Too Strong
| Too Strong | |
|---|---|
 Too Strong Logo designed by ATOMone |
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| General information | |
| Genre (s) | Hip hop |
| founding | 1989, 2004 |
| resolution | 2001 |
| Website | www.toostrong.de |
| Current occupation | |
| Pure Doze | |
rap |
ATOMone formerly The Tall One |
| former members | |
Beats, scratches
|
DJ Zonic (until 1994) |
Beats, scratches |
DJ Brocke (until 1994) |
Beats, scratches |
DJ Funky Chris (1994-2008) |
Too Strong is a German hip-hop - band from Dortmund .
history
1989-1994
In 1989 the formation Too Strong was founded by hip-hop musicians DJ Zonic and Pure Doze . Shortly thereafter, DJ Brocke and Der Lange joined the group. Over the next few years the four musicians performed on many hip-hop jams all over Germany. At the time, the texts were primarily presented in English, but this changed more and more to German. During this time, the SILO NATION was largely founded by Too Strong in response to the Zulu Nation founded by Afrika Bambaataa . see: Too Strong and the SILO NATION
In 1993, the first single-EP was raven black night at Tribe House Records releases. This release was made possible by the then manager Uwe Säbel, who had signed Too Strong at Tribehaus Recording . The title track of the CD deals with the nocturnal life of a graffiti sprayer but also with political issues such as right-wing radicalism in the Ruhr area . The first album was released in 1994 with the title Greatest Hits also with Tribehaus Recording . After the release, there were differences within the group, which led to first DJ Zonic and shortly afterwards DJ Brocke Too Strong leaving.
1994-2001
The new DJ was DJ Funky Chris , who had already contributed a text stanza and some scratches to the song Wer hat Angst vorm Silomann from the album Greatest Hits . In 1996 the next album was released: Intercity Funk . The single Krank was released that same year. Intercity Funk primarily dealt with the cornerstones of hip-hop culture: graffiti, rap music , DJ'ing and breakdancing . As part of the single release of Krank , the EP Silorin was released. This was also the only CD that contained the Empire Remix of Rabenschwarze Nacht . This remix had become something of a hymn for Too Strong over the years and is played regularly during live performances. The Darth Vader theme of the Star Wars soundtrack was adopted as the beat and "refined" with DJ cuts.
In the following years the members devoted themselves to their respective solo projects. In 1997 Langen's first solo album , “The Real Deal”, was released. DJ on this album was primarily DJ Funky Chris . A year later, in 1998, Pure Doze presented his first solo album entitled "Overdoze". All but one song was produced by Pure Doze. He also released the record Elektroklänge under the pseudonym Rough Dee .
In 1998 the 12 "vinyl maxi Lyrisches Kung-Fu / Meine Melodie was released . The accompanying album Die Drei Vonne Funkstelle was released the following year as the formation's first album via the major label Virgin Germany (EMI) . The album is primarily characterized by the fact that The quality of the music has improved significantly and more profound texts have been expressed, for example, pieces such as Lone Fighter or The Book of Truth deal with everyday and social problems.
In 2000, the first solo release from published DJ Funky Chris entitled Funky Chris featuring ... . Several guests such as Creutzfeld & Jakob , Ohne Gleichen and Pure Doze were represented on the 12 "vinyl maxi .
2001-2004
In 2001, the fourth Too Strong album Royal TS was released, also by Virgin . During the recording of this album, there were differences within the formation, so Der Lange left the group during the recording. He can therefore only be heard on five songs on the album. The album also contains many features and skits . According to their own statements, the group could not cope with the deadline pressure of a major label. So took the long studio dates only irregularly true and invested most of his time in his graffiti career. Since this CD, like Die Drei Vonne Funkstelle , was published as an Enhanced CD , there was a small silo media bonus that contained some older pieces as well as a statement from Doze , in which he made it clear: “It was always clear to us that the Too Strong project will end as soon as one of us leaves the group. "
After the split, Der Lange devoted himself to painting, while Doze and Chris founded their own studio, Strong Island , in Dortmund . After Der Lange released the single Ticket Retro / Kill Rap please in 2004, it was announced that Too Strong would reunite.
2004-2008
After various incidents, such as the knife attack on Der Lange during the Juicy Beats Festival in Westfalenpark in 2004, a new album was confirmed for 2005.
The next Too Strong album, Dreamachine , was released after the reunion in 2005. After the rather bad experience with major labels , this album was recorded in-house in Strong Island 's own studio and released on the small label the a label . In terms of content, the subjects of this album are very broad. Among other things, the relationships between the band members ( The man by my side ), the development of German hip-hop ( Back and Four ) and the foreign policy of George W. Bush ( Bushfire ) are thematically processed. As a highlight for the fans one can cite the title insects , in which the diss of the Berlin band Royal TS is discussed. The background to this dispute can be seen in the release of the album Royal TS . When the album was released, there was a band in Berlin with exactly this name, without the knowledge of Too Strong. This band then released several songs in which they dissected Too Strong several times. With Too Strong split after Royal TS , fans had to wait four years for a response to these verbal attacks. That answer then came with Dreamachine in the form of the Insect Track . Another special feature is the title pain . In this song Der Lange processes the experiences from the knife attack and the subsequent experiences (hospital stay, rehab, relationships with friends ...).
After this release, the members returned to their solo projects. In 2006, the second solo album from Langen was released with the title You can't keep it back (YCKB). Like Royal TS , this album was also released on the a-label . The contents of the album were very personal. For example, he dealt with the death of his father and the birth of his son. After discussing so many personal issues , the Lange announced soon after the release that YCKB would be the last album under the synonym Der Lange . According to his own statement, everything was said that there was to be said as The Tall One. The following releases should be made from now on under his graffiti pseudonym ATOMone . In the same year another solo record by Pure Doze appeared with Elektrostocker , which was published under the pseudonym Rough Dee . Like all Rough Dee albums, this album consists primarily of electro beats.
In 2007, Pure Doze's last solo album to date was released with the title Dozewriter . The special thing about the name is that there was an internet survey by Doze about what the album should be called. This title was then chosen from the best proposals. Like all Too Strong projects, this album, despite its "simple" production without a major label, impresses with its quality in text and sound. In contrast to his first solo album Overdoze , which was rather depressing and melancholy , this album is very different. There are very calm pieces (even a recited poem), to more aggressive songs that criticize the current situation of German rap.
The last release from Langen so far was his third album: Masterpiece - Tales from da cans , which was released in 2008. As mentioned above, this album was no longer released under the name Der Lange , but under ATOMone . As the title of the album suggests, the content of the album deals a lot with life as a graffiti artist ATOMone. But there are some very personal pieces here too. There is a song dedicated to his son ( My Son ) or the track Zukunft vor Augen , in which he deals with the separation from his wife.
At the beginning of 2008 it was announced that DJ Funky Chris had separated from the group by mutual consent. However, this is not due to personal, but to musical differences. According to Pure Doze , the musical paths have separated and the decision to break up with Chris was made together.
Too Strong and the Silo Nation
The Silo Nation ( pronounced German ) was first mentioned in 1993 - initially as a joke and parody of the Zulu Nation .
history
In 1993 the discussion about the Universal Zulu Nation Germany in the still small German hip-hop circles was in full swing. Due to the apparently exaggerated introduction of rules in order to be accepted into the Zulu nation (no drugs, no alcohol but later also do not drink Coca Cola , do not eat gummy bears ), many hip hoppers were averse to the Zulu nation . The term Silo Nation originated at a private party organized by Too Strong in the Dortmund harbor as a reaction to the alleged denigration of a Dortmund writer by a supporter of the Zulu nation . Originally intended only as a party gag, this term quickly spread across the entire hip-hop community. The members of Too Strong then defined more precisely in several songs what Silo Nation really means. To this day, the Silo Nation , especially in the Ruhr area, is an integral part of German hip-hop culture. And is also regularly mentioned in current Too Strong songs . The 15th anniversary of the Silo Nation was celebrated at a jam in Dortmund at the end of 2008 . a. with Too Strong and Torch (Germany's first Zulu Nation Chapter).
Principles
Although the Silo Nation was conceived as a counter-concept to the Zulu Nation , both groupings also have similarities: The biggest difference is the apparent lack of any rules or principles within the Silo Nation . Everyone should be accepted as they are, without judging them on the basis of behavior or characteristics ( skin color , gender , impairment , religious affiliation or drug consumption, etc.). Only the character of a person should be the basis for interpersonal relationships . This can only be assessed after getting to know the person concerned intensively.
Organization / structure
In contrast to the Zulu nation, the Silo Nation is not an organized structure in the traditional sense of a body with a ( hierarchical ) structure, posts or the like. Rather, it is, similar to the original hip-hop culture itself, the embodiment of a lifestyle that means approaching other people without prejudice.
Discography
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Albums
- 1994: Greatest Hits
- 1996: Intercity Funk
- 1999: The 3 Vonne radio station
- 2001: Royal TS
- 2005: Dreamachine
- 2009: Rap Music is Life Music
Singles
- 1993: Rabenschwarze Nacht EP (vinyl and CD)
- 1996: Silorin (Krank) (vinyl and CD)
- 1998: Lyric Kung Fu / My Melody (Vinyl)
- 1999: Too Strong meets business (vinyl and CD)
- 2001: No Lazy Tricks (Vinyl)
- 2001: Guestlist (Vinyl)
- 2005: Pure Rap (CD)
- 2006: The Worst Is When The Beer Is Over (Vinyl) (with Die Kassierer )
Solo albums
- 1997: The Tall and Funky Chris - The Real Deal
- 1998: Pure Doze - Overdoze
- 2006: Der Lange - You Cant Keep It Back
- 2007: Pure Doze - Doze Writer
- 2008: AtomOne aka The Long Masterpiece - Tales from da Cans
- 2013: Pure Doze - Mixtape # 1 All inclusive
- 2013: Pure Doze and Coach One - COPD
- 2016: Pure Doze and Coach One - COPD II - Maniac
Others
- 1999: Die Drei vonne Funkstelle Instrumentals (Vinyl LP)
- 2001: Greatest Hits (new edition without gatefold cover)
- 2001: Royal TS Instrumentals (Vinyl LP)
- 2005: Dreamachine Instrumentals (Vinyl LP)
- 2006: Pure Doze & Rough Dee aka. The Elektro-Twins - electric stool
- 2009: Katakomben (with Skor and DJ Coach One) ( Juice Exclusive! On Juice-CD # 101)
- 2009: Rap Music is Life Music The Remix Album
- 2011: your time is up! (Feature on the Flashmaster Ray album Der Boss am Bass )
Web links
- Too Strong official website
- Official website of Pure Doze
- Official website of ATOMone aka Der Lange
- Too Strong at laut.de