Hirntot Records

Hirntot Records is a German independent hip-hop label based in Berlin. It was founded by the rappers Blokkmonsta (Björn Dörpholz) and Uzi (Tomasz Michaelis), who met through the rapper Frauenarzt and DJ Manny Marc. The label is known for its horrorcore orientation, a dark variant of hip-hop that frequently employs violent and macabre themes; its main acts describe the music as 'Psychokore'. The label first gained wider public attention through house searches conducted by the Berlin State Criminal Police Office at the homes of three of its rappers. The label's first release, the album 'Hirntot', appeared in October 2005 and was still relatively amateurish in recording and quality. It was followed by the EP 'Süßes, sonst Stich', which introduced the newly signed rapper Perverz, and a double album of older Perverz EPs. Subsequent releases focused on Perverz, Blokkmonsta and Uzi. With the sixth CD, graphic designer 'exe|workZ' joined the label. Rappers Dr. Jekyll and Onkel Size followed, and in autumn 2006 a best-of album gave an overview of the label's work to date. Rapper and hip-hop producer Schwartz (Raphael Brinkmann) was also signed. Onkel Size left in 2007 without releasing anything, and producer SDBY joined the same year. In 2007 the debut of Abusex (King Zaza), 'Cocain Business: Reloaded', and a collaborative album by Blokkmonsta and Manny Marc under the name Blutsport were released. Dr. Jekyll left in 2011 without a release. After several solo and collaborative albums, Hirntot Records released 'Free Blokk und Hässlich Rap – Der Sampler' in 2011, prompted by the arrest and pre-trial detention of Blokkmonsta and the duo Hässlichrap (Scheusal and Kunstfehler); a concert took place in Berlin on 31 October 2011. With Blokkmonsta's album 'Roboblokk', released only in wholesale, the label entered the Media Control charts for the first time. The label collaborates with various underground hip-hop artists; guests on its releases have included Frauenarzt, Manny Marc, B-Tight, Kaisa, Smoky, Automatikk and MC Basstard, while the two owners have also appeared as guests on other labels' releases. Hirntot Records has been the subject of controversy: all its interpreters use violent lyrics influenced by splatter films, often referencing horror films and glorifying gun use. On 5 July 2007, three apartments in Düsseldorf, Cologne and Berlin, said to belong to the label's operators, were searched. The background was a death threat against politician Monika Griefahn, who had repeatedly criticized German rap lyrics, and the release of the CD '1. Mai EP: Steinschlag', which was said to call for violence against police. On one song the rappers insulted Griefahn and threatened her with death. Police seized several weapons and various sound carriers, including a Luger M-11 and an AK-47 with a sealed barrel, as well as about 200 rifle cartridges. The song 'Meine AK' was dedicated to the AK-47 by Uzi and Blokkmonsta. The TV programme 3sat reported on Hirntot Records in Kulturzeit; the responsible public prosecutor called the label dangerous and spoke of a new quality of tastelessness and violence in its lyrics. Hirntot Records issued a statement saying the searched premises were the private apartments of Blokkmonsta, Uzi and Schwartz, and declined further comment to avoid endangering the ongoing court proceedings. In a further statement on press coverage, they rejected the accusation that the band was interesting to 'the right-wing scene' because of the violent potential of its music, and said they expected 'no benevolent' but fair press coverage. The CD '1. Mai EP: Steinschlag' was indexed by the Federal Review Board for Media Harmful to Young Persons (List B) and confiscated nationwide by the Tiergarten District Court under § 131 StGB. The track 'Meine AK' and the promo video for 'Schlachthof', referred to by the media as the 'Meine AK-47 video', were also confiscated.

