Die Orsons

Die Orsons are a Stuttgart-based German pop-rap group, consisting of MCs Tua, Kaas, Maeckes, and Bartek (formerly known as Plan B). Contrary to the aggressive, violent image of most German hip-hop, as well as the group members’ darker, more introspective solo projects, Die Orsons are lighthearted, humorous, and ironic. Die Orsons were first credited as appearing on mixtapes by Maeckes and Plan B, but evolved into a concept group inspired by Jim Davis’ comic strip U.S. Acres, with each individual member having a distinct, cartoon-like personality. The group signed with German rap label Chimperator Productions in 2008 and released full-length debut Das Album, which received mixed reviews. The 2009 follow-up Denn Dein Ist das Reich und die Kraft und die Herrlichkeit, In Ewigkeit, Orsons eased up on the group’s cartoonish personality a bit, featuring more serious songs such as “Souljah Boy,” a remake of Soulja Boy’s “Turn My Swag On” with lyrics about child soldiers. The group spent most of the following years touring, including stints as the opening band for Fettes Brot in 2009 and Herbert Grönemeyer in 2012, as well as participating in Chimperator’s 11th anniversary tour in 2010. The group’s first release in three years was the controversial 2012 single “Horst & Monika,” a song about Monika Strub, a transgendered former neo-Nazi who ran for Parliament as part of the socialist Left party in 2011. Despite complaints from the transgendered community, the song was a Top 40 hit in Germany, and full-length Das Chaos und die Ordnung did even better, reaching number 34 on the album charts. The group continued touring restlessly, and returned in 2015 with fourth album What's Goes?, which was their biggest success yet, hitting number two on the album charts. ~ Paul Simpson