Growing up in the East: Rap crew 01099 about their roots: "Great people" in Dresden

As "Ambassadors of Neustadt", the rap crew 01099 wants to show what their hometown in Dresden represents for them: openness. "I think it's perhaps important that we convey that. That there is also this cool place in Dresden and also cool people," says member Gustav in the new season of the podcast "OKF - Ortskontrollefahrt" on the RBB radio station Fritz. "It's a completely intrinsic need," explains crew colleague Paul. "We grew up like that, those are our principles and values."

The four-person crew, some of whom have known each other since they were children, have a role model function. "Even if we may not have set out to be role models, we have slipped into this role," reveals Paul. This makes it all the more important to represent clear values: "We are all for tolerance." This also applies to Dresden's Neustadt district. After all, the postcode of the district gave the name 01099.

In their performances, 01099 regularly positions itself against the right and for openness, Gustav says in the podcast. The audience in Dresden was partly surprised by this, some even "voted for the AfD," he recalls a performance on the banks of the Elbe last summer. "But that makes it all the more important to simply include it more often."

The fact that the crew could also scare away fans with clear statements doesn't bother them. "I think that whenever we take a stand, we definitely lose followers," says Paul. Gustav agrees: "You don't really want them."