miller Band) GER#26, AUS#49, SWI#75
- 2002: Welthit GER#75
- 2003: Tanzverbot (Schill to Hell) (with Bela B.)
- 2003: Ich bin müde (cover of Wolfgang Michels/Rio Reiser) GER#87
- 2005: Emanuela GER#3, AUS#1, SWI#20
- 2005: An Tagen wie diesen (featuring Pascal Finkenauer) GER#9, AUS#10, SWI#69
- 2006: Soll das alles sein GER#40, AUS#54
- 2006: Was in der Zeitung Steht (under the name "D.O.C.H")
- 2006: Fußball ist immer noch wichtig (collaboration with Bela B., Marcus Wiebusch & Carsten Friedrichs) GER#61
- 2008: Bettina, zieh dir bitte etwas an! GER#3, AUS#14, SWI#43
- 2008: Erdbeben GER#28, AUS#65
- 2008: Ich lass dich nicht los GER#55
- 2008: Das allererste Mal
- 2010: Live renditions of tracks such as Jein, and others achieved moderate chart success.
- 2010: Amsterdam GER#51
- 2013: Singles include "Kuss Kuss Kuss" GER#35 and "Echo" GER#12
- Between 2014 and 2015 released singles like "Für immer immer," "Fußballgott," "Teenager vom Mars," and "Von der Liebe" (GER #36)
- In 2019 released tracks include "Du driftest nach rechts," "Ich liebe mich," "Denxu?," and "Deine Mama"
EPs
- 1994: Mitschnacker (a Northern German term meaning "Kidnapper" or "talkative person")
DVDs
- 2002: Amnesie (Archive DVD featuring music videos plus a bonus CD containing all singles except for "Gangsta Rap")
Compilations
- 1993 – Two songs featured on the compilation titled Endzeit 93
Awards
- ECHO Award in 1996 for "Most Successful New German Band"
- Comet Awards in 2005 for both "Best Band" and "Best Song" ("Emanuela")
- GQ's Man of the Year in 2005 as "Best Musicians"
- Eins Live Krone Award in 2005 for "Best Single" ("Emanuela")
- Gold certifications awarded for the album "Am Wasser gebaut" in Germany and the single "Emanuela" in both Germany and Austria
- ECHO Award in 2006 recognizing the best national act in Hip-Hop/R&B
- Bravo Otto Gold Award in 2006 for top national Hip-Hop act
- MTV Europe Music Awards winner in 2008 for Best German Act
Tours
- 1995: Klasse von '95 – featuring Main Concept, Massive Töne, ZM Jay, MC Rene, F.A.B., and Der Tobi & Das Bo
- 1996: Sven, Sven & Sven live – Inkognito-Club-Tour
- 1996/97: Spiel mir das Lied vom Brot – alongside Blumentopf and Massive Töne
- 1998: Harte Tour '98 – with Eins Zwo and DJ I.L.L. Will
- 2001: Schlechtwetterfront – accompanied by DJ exel. Pauly and Skunk Funk
- 2003: Gute Laune Hölle (theater tour) – in collaboration with Die Herren
- 2003: Jenseits der Grenze des Zumutbaren – supporting Die Ärzte together with Die Herren
- 2005: Am Wasser gebaut Parts 1 & 2 – featuring Pascal Finkenauer, Emel Aykanat, J-Luv/Patrick Gwada; opening acts included Fiva MC and DJ Radrum
- 2008: Strom und Drang Parts 1 & 2 – performed with eight musicians; opening performances by Superpunk, Die Türen, Johanna Zeul, and Vincent Van Go Go
- 2010: Fettes/Brot Tour – with full band; supported by Die Orsons, Kraftklub, and Jarle Bernhoft