Fettes Brot

Biography

Fettes Brot (German pronunciation: [ˈfɛtəs ˈbʁoːt]) was a German hip hop group that formed in 1992. In August, 2022 they announced to end their career by the end of 2023.

Band name

Fettes Brot means fat bread in German. "Fett" is a German slang term for "excellent" and brot is slang for "hash". The band took the name from a fan who called them "Fettes Brot" after an early gig, which was probably meant as a compliment, but the members considered it so bizarre that they took it as the name for their new group. Fettes Brot's longevity has meant that they are sometimes referred to as "Hamburg's hip hop dinosaurs" by the group members.

Success with Nordisch by Nature and Jein

When the group Poets of Peeze disbanded in 1992, its members Dokter Renz (Martin Vandreier) and Tobi Tobsen together with König ("king") Boris (Boris Lauterbach), Schiffmeister (Björn Warns), and Mighty founded Fettes Brot. The Schmidt brothers (Tobi and Mighty) left the newly founded band early on to pursue other projects, and the band released their first album, the EP Mitschnacker×Mitschnacker22 April 1994 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1Eingang/Ortungstest0:312Definition von Fett3:593Bundeskanzleramt0:564Schwarzbrot-Weissbrot3:415Sonntag5:176Schnimps & Schnomps2:137Schlecht6:238Ausgang6:58, on Yo Mama Records as a trio. Prior to Mitschnacker, the songs "Schwarzbrot – Weißbrot" ("Blackbread – Whitebread") and "Schule der Gewalt" ("School of Violence") appeared on the sampler Endzeit 93, released via the independent record label Wilde Welt Records.
The group's first commercial success first came with the single "Nordisch by Nature×Nordisch by NatureJune 1995 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Nordisch by Nature (Teil 1)3:482Nordisch by Nature (Teil 2)4:593Frikadelle am Ohr (Wochenend Blues)7:174Raptus Melancholicus10:465Johannes2:18" ("Nordic by Nature") and the album from which the single comes. The song begins with the sound of a foghorn and is performed in parts in "Hamburger Platt" (Hamburg Low) north German dialect, a strong Low German accent, and in Danish, which has made the song something of an anthem in Northern Germany. The single remained in the German charts for a full month, but the band was determined not to let this initial commercial success become a one-hit wonder.
The group demonstrated their technical maturity with their first LP Auf einem Auge blöd×Auf einem Auge blöd20 April 1995 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Intro (Nachwuchsschmusiker)0:482Mitschnacker4:593Optimal Geschmacksneutral4:514Männer3:515Mischermann's Friend0:256Meh' Bier4:527Dionysos7:008Friedhof der Nuscheltiere4:489Gangsta Rap4:4610Definition von Fett (Remix? Gut Is!)5:1711Amazing Discoveries (Zweikanalton)1:3512Frikadelle am Ohr5:3513Das Fette Brot0:21143 sind 2 zuviel5:1415Wer gibt dem der unten liegt die Hand3:4416Nordisch by Nature9:10 ("Stupid in one eye", a parody of the phrase Auf einem Auge blind meaning "Blind in one eye"), which boasts versatile and humorous lyrics. The narrated stories and interwoven raps were received very well.
A year later Fettes Brot released their second biggest commercial hit and quasi-anthem "Jein" (a blend of Ja and Nein, meaning both "Yes" and "No"). The main line of the song's chorus asks the question: "Soll ich's wirklich machen oder lass ich's lieber sein?" ("Should I really do it or should I leave it?") and led to a strong fanbase being established in German speaking countries. Further singles included "Außen Top Hits, innen Geschmack×Außen Top Hits, innen GeschmackSeptember 1996 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Spiel mir das Lied vom Brot1:562Jein5:563Hallo Hip Hop4:454In ist4:425Mal sehen3:516Schocktherapie4:107… und ich geh nicht zum Arzt7:178Mikrokosmonaut4:289Supermann & Mondgesicht4:2010Die Einsamkeit der Klofrau8:1111Nordisch by Nature (Teil 3)1:2612Silberfische in meinem Bett5:0913Kleines Kind4:1114Wildwechsel6:59" (a play on a popular commercial jingle for the aluminum foil Toppits: "Außen Toppits – innen Geschmack" ("Toppits on the outside – flavor within") where the similar-sounding album title means "Top hits on the outside – taste within") were just as successful.
Rapper Dendemann (then a member of Arme Ritter, meaning "Poor Knights" but also "French toast") had his first introduction to the mainstream in his collaboration track "Wildwechsel", also with Max Herre, Blumentopf, Spax (German) and Der Tobi & das Bo (German), which became representative of these artists. Fettes Brot were at this time very active in other areas: For instance, they created a unique radio transmission called Forellentee for Radio Fritz (German).

