Torch HHV Records 5 Items

Against the ideas in the system

Only a few have shaped German rap as much as Frederik Hahn, also known as Torch. The Heidelberg native was part of the foundation on which the German hip-hop industry was built – whether it was his tracks with Advanced Chemistry, the invention of German freestyle, his role as a host in the first rap TV series, his label 360° Records, or his groundbreaking solo album Blauer Samt (“Blue Velvet”): the often-quoted and frequently imitated rapper set milestones like no other. Born in 1971, Hahn grew up immersed in graffiti and dance, and he was captivated by what was happening in the U.S. hip-hop scene in the 1980s. As a teenager, he started rapping, initially in English, and early on, he connected with the Zulu Nation. Alongside Toni-L, Linguist, DJ Mike MD, and Gee One, he founded the crew Advanced Chemistry in 1987. After the violent xenophobic riots in Rostock-Lichtenhagen in 1992, the group released the track Fremd im eigenen Land (“Foreign in One’s Own Country”), drawing nationwide attention by capturing everyday racism in their lyrics: “Das Problem sind die Ideen im System” (“The problem is the ideas in the system”). As an alternative to Die Fantastischen Vier, Advanced Chemistry offered reality-grounded lyrics that prioritized social critique and saw rap music as a universal language cutting across social boundaries.

The Foundation for the Next Generation

The crew’s first and only album hit the stores in 1995, and they began touring worldwide with acts like Stereo MC’s. Additionally, Torch founded MZEE, and MTV featured a segment on the scene surrounding the rapping torchbearer, which led to his role as a host on the VIVA series Freestyle – the show played a significant role in making German hip-hop culture known to a broad audience. With his self-founded label 360° Records, Torch provided space for his own crew, as well as underground poets like Curse and Blumentopf. In numerous other projects, Torch found himself part of the international collaboration project Blitz Mob, and his work in the ’90s culminated in his solo album Blauer Samt, on which the rap giant had been working for years. In 2000, the monumental work was released, featuring tracks like Gewalt oder Sex (“Violence or Sex”) and Wir waren mal Stars (“We Used to Be Stars”), which became a foundation for the next generation of MCs and soon known even to rap novices. The 23 tracks were analyzed, quoted, sampled, and regarded as a masterpiece in the scene. Torch, with his Blue Velvet, illuminated the future of the genre, displaying nostalgia, psychological commentary, consistent social critique, and contemporary relevance. Not only did artists like Marsimoto and Audio88 & Yassin name entire albums after this work.

Hip-Hop as the Elixir of Life

Torch’s awareness of his role as a beacon in early German rap, his embodiment of hip-hop, and his portrayal of the subculture as his life elixir are evident in almost every line: “Ich banne Phasen meines Lebens auf einen Beat / Lass‘ Musik dorthin gehen, wohin mein Geist mich zieht” (“I capture phases of my life on a beat / Let music go where my spirit leads”). His lyrical expression has been clear and distinct since the days of Advanced Chemistry – the rapper employs simple language to express complex ideas, paving the way for his successors. While today’s lyrical standards are higher compared to the time of Blauer Samt, present-day stars still reference the torchbearer. And he joyfully passes on the fire: “Ihr habt jetzt den Stress und wir den Spaß” (“You have the stress now, and we have the fun”). Although he rarely speaks out as a rapper these days, he will forever carry the legendary status as a pioneer of the scene’s beginnings. With the Heidelberg Mixtape in 2008, he paid tribute to his hometown, and today, he works as a DJ, organizer, and even as a lecturer on hip-hop. The message is simple: “Ich verlang‘ nicht viel, nur dass ihr euch daran erinnert” (“I don’t ask for much, just that you remember”).