SLOW TRAVEL BERLIN
Die Fantastichen Vier, O2 World, 8pm
Fanta 4 is nothing short of a household name in German – and no, it doesn’t refer to a type of soda. Rather, it’s a nickname for Die Fantastischen Vier (the fantastic four), Germany’s first hip hop group to achieve mainstream popularity. Formed in Stuttgart in 1989, the group’s lineup of Michael Beck, Thomas Dürr, Andreas Rieke and Michael Bernd Schmidt has remained unchanged during its 25 years of existence.
Early on, the group spent time in the United States and realized quickly that the hip hop music of Black America was concerned with political and social issues that were foreign to those of middle-class Germany. As such, the four never attempted to sing about those kinds of topics, focusing instead on lyrics about relationships, daily life and other topics the German population could relate to.
Late last year, Fanta 4 released its ninth studio album, ‘Rekord’, to celebrate the quartet’s 25th anniversary. In addition to performing as a group, some members have released solo albums, two were coaches on the 2014 season of ‘The Voice of Germany’, and all four did the voices of the penguins in the German version of ‘Madagascar’. Natalye Childress
O2 World, O2-Platz 1, 10243 Berlin; 030 20 60 70; U + S: Warschauer Straße; admission: from €45.05.