Empowerment vs. Reproduktion? Queer-feministischer Rap, Hyperpop und die Debatten um explizite Popkultur

Mariybu, Nebou N'diaye, Julia Gröschel (Mod.)

Few current pop phenomena are as polarising as queer-feminist rap and hyperpop. Artists such as Mariybu and Ikkimel are celebrated, criticised, appropriated, and scandalised – often all at once. This conversation extends far beyond music, touching on questions of feminism, sexuality, youth protection, empowerment, and social responsibility. Why do explicit lyrics by female and queer artists provoke such different reactions from comparable material by male rappers? Where does reclaiming end and the reproduction of stereotypes begin – between provocation and cliché? And what role does pop play in reinforcing, challenging, or renegotiating social norms?

Rather than taking sides, this panel invites audiences to engage with a range of perspectives. Mariybu, Nebou N’Diaye (representing the bangerfabrique collective, of which she is a member), and moderator Julia Gröschel discuss why pop culture is always a battleground for social negotiation – and why that is precisely where its political and cultural power lies.

Mariybu is one of the defining voices of German-language hyperpop. The Berlin-based artist writes and produces her own music, combining uncompromising club tracks with humour, exaggeration, and a radically self-determined perspective. Moving between queer pop aesthetics, rap, and electronic music, she pushes the boundaries of what can be said in the mainstream. With tracks such as »Kein Ponyhof« and a sound she confidently describes as »Fotzenmusik«, she has become a defining figure of a new generation of pop artists.

Nebou N’Diaye moves effortlessly across music, performance, acting, and cultural education. She first gained attention through the performance ensemble Hajusom, as a rapper with the collective bangerfabrique, which has long explored themes of empowerment, explicit expression, and social politics, and through her role in the ARD series »Schwarze Früchte«. Alongside this, she develops decolonial art projects and organises the party series Hoe Down Throw Down, creating spaces where club culture, rap, and socio-political questions meet.

Julia Gröschel is one of the leading voices in German-language hip-hop culture. Through her podcast »Hip Hop Lebt«, she has created a platform that understands rap as a cultural, social, and political space. In personal conversations with artists and key figures from the scene, she brings together music, activism, and industry expertise. Alongside her journalistic work, she is active as a consultant, manager, and event organiser, regularly bringing hip-hop to festival stages.