Bridging Skate and Rap - sabukaru meets Makko
Five years ago kids and rap fans in Germany could discover a new sound. Makko’s first official single “Kühlpack,” brought a new sound to the streaming platforms. A blonde boy on a skateboard calmly rapping over a laidback beat - perfect to hang out with your friends on a hot summer day in the park.
Fast forward to 2024, Makko is one of the most streamed artists in Germany and has become one of the major voices of German rap. Throughout the years, Makko stayed true to his roots, still hanging out at the skateparks in his hometown Berlin, and creating music for the German youth.
In a time, where artists are almost dependent on social media success and viral postings that push their momentum, Makko never actively participated in the hunt for clicks. However, sometimes you don’t have control of the unfathomable developments of the internet. His song “Nachts wach“ together with German producer duo Miksu / Macloud was one of the most streamed songs of 2022 and you must have been deaf to not hear the song from a car radio or a Bluetooth speaker in German cities.
This song [and a TikTok Bootleg] catapulted Makko into a whole new league and made him one of the biggest German musicians. Sold-out headline festival tours followed. But instead of accepting and settling with a new lifestyle, Makko still plays concerts at skate halls in Berlin or hangs out with his friends the “Boloboys.”
We met with the artist on one of his trips to Tokyo and shot a sabukaru editorial showing Makko through our lenses. While at it, we had the chance to talk about his beginnings, how he fuses two subcultures in skating and rapping and the status quo of youth culture in Berlin.
Can you please introduce yourself to the sabukaru audience?
My Name is Makko, I am from Berlin, Germany. I skate and do music.
You grew up in/ around Berlin. Please take us with you and introduce the local youth scene.
Growing up here was pretty cool because I could always go skating and spend time outside. The youth scene is pretty mixed, pretty unapologetic. In Berlin, there is a bubble for everything and everybody.
You always skated and uploaded skate edits way before you started your musical career, how did skating influence your sound and lyrics?
That's true, It got me to listening to hip hop/ rap in the first place. It definitely influenced my sound, especially the lyrics and the DIY attitude.
What makes a Makko song a Makko song? Can you guide us through your creative process?
The main goal is for me to be happy and have a song I can listen to.
This was not your second time in Japan. You even made a song - Pueblo - here during your first trip. What makes the country special for you?
Japan is so special to me because I enjoy seeing that everybody is very polite, and also cares for the people around them and not only for themselves.
If you compare the local skating culture with the Berlin scene, what are some of the main differences in your eyes?
Actually the skating culture in terms of the people involved and their view on the world whichh is mostly a pretty open and accepting one] is pretty much the same all over the world. But for the skaters, it’s pretty hard to skate in Japan as it is not as socially accepted as it is in Germany.
Classic last question - What is next for you?
Right now I'm trying to improve my music - as always. At the same time, I am preparing the next releases for which I'm pretty excited. I am also preparing live shows for the summer of 2024. Lastly, I couldn’t be happier to play big stages this summer and a big tour in the winter.
Words and Interview by Peter Obradovic
Editorial:
Production @bianco_bianco_tokyo
Producer / Art Director @martaespinosa__
Photographer @reginedavid
Stylist @yamakiiori
Hair stylist @hayatemaeda
Producer Assistant @fernaaaande
Special Thanks @alphaindustries_europe @drmartensofficial
