Rapping Janitor: Die Fantastichen Vier and "Hausmeister Thomas D."

Die Fantastichen Vier (or Fanta 4), pioneers of German rap and hip hop, bring us the random tune for today called Hausmeister Thomas D. From Stuttgart, Die Fantastichen Vier was formed in the 1980s. They were one of the first groups to rap in the German language, and charted the first German rap hit in 1992. The group went to Los Angeles in the late 1980s for inspiration, but quickly realized that there was little in common between the experience of poor African-Americans in the US, whose circumstances fueled the creativity in the US rap and hip hop scene, and that of middle-class Germans. They moved away from gangsta rap influences to create a more German style which was often more serious and philosophical. The group has released 17 albums and 32 singles. Hausmeister Thomas D., referring to member Thomas Dürr who also calls himself the "janitor" ("hausmeister" is janitor in German), can be found on the group's 1991 debut album Jetzt Geht's Ab, and on their best hits compilation Best of 1990-2005 (2005). You will recognize the bass sample that they rap over from the Commodores' 1977 hit Brick House.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.