Die Fantastischen Vier in Cologne

Die Fantastischen Vier are a German hip-hop group formed in Stuttgart in 1989 by Smudo, Thomas D, Michi Beck and And.Ypsilon. They helped bring German-language rap into the pop mainstream through songs including “Die da!?!”, “Sie ist weg”, “MfG” and “Troy”, while albums such as 4 gewinnt, Lauschgift and 4:99 became central works in their catalogue. In 2000, the group recorded its first MTV Unplugged concert inside the Balver Höhle. Die Fantastischen Vier marked their 20th anniversary with the open-air Heimspiel at the Cannstatter Wasen in 2009, then returned to the cave in 2012 to record MTV Unplugged II. Their festival appearances have included Rock am Ring and its sister event Rock im Park.