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Takt32

Takt32

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Takt32: The Berlin Rapper Who Combines Battlerap, Street Attitude, and Songwriting into a Major German Rap Narrative

An Artist Between Battle Culture, Berlin Socialization, and Authorial Success

Takt32, also known as Marco Tscheschlok, is one of the most prominent figures in German rap, as he has left significant marks not only as a rapper but also as a songwriter and author. The Berliner initially gained recognition through his performances at Rap am Mittwoch and evolved into an artist who translates street rap, battle aesthetics, and social observation into a unique language. His greatest public reach was achieved not only through his own releases but primarily as a co-author of six number-one hits in the German Singles Chart, including Komet, which topped the chart for 21 weeks, sharing a record in the process. ([de.wikipedia.org](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takt32))

Biography: From Berlin Water Polo Player to Internationally Influenced Rapper

Growing up in Hohenschönhausen and Weißensee, Takt32 moved early between sports, street life, and subculture. He played for several years with SC Wedding Berlin in the German Water Polo League, thus experiencing the highest national level, which taught him discipline, physicality, and a culture of competition. This sporting foundation influenced his later stage presence as well as his attitude in rap, where assertiveness and precision play significant roles. ([de.wikipedia.org](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takt32))

His youth also took him to France, where he lived in the banlieues and came into contact with the local graffiti scene through his host brother. After graduating from high school, he moved to St. Louis, Missouri, for four years, where a sports scholarship under the Fulbright Program allowed him to pursue college studies. There, he began to engage more deeply with the local lifestyle and the battle scene, motivating him to pursue his own rap from 2008 onwards. ([de.wikipedia.org](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takt32))

The Breakthrough in Battlerap and the Birth of Kiezkunst

At just 12 years old, Takt32 began producing beats; by 16, he made his first attempts at rap. Back in Germany, he initially made a name for himself at battle rap events like Rap am Mittwoch, and quickly reached the Kingfinale in his first performances, even though the title initially eluded him. This phase shaped the core of his artistic identity: directness, quick-wittedness, a sense for punchlines, and a clear proximity to the classic Berlin hip-hop school. ([de.wikipedia.org](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takt32))

Together with his friend fx, he founded the label Kiezkunst and increasingly shifted the focus to his solo career after his departure from Rap am Mittwoch. On August 15, 2014, Kiezkunst released the debut EP #Overkill, a release balancing between battle rap and thematic tracks that already foreshadowed the later tone of many Takt32 projects. The first album Gang followed on April 24, 2015, marking the transition from a scene name to a serious album artist. ([de.wikipedia.org](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takt32))

Discography: From Gang to Den Umständen widersprechend

Takt32's discography reflects a consistent development over several album cycles. After Gang, ID was released in 2016, followed by Demut und Größenwahn in 2021, Sozialer Abwärtsvergleich in 2022, Unlösbare Gleichung in 2023, and finally Den Umständen widersprechend in June 2025, which reached number 4 in the German album charts. This work is supplemented by EPs like Chimera, Opium EP, and the Bitumen EP released in 2024 with Khrome and Liquit Walker, as well as the collaborative album Moai with Kool Savas, which reached number 4 in Germany and achieved further chart placements in Austria and Switzerland. ([de.wikipedia.org](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takt32))

What makes this especially interesting is the balance between independent structure and professional reach. According to Wikipedia, his releases initially appeared through Kiezkunst, the distribution was handed over to Chapter One of Universal Music in 2015, and in 2022 he extended his publishing contract with Sony Music Publishing. This combination of independence and industry association explains why Takt32 is taken seriously in both the underground and the wider German rap landscape. ([de.wikipedia.org](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takt32))

Songwriting as a Second Career: The Authorial Side of Takt32

While many rappers are primarily defined by their own albums, Takt32 has achieved massive success particularly as an author. He was involved in six number-one hits, including Highway, Ohne Dich, Rosenkrieg, Auf & ab, Pussy Power, and Komet. Especially Komet, featuring Udo Lindenberg and Apache 207, became one of the biggest German-language songs of recent years, further establishing Takt32 beyond the rap audience. ([de.wikipedia.org](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takt32))

