Kollegah started rapping in 2004 under his first alias "T.o.n.i."
He released his first mixtape "Zuhältertape Vol. 1" (Zuhälter = german for "pimp") in 2004 for free over the internet which caused a rather great hype in the german underground rap scene. Kollegah fascinated the listeners with lightspeed double or even tripple time rap, incredibly funny and complex punchlines and ruthless drug dealer stories which had never been before in Germany.
He then would start rapping in the german "RBA" (Reimliga Battle Arena, an online platform for german Mcs to battle each other via mp3s) and caused a great hysteria aswell because alot of people could not believe that such a good and verbally gifted player would attend their small community.
In 2005 the "Selfmade Records" Label, home to Artists like Favorite or Shiml signed him and immediately re-released his Zuhältertape as an "X-mas edition" with 6 bonus tracks.
A year after, he released his highly anticipated follow-up mixtape called "Boss der Bosse" (german for boss of the bosses).
2007 finally marked the release of his first Album, "Alphagene" (german for alpha genes) which sold surprisingly well for a purely independently released album, peaking at #51 in the german album charts. The successor "Kollegah" in 2008 even topped this remarkable chart entry with a stunning #17 entry in it's first week.
Hoodtales III
Kollegah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm the one you've lied to
I look around and you are gone
I need to get in check
I know you carin', yeah
I'm the one left standing“
Yeah, yeah, yeah, okay
Ein Blick in den Rückspiegel sagt mir
Ich hab' heute wohl leider kein Glück
Kriege von Bullen Gesellschaft, spüre, mein Puls geht schneller
Denn ich komm' vom Einkauf im Land der blühenden Tulpenfelder (okay)
Ich halt' an, grüß' den Zollfahnder supernett
2000 E-Pill'n unterm Holzarmaturenbrett
Des Volkswagen Touareg, ich park' kurz ein
Und geb' ihm Fahrzeugschein und Personalausweis
Und er fragt: „Hab'n Sie irgendwelche Waren dabei
Wie Kokain, Gras und Teile?“, ich sage: „Nein!
Sir, ich bin gegen Teile, so wie schwarz und weiß
Gegenteile so wie arm und reich, ja und nein
Hart und weich, Salat und Fleisch, Quadrat und Kreis“
Er sagt: „Schon gut, hab' verstanden, hör'n Sie mit der Laberei auf
Und fahr'n sie weiter“
Ich geb' Gas und komme dann in deiner Hood an
Fahr' spät abends los, sieh mich dort Raubzüge ausüben
Vor den Bullen flüchtend durch die Town düsen
Bei 'ner Kreuzung rauskommen wie Maultiere
Und in einen Audi A6 krachen
Jetzt hab' ich Dreck auf der Frontscheibe
Wie, das war dein Vater?
Naja gut, aber komm, Kleiner, er war 'n miserabler Fahrer
Dann doch lieber gar kein Va-, wie, die Mami is auch tot?
Na ja, dann bist du jetzt wohl Vollwaise wie der Dalai Lama
Ey yo, Killer wie Cam'ron, ich bin zwar kein Chicken-Wings-Essen
Doch all die Bitches, die lecken sich die Finger nach Kollegah
Diesem intelligenten, reifen Mann wie das Michelin-Männchen
Yeah, der kanadische MC trägt Armani-Sweater, Jeans von Karl Lagerfeld
Bringt Cannabis, Ecstasy sowie Coke aus 'ner Bananenrepublik
Du tickst auch, aber mein Stoff macht higher wie Karatekämpfer
Sieh, er macht higher wie der Boss, der sich am Abend selbstzufrieden
Mit paar schwarzen Ghetto-Queens in Satin-Bettwäsche schmiegt
Während du bei ihm durchs Garagenfenster schielst
Den Ferrari Enzo siehst und Versagensängste kriegst (du kleiner Bastard)
In the first paragraph, the lyrics express a sense of betrayal and abandonment. The singer acknowledges their attempts to connect with someone, but ends up being the one deceived. They feel left alone, and they understand that they need to regain control of their emotions. Despite the pain caused by the lies, the singer realizes that they are the one who remains standing, demonstrating resilience and strength.
In the second paragraph, the lyrics paint a scene where the singer is traveling on the Autobahn towards Aachen, a city in Germany. Looking into the rearview mirror, they sense that luck is not on their side today. They encounter the police, and their heartbeat quickens. The singer reveals that they have just come from the Netherlands, known for its blooming tulip fields and also as a source for drugs. They pull over, exchanging pleasant greetings with a customs officer. The singer discloses that they have 2000 ecstasy pills hidden in the dashboard of their Volkswagen Touareg. The customs officer questions if they have any other illegal items, mentioning cocaine and marijuana. The singer denies having any. They then contrast opposites, stating that they are against dividing things into parts, just like black and white, or rich and poor. The customs officer dismisses them, instructing them to continue their journey.
In the third paragraph, the lyrics describe the singer's arrival in a specific neighborhood. They venture out late at night, engaging in robberies. They speed through the town, evading the police. At a junction, they escape effortlessly, comparing their getaway to that of mules. However, as they crash into an Audi A6, they get dirt on the windshield, likely due to the collision. It is revealed that the person they crashed into is the listener's father. Brushing off the accident, the singer comments that the listener's father was a terrible driver. The lyrics take a darker turn as the singer learns that the listener's mother is also deceased, leaving the listener as an orphan, like the Dalai Lama. Despite their hazardous activities and ruthless demeanor, the singer maintains a sense of self-assuredness, comparing themselves to the skillful rapper Cam'ron and highlighting their desirability to women.
