Freundeskreis
Encyclopedia
Freundeskreis also known as FK, was a German hip hop
group from Stuttgart
, whose songs were in German
but also in English
, French
and Esperanto
. The members were Max Herre
, Don Philippe and DJ Friction.
They were a socially conscious German rap group. They have released three top twenty albums in the past ten years. The fact that they rapped in multiple languages is actually quite common in German Hip Hop. One of the early rap albums, Krauts with Attitude, held only three songs in German. Meanwhile, there were eleven songs in English and one song in French.
. After the much-noticed debut album Quadratur des Kreises
(Squaring the circle) and its hit single "A-N-N-A" which peaked the German charts
at #6, the band released their second album, Esperanto, named after the constructed language
Esperanto
. The reasoning for the name was that the group wishes to show that they believe hip hop
should be the Esperanto of the youth
.
In 1999 and 2000 singles like "Mit Dir" (With you; featuring Joy Denalane
, who would become Herre's later wife) and "Tabula Rasa Pt. II" brought the band back to the charts. For the soundtrack
of 23
, Freundeskreis covered
the song "Halt dich an deiner Liebe fest" (Hold on to your love) written by Rio Reiser
, voicing it on Lee "Scratch" Perry's police & thieves riddim
. Freundeskreis was one of the first bands to take part in the Kolchose
, a group of hip hop artists from Stuttgart
.
In 2001, the band went into hiatus, and the members are pursuing their respective solo careers - the most active being Herre, who has since then released a solo album and works as producer for his wife.
A Freundeskreis greatest hits
album was released in July 2007 under the title FK10. After announcing their breakup in summer 2007, Freundeskreis gave their last concert in Stuttgart on September 19, 2007.
Excerpts from "Leg Dein Ohr Auf Die Schiene Der Geschichte":
viele Menschen schrecken zurück wenn sie "Geschichte" hör'n
Geschichte...
vier langweilige stunden pro Woche in der schule
(...)
neunzehnhundertdreiundsiebzig Geburtsjahr wichtig für mich
als auch geschichtlich denn da wurd' klar dass die C.I.A. 'ne hure war
rough translation:
many people step away when they hear "history"
History...
Four boring hours in school a week
(...)
1973, birth year, important for me,
as well as historically, because then it became clear that the CIA was a whore
The rest of the song takes into accounts other historical events, important to his year of birth as well as other events throughout his childhood which are often overlooked. The chorus implores,
you're just a part of it so get to the heart of it
'cause if you don't go you won't know
you're just a part of it get to the heart of it
'cause if you don't go you never ever never ever gonna know
soul, and reggae
artists, including Max Herre, Sekou Neblett, Afrob, Brooke Russell, Joy Denalane
and Gentleman
. Despite the roots of the FK allstars band being in hip hop, there are elements of reggae
, soul
, funk
and jazz
blended in.
German hip hop
German Hip Hop refers to hip hop music produced in Germany. Elements of American hip hop culture, such as graffiti art and breakdancing, diffused into Western Europe in the early 1980s.-1980–1990:...
group from Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
, whose songs were in German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
but also in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and Esperanto
Esperanto
is the most widely spoken constructed international auxiliary language. Its name derives from Doktoro Esperanto , the pseudonym under which L. L. Zamenhof published the first book detailing Esperanto, the Unua Libro, in 1887...
. The members were Max Herre
Max Herre
Maximilian Herre is a German musician who rose to fame as a member of the group Freundeskreis.-Biography:...
, Don Philippe and DJ Friction.
They were a socially conscious German rap group. They have released three top twenty albums in the past ten years. The fact that they rapped in multiple languages is actually quite common in German Hip Hop. One of the early rap albums, Krauts with Attitude, held only three songs in German. Meanwhile, there were eleven songs in English and one song in French.
Freundeskreis
Freundeskreis (German for circle of friends) was primarily known for their political lyrics, in which they advocate equality and international understandingInternationalism (politics)
Internationalism is a political movement which advocates a greater economic and political cooperation among nations for the theoretical benefit of all...
. After the much-noticed debut album Quadratur des Kreises
Quadratur des Kreises
Quadratur des Kreises is the first album of the German hip hop group Freundeskreis. It hit #12 in Germany, #34 in Switzerland and #38 in Austria...
(Squaring the circle) and its hit single "A-N-N-A" which peaked the German charts
Media Control Charts
The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie...
at #6, the band released their second album, Esperanto, named after the constructed language
Constructed language
A planned or constructed language—known colloquially as a conlang—is a language whose phonology, grammar, and/or vocabulary has been consciously devised by an individual or group, instead of having evolved naturally...
Esperanto
Esperanto
is the most widely spoken constructed international auxiliary language. Its name derives from Doktoro Esperanto , the pseudonym under which L. L. Zamenhof published the first book detailing Esperanto, the Unua Libro, in 1887...
. The reasoning for the name was that the group wishes to show that they believe hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
should be the Esperanto of the youth
Youth
Youth is the time of life between childhood and adulthood . Definitions of the specific age range that constitutes youth vary. An individual's actual maturity may not correspond to their chronological age, as immature individuals could exist at all ages.-Usage:Around the world, the terms "youth",...
.
In 1999 and 2000 singles like "Mit Dir" (With you; featuring Joy Denalane
Joy Denalane
Joy Maureen Denalane , known as Joy Denalane, is a German singer-songwriter, known for her mixture of soul, R&B, and African folk music with lyrics in German and English.-Early life:...
, who would become Herre's later wife) and "Tabula Rasa Pt. II" brought the band back to the charts. For the soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
of 23
23 (film)
23 is a 1998 German drama thriller film about a young hacker Karl Koch, who died on 23 May 1989, a presumed suicide. It was directed by Hans-Christian Schmid, who also participated in screenwriting. The title derives from the protagonist's obsession with the number 23, a phenomenon often described...
, Freundeskreis covered
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
the song "Halt dich an deiner Liebe fest" (Hold on to your love) written by Rio Reiser
Rio Reiser
Rio Reiser , was a German rock musician and singer of the famous rock group Ton Steine Scherben. He was born Ralph Christian Möbius in Berlin and died at the age of 46 in the little German town of Fresenhagen. Rio Reiser was politically active during his whole life...
, voicing it on Lee "Scratch" Perry's police & thieves riddim
Police and Thieves
"Police and Thieves" is a well-known reggae song, first recorded in the Jamaican reggae style by the falsetto singer Junior Murvin in 1976 , and one year later in a punk-reggae version by The Clash. Murvin's first commentary was "They have destroyed Jah work!".The song was written by Murvin and the...
. Freundeskreis was one of the first bands to take part in the Kolchose
Kolchose
The Kolchose is a group of Hip hop artists in the southern German city of Stuttgart. The group was founded in 1993 and includes the artists Freundeskreis, Massive Töne, Afrob, Breite Seite and Skillz en Masse, to name a few....
, a group of hip hop artists from Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
.
In 2001, the band went into hiatus, and the members are pursuing their respective solo careers - the most active being Herre, who has since then released a solo album and works as producer for his wife.
A Freundeskreis greatest hits
Greatest hits
A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...
album was released in July 2007 under the title FK10. After announcing their breakup in summer 2007, Freundeskreis gave their last concert in Stuttgart on September 19, 2007.
Conscious lyrics
Freundeskreis have been considered conscious hip-hop artists as their lyrics had educational themes. The Song "Leg Dein Ohr Auf Die Schiene Der Geschichte" (lay your ear on the tracks of history) asks the listener to look beyond what they were taught in a history lesson and learn the real lessons history teaches.Excerpts from "Leg Dein Ohr Auf Die Schiene Der Geschichte":
viele Menschen schrecken zurück wenn sie "Geschichte" hör'n
Geschichte...
vier langweilige stunden pro Woche in der schule
(...)
neunzehnhundertdreiundsiebzig Geburtsjahr wichtig für mich
als auch geschichtlich denn da wurd' klar dass die C.I.A. 'ne hure war
rough translation:
many people step away when they hear "history"
History...
Four boring hours in school a week
(...)
1973, birth year, important for me,
as well as historically, because then it became clear that the CIA was a whore
The rest of the song takes into accounts other historical events, important to his year of birth as well as other events throughout his childhood which are often overlooked. The chorus implores,
you're just a part of it so get to the heart of it
'cause if you don't go you won't know
you're just a part of it get to the heart of it
'cause if you don't go you never ever never ever gonna know
FK Allstars
FK Allstars was a collaboration of several hip hopHip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
soul, and reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
artists, including Max Herre, Sekou Neblett, Afrob, Brooke Russell, Joy Denalane
Joy Denalane
Joy Maureen Denalane , known as Joy Denalane, is a German singer-songwriter, known for her mixture of soul, R&B, and African folk music with lyrics in German and English.-Early life:...
and Gentleman
Gentleman (musician)
Tilmann Otto , better known by his stage name Gentleman, is a German Reggae musician.- Personal life :...
. Despite the roots of the FK allstars band being in hip hop, there are elements of reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
, soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
, funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
and jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
blended in.
Albums
| Year | Title | Chart position |
|---|---|---|
| Germany Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... |
||
| 1997 | Quadratur des Kreises Quadratur des Kreises Quadratur des Kreises is the first album of the German hip hop group Freundeskreis. It hit #12 in Germany, #34 in Switzerland and #38 in Austria... |
12 |
| 1999 | Esperanto | 3 |
| 2007 | FK 10 - Best Of | 15 |
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart position |
|---|---|---|
| Germany Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... |
||
| 1997 | "A-N-N-A" | 6 |
| "Leg dein Ohr auf die Schiene der Geschichte" (Put your ear on the tracks of history) | - | |
| "Wenn der Vorhang fällt" (When the curtain falls) | 77 | |
| 1998 | "Tabula rasa" with Mellowbag and Gentleman Gentleman (musician) Tilmann Otto , better known by his stage name Gentleman, is a German Reggae musician.- Personal life :... |
13 |
| "Halt dich an deiner Liebe fest" | 30 | |
| 1999 | "Esperanto" | 46 |
| "Mit Dir" with Joy Denalane Joy Denalane Joy Maureen Denalane , known as Joy Denalane, is a German singer-songwriter, known for her mixture of soul, R&B, and African folk music with lyrics in German and English.-Early life:... |
9 | |
| "You can't run away" with Gentleman Gentleman (musician) Tilmann Otto , better known by his stage name Gentleman, is a German Reggae musician.- Personal life :... and Udo Lindenberg Udo Lindenberg Udo Lindenberg is a German rock musician and composer.-Career:Lindenberg started his musical career as a drummer. In 1969 Lindenberg founded his first band Free Orbit and also appeared as a studio and guest musician . In 1970 he collaborated as a drummer with jazz-saxophonist Klaus Doldinger in... |
74 | |
| 2000 | "Tabula Rasa Pt. II" with FK Allstars | 30 |
| 2007 | "FK 10" | - |
External links
- Four Music Label (German)
- Freundeskreis homepage (German)