Millions of online views deep, Haftbefehl could very well be referred to as the German Macklemore. Thoroughly independent, he opened his own studio and label, Azzlackz, under which he’s released three projects: Azzlack Stereotyp, Kanackis and Blockplatin, the latter entering the German national charts at No. 4 upon its release last year. Having returned to Germany after leaving Istanbul in his early 20s, Haftbefehl has stories to tell. Cars, guns, and the portrayal of a lifestyle that’s in keeping with the translation of his name (it means arrest warrant in English), this rapper is a credit to the music scene in Germany where hip-hop, in all its forms, is proving successful on a mainstream level. —James Walsh