German Rapper Cro Makes His US Debut “Dream”: Watch The Quirky Video And Read Our Q&A

Mike Wass | April 24, 2015 11:31 am

If you need further proof that rap is well and truly global, meet Cro. The panda-mask wearing rapper is phenomenon in Germany with his own clothing line and massive record sales. (His debut LP Raop and its five hit singles sold more than 2.5 million copies). He is now turning his focus to the US market by dropping an English-language single “Dream.”

I spoke with the German hitmaker about his American debut (he doesn’t have any expectations), the rap scene at home and the reason reason behind that mask. Cro also talked about his favorite rappers and falling in love with hip-hop at an early age. Check out the 25-year-old’s amusing, dating show-themed “Dream” video below and get to know the newcomer a little better by reading our Q&A.

Now that you have more experience rapping in English, would you change anything about “Dream”? I think it’s not that I don’t like the track or would like to change it completely. It’s the same way with each song. If the track is new, I love it! But if there is a newer one, I love the new one more. I think every artist knows this feeling.

How do you think “Dream” will be received in the US? I don’t know. I have no expectations. I only make music and give it to the people. And hope they like it and have a good time with it.

International rappers like CL, G Dragon and Iggy Azalea are getting a lot of attention in the US. Is rap truly global now? It feels like it. It’s because of the Internet and its endless possibilities. You can very easily reach everybody around the globe. The world is just one click away.

What’s the rap scene like in Germany? We got a lot of good rappers. Maybe you have heard of Haftbefehl — in English it means warrant? He raps in German but he makes it sound very smooth. I think the scene here is very similar to the one in the USA, just a bit smaller. We have the whole spectrum, from gangster to hipster… but everything is peaceful.

What is “raop” exactly? Raop is a word creation of Rap and Pop. Raop. It describes the sound of my music very well. Rap beats with catchy hooks. When People ask me what kind of music I produce, I can’t just answer either rap or pop… So I mixed it.

Why do you wear the panda mask? First the panda mask was just a crazy idea. But very soon it became something like my personal brand. The panda mask just sticks to people’s minds. And it also has the benefit of ensuring I can still have my privacy. It’s very funny. I am famous in Germany, but nobody knows my face. I can do whatever I want. I think that is why I am very grounded, cause I am not treated like a star. I really like that.

Which US rappers do you admire? I like many US rappers. To name just a few Jay Z, Kanye West, Andre 3000, Big Sean, Rae Sremmurd and Notorious B.I.G..

How did you get into rap? My older brother and sisters showed me Tupac Shakur and Biggy stuff when I was about six. Since then I fell in love with hip-hop. At the age of 14 I started rapping and producing beats on my own. I had a lot friends who did the same thing. We were a big crew recording in my basement. It was so much fun. I love to remember those days.

Do you love Cro’s sound? Let us know in the comments below.

Watch Cro’s viral video “Easy” below:

Get an eyeful of even more pop music coverage, from artist interviews to exclusive performances, on Idolator’s YouTube channel.

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