Change of direction

After their initial success, the group began to experiment with a softer sound and released the single "Können diese Augen lügen?×Können diese Augen lügen?30 November 1998 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Können diese Augen lügen? (Pinneberg)3:152Können diese Augen lügen? (Altona)3:533Können diese Augen lügen? (Amsterdam)3:314Können diese Augen lügen? (Bramfeld)3:37" ("Could These Eyes Lie?") from the album Fettes Brot lässt grüßen×Fettes Brot lässt grüßen2 October 1998 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 20 tracks1Die drei ??? und die ernste Sache der Welt1:432Wo die wilden Kerle wohnen1:133Lieblingslied3:584Bundeskanzler4:315Rede zur Lage der Nation0:106Geld abheben4:517Generationskonflikt0:098Können diese Augen lügen3:139Prolog0:4510Spiderman & ich4:0411Viele Wege führen nach Rom3:2412… und die anderen nach Pinneberg0:0813Krankenhausreif3:0414Ein schönes Zwischenstück, wirklich!0:0515Traffic Jam3:5116Nicolette Krebitz wartet2:5617Rock Mic’s4:0018Wie heißt Du!3:4319Die drei ??? müssen lachen0:2120Rocky Beach Theme0:57 ("Fettes Brot Says Hello"). Many purists voiced criticism as the band explored new paths and no longer focused on a pure hip hop music style. The songs "Viele Wege führen nach Rom×Viele Wege führen nach Rom7 September 1998 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracksA1Viele Wege führen nach Rom3:24A2Mil caminos que van a Roma3:39A3Viele Wege führen nach Rom (Instrumental)3:23A4Mil caminos que van a Roma (Instrumental)3:39B1Jugend forscht4:16B2Jugend forscht (Instrumental)4:16B3Jugend forscht (Acapella)3:28" ("Many Roads Lead to Rome") and "Lieblingslied×Lieblingslied6 July 1998 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracksA1Lieblingslied4:18A2Rock Mic's4:04A3Rock Mic's (I.L.L. Will Instrumental)3:50B1Rock Mic's (I.L.L. Will Version)4:43B2Lieblingslied (Instrumental)4:17B3Rock Mic's (Instrumental)4:03B4Rock Mic's Acapella3:24" ("Favourite Song") were successful as a double A-sided single and become an even bigger hit than both previous albums.
With the cooperation of James Last, the trio took a break from songwriting in 1999 and embarked on a creative pause. The break was announced to fans with via the publishing of an anthology of B-sides, remixes, and some exclusive material. Beginner, and Smudo of Die Fantastischen Vier, as well as Der Tobi & Das Bo made personal contributions to this anthology. Furthermore, the widely successful single "Da draußen×Da draußen25 April 2000 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracksA1Da draußen5:21A2Da draußen (Tropf remix)4:18A3Da draußen (Acapella)4:17B1Da draußen (DJ Sepalot remix)4:47B2Da draußen (Skunk Funk remix)4:53B3Da draußen (Fuddn 1000 remix)3:55" ("Out there") was released as a collectors edition in 2000.
After three years, in 2001, the fourth Fettes Brot album was released. The trio marketed a small comeback with the title Demotape using new alternative pseudonyms. The hit singles "Schwule Mädchen×Schwule Mädchen20 August 2001 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Schwule Mädchen3:322Das Neuste4:083Schwules Instrumental3:274Das Neuste Instrumental4:07" and "The Grosser" could not be clearly categorized into a musical style. Additionally they released a collaboration with Skunk Funk (German), a pure hip hop single called "Fast 30×Fast 30October 2001 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Fast 30 (Video Edit)4:092Schlechtwetterfront4:283Fast 30 (Tobby Digg Rmx)4:234Fast 30 (Demotape Version)5:00" ("Almost 30"). Only a year later, in early 2002, they released their greatest hits compilation Amnesie×Amnesie16 November 2002 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Definition Von Fett3:592Männer3:533Nordisch By Nature (Pt. 1)3:484Jein5:555Mal Sehen3:516Silberfische In Meinem Bett5:087Sekt Oder Selters3:578Lieblingslied3:569Viele Wege Führen Nach Rom3:2410Können Diese Augen Lügen?3:1211Ruf Mich An7:3112Da Draussen5:1613Schwule Mädchen3:2314Fast 304:1115The Grosser3:4416Welthit3:33 ("Amnesia") and a DVD of the same name with extra short films. Three more singles were released, beginning in 2002 with "Welthit×Welthit30 October 2002 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracksA1Welthit3:35A2Birgit O. (Kay Bee & die Konrads)3:16A3Welthit Instr.3:31A4Welthit Acapella3:01A5Scratch Rille1:10B1Wär das nicht derbe?3:50B2Sie3:50B3Wär das nicht derbe? Instr.3:50B4Sie Instr.3:50" ("World Hit"), from their greatest hits CD. In 2003, they released the Rio Reiser cover "Ich bin müde×Ich bin müde20 October 2003 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Ich bin müde3:572Ich bin müde (IBM Version 1.1)4:003Wenn die Nacht am tiefsten2:53" ("I'm Tired"), which received extensive exposure on television. They made the collaboration "Tanzverbot" ("Dancing Prohibition") available as a legal MP3 download (as well as a limited CD and vinyl run), as part of the Hamburg Bambule (German) protest alongside Bela B. against the Hamburg senator Ronald Schill.

