Jovan

From Darmstadt out into the world, but in full media-creator mode: Jovan started rapping at 14 and initially shared his music with a small audience via YouTube. His lyrics are all about bum bags, the daily grind, and his hometown. The beats are laid-back, exuding the sweet scent of the West Coast and a touch of that hazy 90s vibe. He’s upped his game with tracks such as “Stupid” and “Chop Chop” (2024) – the flow is spot on, and the bars are packed with clever observations on contemporary life as well as political statements. The shit-talking of German wannabe gangster rappers isn’t really his thing anymore; instead, the stories come straight from his neighbourhood and real life without any flash and are sometimes aggressive, sometimes laid-back, mixed into the beat production. Going viral is nice, but it’s not the focus. Instead, with his 2026 debut album, “STEP”, Jovan has finally broken free from his rookie status and calmly shown where the future of German rap is currently being born.