The official Spotify songwriter page now lists 402 written songs, with the last release being the Wincent Weiss track Einmal zusammen from January 22, 2026. This data underscores that Takt32 is no longer just a performer but also a productive creative mind working behind the scenes, shaping pop, rap, and chart music. ([artists.spotify.com](https://artists.spotify.com/songwriter/3oSwGXOGEFDaiHaO2LhIig?utm_source=openai))

Musical Development: Between Battle Rap, Social Critique, and Melodic Openness

Stylistically, Takt32 represents a classic Berlin hip-hop school that emphasizes directness, intensity, and linguistic sharpness. At the same time, his stays in France and the USA are clearly reflected in his rap, where international influences are not merely decorative but are integrated into a distinct vocabulary. The range extends from battle rap through socially critical texts to songs that focus more on atmosphere, hooks, and emotional intensity. ([de.wikipedia.org](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takt32))

Music critics often describe his sound as dark, powerful, and precisely articulated. rap.de highlighted in 2016 that he encapsulates political and social themes like gentrification, racist assaults, and police violence in long, straight rhyme chains; laut.de later noted that his energy allows him to escape the bland, indiscriminate swamp of German street rap. This paints the picture of an artist who does not use hardness for its own sake, but as a vehicle for attitude and intensification. ([rap.de](https://rap.de/reviews/96273-review-takt32-id/?utm_source=openai))

Current Projects and Releases: Tour, EP, and New Singles

2025 and 2026 will see Takt32 in full activity. The single and album dates listed on Spotify and Amazon Music include Den Umständen widersprechend as an album from 2025, the singles Nie genug, 451 Fahrenheit, Payback, Season, and further releases extending into 2026. Additionally, current tour dates will take him to Munich, Dresden, Stuttgart, Zurich, Cologne, Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Dortmund in April 2026. ([open.spotify.com](https://open.spotify.com/artist/1G7TGDJ01So6i6XNirnVS7?utm_source=openai))

The tour communication also affirms the momentum character of his presence: Following the album Den Umständen widersprechend, he initially played exclusive acoustic shows before announcing the tour of the same name for spring 2026. FKP Scorpio explicitly mentions nine cities in Germany and Switzerland in the press release and describes Takt32 as an act for "real live rap," further strengthening his status as a stage performer. ([fkpscorpio.de](https://fkpscorpio.de/fileadmin/press_downloads/fkp.de/Press/TAKT_32/PM_Takt32_28.07.2025.pdf))

Cultural Influence: Why Takt32 Remains Important in German Rap

Takt32 is an artist who connects multiple scenes: battlerap, classic street rap, pop-oriented songwriting, and the professionalism of an author team that produces major hits for other artists. His journey from water polo player through France, St. Louis, and the Berlin battle stages to chart records makes him a rare figure in the German pop and rap landscape. It is this complexity that gives his career cultural value, as it demonstrates how strongly biography, language, and musical economy intertwine in modern German rap. ([de.wikipedia.org](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takt32))

His influence lies not only in his own releases but also in the ability to write narratives that work in the mainstream without losing their core. When a rapper is simultaneously respected in the scene, has solid chart placements in the album world, and stands behind a song like Komet, authority emerges across stylistic boundaries. Takt32 thus exemplifies a generation of artists who grew up in rap and are shaping German-speaking pop from within. ([de.wikipedia.org](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takt32))

Conclusion: A Berliner with Substance, Impact, and Reach

Takt32 continues to be exciting because he masterfully combines toughness and craftsmanship, underground and mainstream, performance and songwriting. His music career narrates discipline, observational skills, and a keen sense of relevance that goes far beyond individual releases. For those who want to not only listen to German rap but understand its development, Takt32 is one of the more interesting names of recent years. His current live presence and the tour in 2026 make it clear: This artist does not belong in an archive, but on stage. ([fkpscorpio.de](https://fkpscorpio.de/fileadmin/press_downloads/fkp.de/Press/TAKT_32/PM_Takt32_28.07.2025.pdf))

Official Channels of Takt32:

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