Munich, Germany

German hip-hop quintet Blumentopf was celebrated for its witty yet often politically charged rhymes and electrifying live shows. Formed in Munich in 1995, Blumentopf ("flower pot") comprised four MCs -- Cajus Heinzmann, Bernhard Wunderlich, Florian Schuster, and Roger Manglus -- and one DJ, Sebastian "Sepalot" Weiss. Their debut album, Kein Zufall, appeared in 1997, launching the hit "6Meter90." Upon signing to the Fourmusic label, Blumentopf issued their sophomore effort, Grosses Kino, two years later. Eins A debuted in the Top 20 of the German pop charts upon its 2001 release, and after earning "Best Live Band" honors from the European rap magazine Juice, Blumentopf issued their fourth album, Gern Geschehen. A hiatus followed, during which time DJ Sepalot issued a solo LP, Fraud. Finally, in the fall of 2006, Blumentopf issued the much-awaited Musikmaschine. ~ Jason Ankeny