Definitely A Gem

This album proves why you shouldn't only buy albums buy mainstream acts. Die Fantastischen Vier are more creative than any American rappers I've heard, they can spin some of the most amazing tongue-twisters given half a chance and they have wicked senses of humor.

That said, this is not even their best album but it is a pretty good place to start. Despite having their first German number 1 "Sie Ist Weg" ("She's Gone"), the best album by these guys is "Vier Gewinnt" - the one released before this one.

Don't let that put you off though, "Lauschgift" is superb. "Sie Ist Weg" deserves the number one place, as do several other tracks. "Popular", with its funk backing is a real dancefloor track, while "Die Geschichte Des O" has incredible rhymes. Of particular note to fans of American rap, Rahzel The Godfather Of Noyze (more well known for his work with the Roots and "Make The Music 2000") contributes his unique beatboxing talent to "Locker Bleiben" and the interlude "On The Next Album". Smudo actually took up beatboxing after working with Rahzel.

To a vast extent, after this album the Fantas began getting worse. They toured on the strength of this album with the same band who provided the backing of "Popular" and got more and more alternative. Thankfully though, they came back to their senses with "4:99". Here though, the emphasis is strictly on being weird and having fun - just listen to some of "Locker Bleiben" if you don't believe me.

This album also proves, as "Vier Gewinnt" did, that German can be turned to any of the normal rap uses. At the end of "Die Geschichte Des O", there is a long sequence of "(so and so) ist im haus" - the German version of "(so and so) is in the house".

This is a great CD for almost any purpose. It can be used to get people up and moving at a party, just to sit down and laugh at the puns and stupidity in the lyrics or even to learn a bit of German. Check out "Vier Gewinnt" if you enjoy it - in fact, check both of these albums out before you make fun of German rap.

She's gone

Information: this is the best! Check out the song " Sie ist weg " and you'll know what I mean.

True German Hip Hop at it's best!

This is probably Die Fantastischen Vier's best album to date. If you don't know german you'll still love this CD but the lyrics are so good I'd get a dictionary and translate the lyrics. Also check out 4:99, Live und Direkt, and Vier Gewinnt.