Comeback and founding of the record label

In 2004, the group founded their own record label, Fettes Brot Schallplatten (Fettes Brot Records).
In 2005, they represented Schleswig-Holstein in the Bundesvision Song Contest 2005, with the song "Emanuela×Emanuela14 February 2005 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracksA1Emanuela (radio edit)3:09A2Schrotteimer3:23A3Schrotteimer (ohne Worte)3:23B1eManuela (AD/AL edit)8:05B2Emanuela (ohne Worte)3:09" placing second with 130 points. A few days later on Valentine's Day, the single rose to third place on the singles charts. On 21 May 2005, their most successful album to date was released. The album was titled Am Wasser gebaut×Am Wasser gebaut21 March 2005 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Wie immer4:162Emanuela3:353Soll das alles sein?5:044Die meisten meiner Feinde5:175Yasmin5:016Lauterbach2:537Kuba3:438An Tagen wie diesen3:589Glaub dran4:5410Falsche Entscheidung4:32 (literally "Built by the water", but is also a term describing a very emotional person who cries easily). This album was not as rap-oriented as previous ones and featured more soul influences.
The second single from Am Wasser gebaut was "An Tagen wie diesen×An Tagen wie diesen28 August 2005 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracksA1An Tagen wie diesen3:56A2An Tagen wie diesen (Absturz City remix)3:56A3An Tagen wie diesen (Ohne Worte)3:56A4An Tagen wie diesen (Absturz City Instr.)3:56B1Was in der Zeitung steht1:54B2Big Bad Boris (Lauterbach remake)2:47B3Big Bad Boris (Lauterbach Sprachlos)2:47B4Was Nicht In Der Zeitung Steht1:54" ("On days like these"), in collaboration with Pascal Finkenauer (German). The video, in which Finkenauer and DJ exel. Pauly (German) appear, depicts the activities of an ordinary day. It is ordinary, except that armoured tanks drive through the streets as if they were cars and the people take little notice of them.
On 6 October 2005, the three rappers won the Comet Award. They were the first band to win in two categories; they won both the category for "Best Band" and for "Best Song" ("Emanuela"). They were also nominated for "Best Video" and "Most Successful Download" ("Emanuela").
On 22 December 2005, Fettes Brot gave the largest concert of their career at the Color Line Arena in Hamburg in front of over 13,000 people. The concert was televised by MTV and numerous radio stations (e.g. Radio Fritz) broadcast it live.

D.O.C.H.!

Fettes Brot has sometimes used the pseudonym D.O.C.H.! ("doch" which is a German word meaning "yet", "to the contrary", and "but", although most often it means an emphatic, "damn right!" or "yes!") to publish songs which would not be suitable for the hip hop genre. This began with an extensive PR gag. In January 2006, Fettes Brot announced that they had signed the power pop band D.O.C.H.! to their label. The band was to consist of three 17-year-olds from Berlin named Boy, Paolo, and Typ. News followed promising a first single, a Hungarian tour in April, and the release of an album in September. When the single "Was in der Zeitung steht×Was in der Zeitung steht6 May 2006 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Was in der Zeitung steht1:562Trotzdem4:47" ("What's in the news") hit radio and television for the first time, a distinct similarity to the B-side of the "An Tagen wie diesen×An Tagen wie diesen28 August 2005 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracksA1An Tagen wie diesen3:56A2An Tagen wie diesen (Absturz City remix)3:56A3An Tagen wie diesen (Ohne Worte)3:56A4An Tagen wie diesen (Absturz City Instr.)3:56B1Was in der Zeitung steht1:54B2Big Bad Boris (Lauterbach remake)2:47B3Big Bad Boris (Lauterbach Sprachlos)2:47B4Was Nicht In Der Zeitung Steht1:54" single was noticed. (Doktor Renz had sung both songs.) After this, fans began to suspect the photos on the band's website were counterfeit. An announcement was made on MTV's TRL program on 9 May in which the three members of D.O.C.H.! accused Fettes Brot of having stolen their song.

Bette Frost and Strom und Drang

In 2006, Fettes Brot released a single named "Fussball ist immer noch wichtig×Fussball ist immer noch wichtig4 August 2006 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Fussball ist immer noch wichtig3:582Fussball ist immer noch wichtig3:58" ("Football is still important") for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. They also released "Falsche Entscheidung×Falsche Entscheidung18 June 2010 · Single · LiveSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Falsche Entscheidung (edit)3:082Kontrolle (A Great Paulukka remix)3:393Kontrolle (The Botaniks remake)4:42" in 2006 for the World Cup, with a video featuring the retired footballers Boris Amadeus and Stefan Bach. Since both were huge fans of the band they appeared without receiving a fee. After extensive touring in 2005 and 2006, Fettes Brot began work on a new album in 2007. In December, they held several small secret concerts under the name Bette Frost and played the new songs.
On 1 January 2008, they unveiled the new single "Bettina, zieh dir bitte etwas an" ("Bettina, please put on some clothes!"), but the song was known as "Bettina, pack deine Brüste ein" ("Bettina, tuck your boobs away") because Fettes Brot had changed it at the last minute. The song is about the German model Bettie Ballhaus, who at the time hosted a late-night quiz show in which, for every question answered correctly, she took some of her clothes off. She also happened to show her breasts, hence the title of the song. However, before the single was released, Ballhaus had left the show. Fettes Brot released this single on 15 February 2008. They also have stopped making soul music and have gone back to the "old" Fettes Brot, making party songs and rap.
Fettes Brot released their new album Strom und Drang×Strom und Drang14 March 2008 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Lieber verbrennen als erfrieren3:102Bettina, zieh dir bitte etwas an3:493Das traurigste Mädchen der Stadt3:124Erdbeben2:455Der beste Rapper Deutschlands ist offensichtlich ich3:396Ich lass dich nicht los3:577Das allererste Mal2:398Schieb es auf die Brote2:179Automatikpistole3:31101€-Blues4:3411Hörst du mich?4:13 ("Electricity and Stress") in March 2008. The album's name alludes to an 18th-century epoch of German art and literature, called Sturm und Drang.

Members

Boris Lauterbach (a.k.a. König Boris, Kay Bee Baby, Rock'n'Roll Coseng, Long Leg Lauterbach)
Martin Vandreier (a.k.a. Dokter Renz, Rektor Donz, Roktor Denz, Speedy Konsalik, Rostige Pforte, Hektor Ronz)
Björn Warns (a.k.a. Björn Beton, Schiffmeister, Flash Müller, Papa Geil)

Trivia

Björn Warns took the name Schiffmeister from the classic video game Sid Meier's Pirates!. In that game, when his pirate ship suffered a mutiny, an announcement came up starting with the English words "Shipmaster Warns: ...". The German language does not have a direct equivalent for "Shipmaster" ("Kapitän" is used instead, as per the English "Captain"), but when Warns translated it he made up the word "Schiffmeister". Schiffmeister also means "piss master" in the northern German dialect.
Fettes Brot has made a cameo appearance in the German independent movie ABCs of Superheroes (2015)

Studio albums

1995: Auf einem Auge blöd ("Stupid in one eye") GER#29, SWI#22
1996: Außen Top Hits, innen Geschmack ("Top Hits Outside, Taste Within" (pun on a commercial aired in Germany)) GER#10, AUT#21, SWI#14
1998: Fettes Brot lässt grüßen ("Fettes Brot Send Their Regards") GER#9, AUT#30, SWI#27
2001: Demotape GER#9, AUT#30, SWI#27
2005: Am Wasser gebaut ("Built on Water") GER#4, AUT#9, SWI#23
2008: Strom und Drang ("Electricity and Drive", a pun on Sturm und Drang) GER#3, AUT#9, SWI#14
2013: 3 is ne Party ("3 is a Party") GER#3, AUT#20, SWI#19
2015: Teenager vom Mars ("Teenagers from Mars") GER#7, AUT#29, SWI#27
2019: Lovestory GER#12

Other albums

2000: Fettes Brot für die Welt ("Fat Bread for the World") (Compiled with B-Sides, rare and unpublished pieces, and three new songs.) GER#10, AUT#32, SWI#55
2002: Amnesie (with the DVD, all singles up to 2002 except Gangsta Rap) GER#41
2007: Strandgut (Flotsam & Jetsam)

Live albums

2010: Fettes GER: No. 4
2010: Brot GER: No. 4
2017: Gebäck in the Days – Live in Hamburg 2016 GER: No. 62

Singles

1994: Definition von Fett ("The definition of phat")
1995: Männer ("Men")
1995: Nordisch by Nature ("Nordic by Nature") GER No. 17
1995: Gangsta Rap (only on vinyl)
1996: Jein (Portmanteau of "Yes" and "No") GER#10, SWI#7
1996: Mal sehen ("We'll see") GER#68, SWI#23
1997: Silberfische in meinem Bett ("Silverfish in my bed")
1997: Sekt oder Selters ("Sparkling wine or seltzer") GER#81
1997: Lieblingslied ("Favourite song") GER#81
1998: Viele Wege führen nach Rom ("Many roads lead to Rome") GER#96
1998: Können diese Augen lügen? ("Could these eyes lie?") GER#100
1999: Ruf mich an ("Call me") (with James Last) GER#53, SWI#39
2000: Da draußen ("Out there") GER#35, SWI#58
2001: Schwule Mädchen ("Gay girls") GER#9, AUS#11, SWI#74
2001: Fast 30 ("Almost 30") (with Skunk Funk)
2001: The Grosser ("The greatest") (Cover of The Joker by Steve Miller Band) GER#26, AUS#49, SWI#75
2002: Welthit ("Worldwide hit") GER#75
2003: Tanzverbot (Schill to Hell) ("Dance ban") (with Bela B.)
2003: Ich bin müde ("I'm tired") (Cover of Wolfgang Michels and Rio Reiser) GER#87
2005: Emanuela GER#3, AUS#1, SWI#20
2005: An Tagen wie diesen ("On days like these") (with Pascal Finkenauer) GER#9, AUS#10, SWI#69
2006: Soll das alles sein ("Is this supposed to be it?") GER#40, AUS#54
2006: Was in der Zeitung Steht ("What it says in the newspaper") (under the nickname "D.O.C.H")
2006: Fußball ist immer noch wichtig ("Football is still important") (with Bela B., Marcus Wiebusch of Kettcar and Carsten Friedrichs of Superpunk) GER#61
2008: Bettina, zieh dir bitte etwas an! ("Bettina, please put some clothes on!") GER#3, AUS#14, SWI#43
2008: Erdbeben ("Earthquake/s") GER#28, AUS#65
2008: Ich lass dich nicht los ("I won't let you go") GER#55
2008: Das allererste Mal ("The very first time")
2010: Jein (2010 live) (Portmanteau of "Yes" and "No") GER#36
2010: Kontrolle ("Control") (live) GER#90
2010: Falsche Entscheidung ("Bad decision") (live)
2010: Amsterdam GER#51
2013: Kuss Kuss Kuss ("Kiss Kiss Kiss") GER#35
2013: Echo GER#12
2014: Für immer immer ("Forever always") GER#36
2014: Fußballgott ("Football God")
2015: Teenager vom Mars ("Teenager from Mars")
2015: Von der Liebe ("About Love") GER#36
2019: Du driftest nach rechts ("You're drifting right")
2019: Ich liebe mich ("I love myself")
2019: Denxu?
2019: Deine Mama ("Your Mama Mor Din)")

EPs

1994: Mitschnacker (Northern German slang for "Kidnapper", but also "chatty person")

DVDs

2002: Amnesie (Archive DVD with music videos and other material, supplementary CD with all singles except Gangsta Rap.)

Compilations

1993 – Endzeit 93 ("Final hour 93") (two songs)