In the final paragraph, the lyrics depict the singer's extravagant lifestyle and the prominence they hold in the rap industry. They describe themselves as an intelligent and mature man, using a comparison to the Michelin Man to emphasize their full figure. The singer mentions wearing designer clothing, such as Armani sweaters and jeans from Karl Lagerfeld. They boast about importing drugs like cannabis, ecstasy, and cocaine from a banana republic. They acknowledge that the listener is also involved in drug dealing but claim that their merchandise provides a more intense high, like that of a karate fighter. The lyrics then allude to a scene where the listener peers through someone else's garage window, feeling inadequate and fearful upon seeing a Ferrari Enzo. The singer taunts the listener, calling them a "little bastard" and suggesting that they experience envy and feelings of failure.
Line by Line Meaning
Autobahn Richtung Aachen (yeah)
Driving on the Autobahn towards Aachen, feeling excited
Ein Blick in den Rückspiegel sagt mir
Looking in the rearview mirror, realizing something
Ich hab' heute wohl leider kein Glück
Realizing that luck is not on my side today
Kriege von Bullen Gesellschaft, spüre, mein Puls geht schneller
Getting stopped by the police, feeling my heart rate increase
Denn ich komm' vom Einkauf im Land der blühenden Tulpenfelder (okay)
Because I just came back from shopping in a country known for its tulip fields
Ich halt' an, grüß' den Zollfahnder supernett
Stopping the car, greeting the customs officer politely
2000 E-Pill'n unterm Holzarmaturenbrett
Having 2000 ecstasy pills hidden under the wooden dashboard
Des Volkswagen Touareg, ich park' kurz ein
Parking the Volkswagen Touareg for a moment
Und geb' ihm Fahrzeugschein und Personalausweis
Handing over the vehicle registration and ID
Und er fragt: „Hab'n Sie irgendwelche Waren dabei
And he asks: 'Do you have any goods with you?'
Wie Kokain, Gras und Teile?“, ich sage: „Nein!
Like cocaine, weed, and parts?' I say: 'No!'
Sir, ich bin gegen Teile, so wie schwarz und weiß
Sir, I'm against parts, just like black and white
Gegenteile so wie arm und reich, ja und nein
Opposites like poor and rich, yes and no
Hart und weich, Salat und Fleisch, Quadrat und Kreis
Hard and soft, salad and meat, square and circle
Er sagt: „Schon gut, hab' verstanden, hör'n Sie mit der Laberei auf
He says: 'Alright, understood, stop the talking'
Und fahr'n sie weiter“
And continue driving'
Ich geb' Gas und komme dann in deiner Hood an
I accelerate and arrive in your neighborhood
Fahr' spät abends los, sieh mich dort Raubzüge ausüben
Leaving late at night, witnessing me committing robberies
Vor den Bullen flüchtend durch die Town düsen
Speeding through the town, trying to escape from the police
Bei 'ner Kreuzung rauskommen wie Maultiere
Emerging at a junction like mules
Und in einen Audi A6 krachen
Crashing into an Audi A6
Jetzt hab' ich Dreck auf der Frontscheibe
Now I have dirt on my windshield
Wie, das war dein Vater?
Wait, that was your father?
Naja gut, aber komm, Kleiner, er war 'n miserabler Fahrer
Well, okay, but come on, kid, he was a terrible driver
Dann doch lieber gar kein Va-, wie, die Mami is auch tot?
Then it's better to have no parents... Wait, your mom is also dead?
Na ja, dann bist du jetzt wohl Vollwaise wie der Dalai Lama
Well, then you're an orphan like the Dalai Lama
Ey yo, Killer wie Cam'ron, ich bin zwar kein Chicken-Wings-Essen
Hey, killer like Cam'ron, even though I don't eat chicken wings
Doch all die Bitches, die lecken sich die Finger nach Kollegah
But all the bitches, they lick their fingers for Kollegah
Diesem intelligenten, reifen Mann wie das Michelin-Männchen
For this intelligent, mature man like the Michelin Man
Yeah, der kanadische MC trägt Armani-Sweater, Jeans von Karl Lagerfeld
Yeah, the Canadian MC wears Armani sweaters, jeans from Karl Lagerfeld
Bringt Cannabis, Ecstasy sowie Coke aus 'ner Bananenrepublik
Bringing cannabis, ecstasy, and coke from a banana republic
Du tickst auch, aber mein Stoff macht higher wie Karatekämpfer
You're also selling, but my stuff gets you higher like karate fighters
Sieh, er macht higher wie der Boss, der sich am Abend selbstzufrieden
See, it gets you higher like the boss who is self-satisfied in the evening
Mit paar schwarzen Ghetto-Queens in Satin-Bettwäsche schmiegt
Cuddling with some black ghetto queens in satin bedsheets
Während du bei ihm durchs Garagenfenster schielst
While you peek through his garage window
Den Ferrari Enzo siehst und Versagensängste kriegst (du kleiner Bastard)
Seeing the Ferrari Enzo and getting feelings of failure (you little bastard)
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Felix Antoine Blume, Steffen Koss
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind