By the way, like East vs. West Coast rap in the states, germany has several local productions too, but rather south (Fanta4: Stuttgart) and north (Fettes Brot ~ 'fat bread': Hamburg).
But they don't take themselves and each other too serious. Here a cooperation with James Last, a famous big band music producer:
Ruf mich an (Call Me). Playing with styles, cross-over for fun.
Germany doesn't have such ghettos like in american towns where gang violence completely repelled the police. There is no need to describe a life of permanent fear and anger. But there are other topics which need to be told, and there are other music styles to emphasize their meaning, like Jazz.
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P.S.: Well, yes, unfortunately there are german rappers who believe they have to represent the tough life, like RHP, Sido, or Bushido (who just got headlines for supposed Mafia connections). It still pays to be "cool", no matter what this term means.
