In the mid-1980s, Rieke and Schmidt formed the Terminal Team, which Dürr and Beck joined in 1989. Under the new name Die Fantastischen Vier they made German hip hop, or Deutschen Sprechgesang (German spoken-song) as they called it, popular in Germany. Although there were German hip-hop artists prior to them (such as Advanced Chemistry from Heidelberg), it was Die Fantastischen Vier who registered the first chart hit with their 1992 single "Die da?!" (Her?!) from the album 4 gewinnt, hitting No. 2 in Germany and No. 1 in Austria and Switzerland.
After traveling to Los Angeles in the late 1980s, the group realized the lack of connection between the struggles of "the poor blacks in the United States and middle-class whites in Germany", and made a conscious effort to move away from the typical and cliché American gangsta rap. The group never got involved with gangsta rap clichés, reacting with tongue-in-cheek humor to verbal attacks of alleged German 'gangsta rappers'. In the albums following 4 gewinnt, the band matured and progressed to a more serious and philosophic style.
In addition to the group's works, Thomas D, Hausmarke, and Ypsilon also produced successful solo albums and the four had their own weekly show Die 4. Dimension, named after their third album, which aired on the German pay TV channel Premiere in 1993 and 1994. At the 1996 Popkomm in Cologne, Die Fantastischen Vier announced the establishment of their label, Four Music. Headquarters were in Stuttgart, but were later moved to Berlin-Kreuzberg.
Three years later, the group's seventh album 4:99 was released on their own label, with four singles from the album following. After the No. 2 hit "MfG", three singles were released at the same time, a first in German music business. Each one can be associated with one of the rappers: "Le Smou" (Smudo), "Michi Beck in Hell" (Michi Beck), and "Buenos Dias Messias" (Thomas D).
In late September 2004, the group released the album Viel, the following tour being their most successful and best-attended to date.
In 2005, Fanta 4's first greatest-hits album, Best of 1990-2005, was published. It includes all singles, as well as several other songs and rare footage from the group's early days, when they were still called Terminal Team and rapped in English.
On 7 April 2007, the number-one album Fornika was released, preceded by the single "Ernten was wir säen" (Reap what we sow). The song was released as a download for Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock in December 2007 and was covered by rock band Oomph! in 2009.
Die Fantastischen Vier are also the German voices of the Penguins (Michael Beck as Skipper, Thomas D. as Kowalski, Andreas Rieke as Rico and Michael Bernd Schmidt as Private) in the Madagascar film series.
In 2010, Für dich immer noch Fanta Sie peaked again at number one of the German charts. The 2014 release of the album Rekord marked the 25th anniversary of the band. It also topped the charts in Germany. In 2018, the single "Zusammen", featuring Clueso, from the album Captain Fantastic, was chosen as the official song for the 2018 FIFA World Cup by German public broadcaster Das Erste.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_Fantastischen_Vier
Studio albums
Jetzt geht’s ab (1991)
4 gewinnt (1992)
Die 4. Dimension (1993)
Lauschgift (1995)
4:99 (1999)
Viel (2004)
Fornika (2007)
Für dich immer noch Fanta Sie (2010)
Rekord (2014)
Captain Fantastic (2018)
Frühstück
Die Fantastischen Vier Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sind die auch wirklich weich?
Ich glaub', die sind wirklich alle weich
Du, dann will ich auch eins haben
Gerne, nimm dir eins
Danke
Machst du Tee, äh, Smudo?
Joa is' auch OK
Ja, is' koffeinfrei
Oh, mein Eis ist nicht weich genug
Echt nicht?
Neee
(Achtung, Achtung) Mach mal lauter
Wir unterbrechen unser Programm für eine wichtige Sondermeldung!
Das Rödelheim-Hartrhein Projekt ist Alleinherrscher der deutschen Sprechgesangszene
Scheiße
The lyrics to Die Fantastischen Vier's song "Frühstück" seems like a conversation taking place between friends or band members, with the topic being breakfast. The person speaking starts by asking if anyone has a soft-boiled egg and if they are indeed soft. When they are assured that it is, they request to have one. They then ask if anyone has tea, mistaking Smudo for having tea when in fact, he has made coffee. They eventually settle for the coffee, and the person realizes that everything isn't soft enough. This conversation seems like the band talking about their morning routine, with one member wanting a specific breakfast.
However, as the lyrics continue, something interesting happens. There is an abrupt announcement, interrupting their breakfast conversation, stating that the "Rödelheim-Hartrhein Project" is the sole ruler of the German rap scene. This announcement throws the conversation off track, and they respond with shock and curses. This sudden announcement could represent the focus shifting from mundane, everyday conversations to more serious and pressing issues, that require their full attention.
Line by Line Meaning
Hat jemand von euch ein weiches Ei?
Does anyone have a soft-boiled egg?
Sind die auch wirklich weich?
Are they really soft?
Ja
Yes
Kann ich dann auch eins haben?
Can I have one too?
ja klar nimm dir eins
Yes, of course, help yourself
Danke
Thank you
Hast du Tee, ääh, Smudo?
Do you have tea, uh, Smudo?
Ja ich hab Kaffee gemacht
Yes, I made coffee
Joa is' auch OK
Yeah, that's fine too
Ja. is' koffeinfrei
Yes, it's caffeine-free
Oh, Mann alles nicht weich genug.
Oh man, nothing is soft enough.
Echt nich'?
Really not?
Neee
No
Achtung, Achtung, wir unterbrechen unser Programm für eine wichtige Sondermeldung!
Attention, attention, we interrupt our program for an important special announcement!
Oh mach ma' lauter
Oh, turn it up
Was ist das denn?
What is it?
Das Rödelheim-Hartrhein Projekt ist Alleinherrscher der deutschen Sprechgesangszene
The Rödelheim-Hartrhein Project is the sole ruler of the German spoken-word scene
Scheiße!
Damn!
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Michael Dj Beck, Thomas Duerr, Andreas Rieke, Michael B. Schmidt
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind