Sound Bites | Music
The German Rebirth of 90s R'n'B

A tweet made it go viral: the song “Bist du down?” by Hamburg musician Ace Tee. First in the USA and later in Germany. How did this transatlantic ping-pong come about?

By Victor Efevberha

A yellow parka, long braided hair, a group of young people standing in front of graffiti-covered walls. They wear stylish clothes: Fila, Stüssy, and Southpole are their brands of choice. An S-Bahn train rushes past on a bridge overhead. This is how the music video for Bist du down? by singer Ace Tee begins.

The setting is reminiscent of 1990s Brooklyn. But this isn’t New York – it’s Hamburg-Altona. And the video wasn’t filmed in the ’90s but in 2016. The stylish performers aren’t from the U.S. either; they’re based in Germany and represent diverse backgrounds, from West Africa to East Asia. At its core, however, it’s a quintessential ’90s R’n’B video.

Transatlantic Tweet

This aesthetic is likely one reason why the song became a hit in the U.S. before gaining recognition in Germany. But how did Ace Tee – whose real name is Tarin Wilda – become the most sought-after German musician in the U.S. since Rammstein, even if only briefly?

It all started with a tweet by a Canadian Twitter user, who shared the video for Bist du down? with the caption: “The new TLC are German, pass it on.” Previously, the video had garnered little attention on small music blogs. And remember, this was 2016 – the playlists of music streaming platforms weren’t as sophisticated as they are today. But the tweet sent the video viral, particularly in North America.

Inspired by the ’90s

Shortly after, Ace Tee was featured in an interview in the American edition of Vogue. In it, the Hamburg-born artist with Ghanaian roots revealed that the female R’n’B trio TLC was a major inspiration for Bist du down?. The characters in Ace Tee’s video sport baggy clothes, bright colors, and large hoop earrings – unmistakable nods to the 1990s.

The song itself enhances the retro vibe of the video. Its slow-building beat is set against a soft synth backdrop, accompanied by lo-fi drums. This delicate yet catchy soundscape creates an intimacy that defines the entire track. It’s easy to see why ’90s R’n’B fans love this song.

Empowering Messages

Ace Tee combines rap and singing in this track, frequently repeating the phrase “Bist du down?” which translates to “Are you down?” or “Are you in?” The phrase is used in the lyrics to convey romantic sentiments: “Ey Baby, sag' mir, bist du down für ein Date? / Nur du und ich / Scheiß auf flexen mit scheiß Geld / Lass uns spazier'n geh'n, kommunizieren ohne WhatsApp.”

The song also delivers empowering messages: Remarkably, this song marked a major turning point in Ace Tee’s career. Before Bist du down?, she released darker rap tracks influenced by the 1990s Memphis rap sound.

In the video for Bist du down?, Ace Tee appears in various outfits and hairstyles – sometimes alone, sometimes alongside backup dancers – all distinctly old-school. Yet, the retro aesthetic still feels modern. Ace Tee herself played a key role in shaping the video, drawing on her background as a hairstylist to ensure its visual flair. The result is a seamless blend of unapologetic femininity and playful bravado.

Why the Song First Took Off in the U.S.

The ’90s vibes in Bist du down? are rounded out by guest feature Kwam.E, a Hamburg rapper who joined the track after responding to a Facebook callout. His classic MC-style rapping adds a layer of lightheartedness to the song.

From an aesthetic perspective, Bist du down? is a pop-cultural creation unlike anything in Germany at the time of its release. In the U.S., however, the style was more familiar – perhaps one reason the song resonated there first, before finding its audience in Germany.

Ace Tee managed to make the German language sound cool and effortless – a feat given that the German language is often perceived in the U.S. as harsh and rigid. This sets Bist du down? apart from tracks like Rammstein’s Du hast or Nena’s 99 Luftballons – German-language hits that carried “typically German” traits, whatever that might mean in 2024.