Hirntot Records was founded by the rappers Blokkmonsta (Björn Dörpholz) and Uzi (Tomasz Michaelis), who met through the rapper Frauenarzt and DJ Manny Marc. The idea of founding a joint label arose at their first meeting. The song 'Sinnlose Gewalt' was recorded the same day, and within a short time the first release, 'Hirntot', was created. Still quite amateurish in recording and quality, the album was released in October 2005. The musical direction of this and further releases is horrorcore, a dark variant of hip-hop that often relies on dark and violent themes. The two main acts of the label themselves describe the music as 'Psychokore'. The next release was the EP 'Süßes, sonst Stich', on which the newly signed rapper Perverz could also be heard. A double album with old EPs by Perverz appeared shortly afterwards. Subsequently, the label concentrated on further releases by Perverz, Blokkmonsta and Uzi. With the sixth CD, graphic designer 'exe|workZ' joined Hirntot Records. With Dr. Jekyll and Onkel Size, two more rappers followed shortly afterwards. In autumn 2006 a best-of album appeared, giving an overview of the label's work so far. In addition, the rapper and hip-hop producer Schwartz (Raphael Brinkmann) was signed. Due to personal differences, Onkel Size left the label in 2007 without any release of his own. In the same year, the hip-hop producer SDBY was signed as a new addition. In 2007, 'Cocain Business: Reloaded', the debut work of Abusex (King Zaza), and a joint album by Blokkmonsta and Manny Marc under the name Blutsport were released. The latter refers primarily to B-movies from the martial arts sector. After Onkel Size, Dr. Jekyll also left the label in 2011 without a release of his own. After several solo and collaborative albums, Hirntot Records released 'Free Blokk und Hässlich Rap – Der Sampler' in the same year. The background for this sampler was the arrest of Blokkmonsta and the rapper duo 'Hässlichrap', consisting of Scheusal and Kunstfehler, who were taken into pre-trial detention. On 31 October 2011 a concert took place in Berlin for this occasion. With the album 'Roboblokk' by Blokkmonsta (released only in wholesale), the label was able to enter the Media Control charts for the first time. The label works with various artists from underground hip-hop. For example, Frauenarzt, Manny Marc, B-Tight, Kaisa, Smoky, Automatikk and MC Basstard appear as guests on various releases of the label. In return, the two owners of the label have also made musical guest contributions on various sound carriers. Controversy: All interpreters of the label use violent lyrics influenced by splatter films. On the albums, reference is usually made to horror films. Gun use is also often glorified. On Thursday, 5 July 2007, three apartments in Düsseldorf, Cologne and Berlin were searched. The apartments were said to belong to the operators of the label. The background was a death threat to the politician Monika Griefahn, who had repeatedly criticized texts by German rappers, and the release of the CD '1. Mai EP: Steinschlag', on which violence against police officers was allegedly called for. On one song, the rappers had insulted Griefahn and threatened her with death. The police confiscated several weapons and various sound carriers of the label. Among the weapons was a Luger M-11 and an AK-47 with a sealed barrel. About 200 rifle cartridges were also secured by the officers. Uzi and Blokkmonsta had dedicated the song 'Meine AK' to the AK-47. 3sat reported on Hirntot Records in Kulturzeit. The responsible public prosecutor described the label as dangerous and spoke of a new quality regarding the tastelessness and violence of the lyrics. Even before that, television programmes, including Focus TV, had reported on the label. Hirntot Records released a statement in which it announced that these were the private apartments of Blokkmonsta, Uzi and Schwartz. In order not to endanger the ongoing court proceedings, they made no further statements on the matter. In the further statement on press coverage, they rejected the accusation that the band was interesting 'for the right-wing scene' due to the violent potential of their music. They also expected 'no benevolent' but fair reporting from the press. In the meantime, the CD '1. Mai EP: Steinschlag' was indexed by the Federal Review Board for Media Harmful to Young Persons (List B) and confiscated nationwide by the Tiergarten District Court under § 131 StGB. The track 'Meine AK' and the promo video for 'Schlachthof', which was referred to by the media as the 'Meine AK-47 video', were also confiscated. The head of the BPjM filed a criminal complaint against Uzi because he had called for violent acts against her and the authority in the free track 'Fick die BPJM'. In the indictment, the public prosecutor accused the defendants Schwartz, Blokkmonsta and Uzi of violating § 111 (public incitement to commit crimes), § 126 (disturbance of public peace by threatening crimes), § 131 (representation of violence), § 185 (insult), § 241 (threat) and § 130 StGB (sedition). The defendants are the first musicians of a subculture outside right-wing rock to be charged with sedition. During another house search on 9 June 2008, around 6:00 a.m., ... [text truncated].

• 2011

  Dr. Jekyll leaves; 'Free Blokk und Hässlich Rap – Der Sampler' released; concert in Berlin on 31 October; first Media Control chart entry with 'Roboblokk'.

• 2008

  Another house search on 9 June.

• 2007

  Onkel Size leaves; producer SDBY joins; 'Cocain Business: Reloaded' and Blutsport album released; house searches on 5 July.

• 2006

  Best-of album released; rapper and producer Schwartz signed.

• 2005

  Label founded by Blokkmonsta and Uzi; first album 'Hirntot' released in October.

Underground horrorcore/psychokore independent hip-hop label

• 2005

  Hirntot

• Süßes, sonst Stich

• 2007

  Cocain Business: Reloaded

• 2007

  Blutsport

• Roboblokk

• 2011

  Free Blokk und Hässlich Rap – Der Sampler

1. 1Hirntot Records - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
2. 2Hirntot Records - Wikidatawikidata.org