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Eins Zwo was a Hamburg-based hip-hop group who impressed the German public with albums like Gefährliches Halbwissen (Dangerous Superficial Knowledge) in 1999 and Zwei (Two) in 2001. In 2003, band members MC Dendemann (Daniel Rebel) and DJ Rabauke (Thomas Jensen) parted ways. Among the tracks they left behind, a particularly brilliant one on the album Gefährliches Halbwissen depicts Dendemann’s ever-positive attitude towards his music and his lifestyle. In “Danke, gut” (Good, thanks), he says, “Es geht mir gut, es könnt weiss Gott viel schlimmer sein” (I’m doing good, God knows it could be worse). Even so, there are days when he wants to lock himself up in his room and wallow in “Depri-Mucke und Spinnereien” (Depressive music and paranoia).

"In 'Danke, gut,' one of the band members says, 'I’m doing good, God knows it could be worse'"

There have been many discussions about the use of the term “Mucke” to refer to music. In Eastern Germany, a “gig” or “music” is called “Mugge” after the 1952 DDR-Honoraranordnung (The German Democratic Republic’s honorary title). However, in the West, people adopted the term “Mukke” from the Rotwelsch language, which was spoken by travelling craftspeople and was also known as “Gaunersprache” (thief language). “Spinnereien,” meanwhile, is taken from the expression “Was spinnst du dir denn zusammen?” (What are you spinning together?), which refers to someone making up stories. The word can also be used as in “Spinnst du?” (Are you spinning?) and “Ich glaub ich Spinne!” (I think I’m spinning), which can be used when something is especially “awesome” (or not).

Listening to his “Depri-Mukke” and spinning in circles, Dendemann lands on a hot topic: “Job und Lebens Essenz” (job and life essence). He has become a “Durchschnitts-Adoleszenz-Nightmare” (average-adolescent-nightmare). People don’t like his sarcasm and accuse him of being someone with “nix als Beschwerden” (nothing but complaints). Dendemann feels deeply wounded by this allegation and promptly sets his critics straight: “Es geht mi gut, es geht mir sehr sehr gut. Ich will nichts andres machen als das hier und zwar in Bestform” (I’m doing good, I’m doing really, really good. I don’t want to do anything else but this and that in top form). Nevertheless, on some days, he stares at an empty page and no songwriting comes out except a few sketches, jokes, and limericks. He’s often faced with as many “Wehwehchen” (boo-boo’s) as “Strafzettel” (parking tickets).

"Eins Zwo was a Hamburg-based hip-hop group who impressed the German public with albums like Gefährliches Halbwissen (Dangerous Superficial Knowledge) in 1999 and Zwei (Two) in 2001. In 2003, band members MC Dendemann (Daniel Rebel) and DJ Rabauke (Thomas Jensen) parted ways"

None of these uninspired days bother him, however, because he knows he can easily battle against “Halbstarken” in his sleep. “Halbstark” literally means “half-strong,” and it was used as a reference to teenagers. In the 1950s, it also represented a certain fashion and lifestyle associated with the beatnik movement. Dendemann is similarly not bothered by the fact that he has everything but a “Waschbrettbauch” (six-pack). A “Waschbrett” is a “washboard,” and since six-packs on men resemble washboards, the term “Waschbrettbauch” was coined. All in all, things really could be worse. But for now, “Danke, gut” (Good, thanks).