K.I.Z
| K.I.Z | |
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K.I.Z members
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Berlin, Germany |
| Genres | German hip hop, alternative hip hop, horrorcore |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Labels | Universal |
| Website | Official website |
| Members | Tarek Maxim Nico DJ Craft |
K.I.Z is a German hip hop group from Berlin. The members are the three rappers Tarek, Nico and Maxim, with a DJ called DJ Craft. Their lyrics often contain a lot of black humor and irony as well as sociocritical content.
The name K.I.Z has several meanings. Members of the band have suggested numerous meanings for the acronym, such as Kriegsverbrecher im Zuchthaus (war criminals in penitentiary), Kannibalen in Zivil (cannibals in plain clothes), Künstler in Zwangsjacken (artists in straight jackets), or Kreuzritter in Zentralasien (crusaders in central Asia), Krüppel im Zwinger (cripples in the kennel), Kapitalismus ist Zauberhaft (literally: capitalism is magical, idiomatic: capitalism is lovely), Klosterschüler im Zölibat (Monastic novices in celibacy) or Knoblauch, Ingwer, Zwiebel (garlic, ginger, onion).
K.I.Z rapper Maxim said in his humorous autobiography that graffiti artits came up with the letters because they “sound so aggressive”. In an interview with the BerlinBlock K.I.Z explained that they were using the name since their career as graffiti artists when it only had “an embarrassing English meaning”.
Characteristic for the group are sexist, provocative lyrics containing black humour, irony, sarcasm and cynicism. They also like to parody other rappers, people or the Hip-Hop genre itself, as heard on the song "Die kleinen Dinge im Leben" feat. Sido (engl. The Small Things in Life) where they have a competition who has the smallest penis. K.I.Z. satirically criticize the society, politics and phenomena such as airs and graces, or life in the precariat. Nico considers his style to be pop, while Tarek sees the group as "something like the Onkelz of Reggae".
The three members of K.I.Z. started their careers in the Reimliga Battle Arena RBA (engl. Rhyme-Leage Battle Arena). Tarek named himself "Schwiegersohn" (engl. son-in-law), Maxim "Stiefvater" (engl. step-dad) and Nico "Warmer Bruder" (engl. warm brother).
After the foundation of K.I.Z. their first album RapDeutschlandKettensägenMassaker (engl. RapGermanyChainsawMassacre) was released on May 9, 2005 on the Label Royal Bunker. On February 17, 2006, their Mixtape Böhse Enkelz (engl. Evil Grandchildren, pun on Böhse Onkelz) was released. In August 2006, they were a supporting act for the Bloodhound Gang on the German leg of their tour, and in early 2007 for Prinz Pi on his !Donnerwetter! tour.
They were supposed to play at the aftershow party of the rock festival Rock am Ring in 2007, but their appearance was canceled shortly before because one of the festival's sponsors considered their lyrics to be too offensive. But they insisted on appearing there, so they played from the rooftop of a bus in the camping area in 2008. Playing hip-hop at a rock festival was considered to be a huge affront, prompting audience members to throw beer cans onto their stage.
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