Following his exclusion from the ZDF cabaret show “Die Anstalt,” rapper and political songwriter Danger Dan has heavily criticized the management of ZDF. He told the magazine “Spiegel” that the station’s Intendancy beginning to censor anti-fascist songs is a terrible sign.
The situation stems from the controversy surrounding his new single, “Keine Angst,” which was officially released on Friday. The musician intended to perform the song alongside pianist Igor Levit during the ZDF show “Die Anstalt” but was suddenly dropped, seemingly at the behest of the station’s management. A spokesperson informed the magazine that parts of the song lyrics were alleged to call for violence, which violates ZDF’s program guidelines. The organizers of “Die Anstalt” distanced themselves from the ZDF’s decision.
In “Keine Angst,” Danger Dan sends greetings to members of the group often referred to as the “Hammerbande,” led by Lina E. This group has been convicted by the Dresden Regional Court of imprisonment terms ranging from nearly two and a half years to over five years for multiple acts of dangerous bodily harm. However, the artist clarified that the song is not intended to incite crime or radicalization. He stressed that he is not calling anyone to join the criminal underworld and vehemently rejects violence.
In his view, the real problem is the violence perpetrated by neo-Nazis and far-right extremists. Danger Dan suggests that his song might demonstrate that people are not completely powerless. While he welcomes the formation of new anti-fascist structures, he is also understanding if many people choose not to get involved in that manner, stating that, “that is perfectly fine.” He emphasized that his primary identity is that of a musician. Yet, he added, “perhaps just enough is too much, and maybe it’s enough to speak up against a colleague who is spreading right-wing nonsense at work.”
Since he first appeared as a provocative political musician in 2021 with the album “Das ist alles von der Kunstfreiheit gedeckt,” gaining fame beyond the German rap scene, Danger Dan has faced threats from neo-Nazis. Furthermore, holding concerts in certain parts of Germany has become increasingly difficult. Nevertheless, he asserts that people should not fear Nazis, calling that notion completely incorrect.
