Kopfnussmusik

Kopfnussmusik (short: KNM) is an independent German hip-hop record label, music production studio and video production house based in Dortmund, in the heart of the Ruhr region. It was founded in 2009 by the Dortmund rapper Reece (civil name Dominic Klaus), who remains its owner, label head and central artist. The label describes itself as a genuine independent imprint born from the streets, the "Kurven" and the "Maloche" (hard graft) of the Ruhrpott, and its name is programmatic: "Kopfnussmusik" stands for direct, unvarnished and honest German rap that hits where it should. KNM's sound is explicitly tied to the industrial identity of the Ruhr area — "the sound of coal and steel" — and its catalogue tells stories of life in the Pott, shaped by a mentality of hard work, plain speaking, loyalty and deep attachment to the home region. Artists such as Reece, M.I.K.I and Sonikk shaped the KNM sound and showed German rap how the Pott ticks. Albums like "Malochersohn", "Kurvenmukke" and the legendary sampler series "Aus Kohle und Stahl" are presented by the label as milestones of its history and as a soundtrack for a generation seeking honest music. Commercially, Kopfnussmusik operates as a small independent business (Kleinunternehmer under §19 (1) UStG, i.e. no VAT shown on its shop prices). It runs an online shop selling its own music releases (CDs/records) and merchandise such as the "0231er" pullover and T-shirt (a reference to Dortmund's telephone area code) and the Kopfnussmusik hoodie. Alongside the label, KNM offers studio and media services under the KNMEDIA banner: recording from €50/hour, mixing from €120, mastering from €60, plus music videos, social media content and image films on request. Chart successes highlighted by the label include M.I.K.I's "Malochersohn" (DE 94), Reece's "Paria" (DE 37), M.I.K.I's "Kurvenmukke" (DE 9, CH 36, AT 29), the collaborative "Suffkopp kommando 2" by M.I.K.I, Reece, Akkord & DeoZ (DE 29) and "Pottblagen" by M.I.K.I & Reece (DE 36). According to German Wikipedia, Reece and M.I.K.I were under contract from 2013; Sonikk, part of the label from 2014, was absent between 2017 and November 2018. In 2019 founder Reece withdrew from the rap business and Kopfnussmusik was temporarily closed; in August of the same year he announced that he would continue making music and continue running his label, this time without further artists under contract. The label therefore continues today as a Reece-centred independent operation combining releases, studio work and media production.

Kopfnussmusik was founded in 2009 in Dortmund, deep in the heart of the Ruhr region, by the Dortmund rapper Reece (civil name Dominic Klaus). From the outset it was conceived as a genuine independent label committed to authenticity — in the label's own words, not the product of a marketing department but of the streets, the "Kurven" and the "Maloche". Its name is programmatic: "Kopfnussmusik" stands for direct, unvarnished and honest German rap that hits where it should, telling the stories of life in the Pott with a "coal and steel" mentality of hard work, plain speaking, loyalty and attachment to the home region. Through the 2010s the label built a roster and a catalogue that shaped the KNM sound. Artists such as Reece, M.I.K.I and Sonikk were central to that sound and, according to the label, showed German rap how the Pott ticks. German Wikipedia records that Reece and M.I.K.I were under contract from 2013. Sonikk, who had been part of the label since 2014, did not appear between 2017 and November 2018. Other former artists include Akkord (until 2013 and again from 2017 to 2018) and DeoZ (2015 to 2018). The label's releases achieved chart placements that it continues to highlight: M.I.K.I's "Malochersohn" (DE 94), Reece's "Paria" (DE 37), M.I.K.I's "Kurvenmukke" (DE 9, CH 36, AT 29), the collaborative "Suffkopp kommando 2" by M.I.K.I, Reece, Akkord & DeoZ (DE 29) and "Pottblagen" by M.I.K.I & Reece (DE 36). Albums such as "Malochersohn" and "Kurvenmukke" and the sampler series "Aus Kohle und Stahl" are presented by the label as milestones of its history and as a soundtrack for a generation seeking honest music. In 2019 founder Reece withdrew from the rap business and Kopfnussmusik was temporarily closed. In August of the same year, however, Reece announced that he would continue making music and continue running his label — this time without further artists under contract. Since then KNM has operated as a Reece-centred independent label. Alongside releases, it runs an online shop for its music and merchandise (including the "0231er" pullover and T-shirt, named after Dortmund's telephone area code, and the Kopfnussmusik hoodie) and offers studio and media services under the KNMEDIA banner: recording from €50/hour, mixing from €120, mastering from €60, plus music videos, social media content and image films on request. The business operates as a small independent enterprise (Kleinunternehmer under §19 (1) UStG).

• 2019

  Founder Reece withdraws from the rap business; Kopfnussmusik temporarily closed. In August, Reece announces he will continue making music and running the label without further artists under contract.

• 2017

  Sonikk does not appear between 2017 and November 2018; Akkord returns to the label (2017–2018).

• 2015

  DeoZ part of the label (until 2018).

• 2014

  Sonikk becomes part of the label.

• 2013

  Rappers Reece and M.I.K.I under contract with the label.

• 2009

  Kopfnussmusik (KNM) founded in Dortmund by rapper Reece (Dominic Klaus).

Authentic, independent German rap from the Ruhr area — direct, unvarnished, "coal and steel" mentality, no facades, only reality.

• M.I.K.I – "Kurvenmukke"

• Reece – "Paria"

• M.I.K.I – "Malochersohn"

• M.I.K.I, Reece, Akkord & DeoZ – "Suffkopp kommando 2"

• M.I.K.I & Reece – "Pottblagen"

• "Aus Kohle und Stahl" sampler series

• 0231er – Pullover (White)

• 0231er – T-Shirt (Grey)

• Kopfnussmusik – Hoodie (Olive Green)

• KNMEDIA services

1. 1Kopfnussmusik official websitekopfnussmusik.de
2. 2Kopfnussmusik – Serviceskopfnussmusik.de
3. 3Kopfnussmusik – Über unskopfnussmusik.de
4. 4Wikidata – Kopfnussmusikwikidata.org
5. 5Wikipedia (German) – Kopfnussmusikde.wikipedia.org