Rap does not exist on paper – rap must be performed. The individual style of a rapper – their flow – is thus a crucial measure of quality. Johannes Gruber examines this phenomenon for the first time using his own self-developed 'flow analysis'. The usage of this method on over 600 rap tracks and their lyrics delivers astounding results and culminates in a comprehensive "poetics of rap", combining standardised methods of text production and performance and presenting German rap in its complete soundscape. With the use of genre stars Sido and Bushido, the study shows how rappers use these mechanisms and strategies in order to generate a specific image and profile.
