XOXO

Personnel: Konrad Betcher (keyboards); Timur Salincakli (drums).
Recording information: Beatlefield Studio, Krabbe, Berlin; Lowswing Tonstudio, Berlin.
Illustrator: Hassan Haider.
Photographer: Christoph Voy.
Publisher: Inga Sanmann.
German rapper Casper took three years to complete his second album -- it was originally planned for 2009, but Casper discarded several tracks of an almost finished record and continued to write new songs. XOXO, which managed to reach the top position in the German album charts, combines hip-hop and rap with indie pop, emo, and post-rock -- the rapper jokingly categorizes it as "doom hop" or "rap gaze." The first single, "So Perfekt," which mixes slow hip-hop beats with hypnotic guitars, features a guest spot by fellow rapper Marteria, while the title track was recorded with Thees Uhlmann of Tomte. ~ Christian Genzel