{{Short description|German rapper}} [[File:Ikkimel - Southside Festival 2025 - TR259928.jpg|thumb|Ikkimel at Southside Festival 2025]] '''Melina Gaby Strauß''' (born May 18, 1997),<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2024-12-13 |date=2024-11-14 |publisher=funk |title=Auch nur Menschen |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DCWsNhmpTZO/ |website=Instagram}}<!-- auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> known professionally as '''Ikkimel''', is a German rapper from Berlin-Tempelhof.
== Life == Ikkimel is from Berlin-Tempelhof and has a combined bachelor's degree in German Philology and Social and Cultural Anthropology with a focus on linguistics from Freie Universität Berlin. After beginning her master's degree in linguistics, she started working in the Brain Language Laboratory in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2024-12-22 |date=2020-05-27 |language=de |title=Melina Strauß |url=https://www.geisteswissenschaften.fu-berlin.de/v/brainlang/Team/MStrauss.html}}<!-- auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> Following her father's death due to blood cancer, she started making music, taking on the name Ikkimel.
{{Translated blockquote | quote = „Ich hab immer gern Rap gehört und Party gemacht, gerne gefreestyled mit Freunden etc. Anfang Corona ist mein Vater gestorben an Blutkrebs. Das war nach Jahren der Pflege dann der Punkt wo ich dachte man lebt nur einmal ich Scheiß jetzt auf alles und mach einfach das was mir Spaß macht.“ | translation = “I've always loved listening to rap and partying, freestyling with friends, etc. At the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, my father died of blood cancer. After years of caring for him, that was the point where I thought, you only live once, so I'm going to say screw everything and just do what I enjoy.” | language = de | show-language = | author = Ikkimel | source = <ref>{{Cite web |last=Hallenstein |first=Octavius |date=2025-05-12 |title=Ikkimel hat ihren an Blutkrebs erkrankten Vater bis zu seinem Tod gepflegt |url=https://raptastisch.net/2025/05/12/ikkimel-hat-ihren-an-blutkrebs-erkrankten-vater-bis-zu-seinem-tod-gepflegt/ |access-date=2025-10-27 |website=Raptastisch |language=de}}</ref> }}
== Career == In 2021, Ikkimel managed to obtain funding from ''Initiative Musik''. She released her first singles in 2022 and followed up with her first EP ''Aszendent Bitch'' on May 5, 2023.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2023-10-07 |author=Chiara Menner |date=2023-05-05 |language=de-DE |title=Ikkimel – Aszendent B*tch |url=https://hiphop.de/ikkimel-aszendent-btch |website=hiphop.de}}<!-- auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> Her provocative lyrics contain clearly sexualized language; common themes include being a bitch, partying, drugs and sex, and she often includes subtle wordplay. She makes fun of macho behavior.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2023-10-07 |language=de |title=#35 Talking to Turtles, IUMA, Frank Popp Ensemble und mehr |url=https://dngd.letscast.fm/episode/35-talking-to-turtles-iuma-frank-popp-ensemble-und-mehr |website=Das nächste große Ding (Podcast)}}<!-- auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> Musically, she uses hyperpop and Jersey Club quotes with choppy beats and trance and house samples.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2023-10-07 |author=Alicia |date=2023-07-19 |language=de-DE |title=Ikkimel |url=https://www.365femalemcs.com/portraits/ikkimel/ |website=365 Fe*male MCs}}<!-- auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> She also describes her music as "Fotzenstyle", meaning "cunt-style".<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2023-10-07 |language=de |title=Fotzenstyle kommt immer geil · Reimstunde · Radio 3FACH |url=https://3fach.ch/programm/reimstunde/ikkimel-aszendent-bitch}}<!-- auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>
In 2023, Ikkimel was signed by Four Music (Sony Music), after which she debuted with the single ''Keta und Krawall'', produced by Barré, and reached number 89 in the German charts.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2023-10-07 |author=Micha Wagner |date=2023-09-29 |language=de-DE |title=Empfehlung des Tages: Ikkimel – Keta und Krawall |url=https://diffusmag.de/p/empfehlung-des-tages-ikkimel-keta-und-krawall/}}<!-- auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>
The track ''Bezahlen'' from the EP ''Hat sie nicht gesagt'', released in 2024, was used in the same year by Die PARTEI in a radio election commercial for the 2024 European elections. The broadcast on its radio program You FM was refused by Hessischer Rundfunk because it suspected that the song contained content that was harmful to minors. The broadcaster lost the subsequent court case initiated by Die PARTEI before the administrative court in Frankfurt am Main, so the commercial was broadcast in the early evening program on May 15.<ref>{{cite web | title=Hessischer Rundfunk muss Wahlwerbespot von Die PARTEI ausstrahlen | website=PRIGGE Recht | date=2024-05-15 | url=https://www.prigge-recht.de/pressemitteilung/gerichtlich-bestaetigt-hessischer-rundfunk-muss-wahlwerbespot-von-die-partei-ausstrahlen/ | language=de | access-date=2025-01-02}}</ref>
On February 14, 2025, Ikkimel released her debut album ''Fotze''. The album was critically acclaimed and it was emphasized that sexist language was counteracted through her radical female perspective. The question of whether this reproduces the male gaze of female sexuality is answered by reference to the text of the piece ''Jetzt erst recht'', in which she raps: "Is Ikkimel still feminist at all? Suddenly the little pissers pretend that it is important to them." Ikkimel described her own political stance as “definitely feminist.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Alba Wilczek |first=Bayerischer Rundfunk |date=2025-02-18 |title=Fotzenrap vs. Feminismus: Ikkimel rappt über Sex – warum das vielen zu krass ist |url=https://www.br.de/radio/bayern2/sendungen/zuendfunk/sex-rapperin-ikkimel-fotze-lady-bitch-ray-gen-z-100.html |language=de}}</ref> The album also references other musicians such as Lady Bitch Ray, SXTN and Shirin David in its content and musical design.<ref>{{cite web | last=Rausch | first=Thore | title=Neues Album von Ikkimel: "Fotze | website=Süddeutsche.de | date=February 14, 2025 | url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/kultur/ikkimel-album-deutschrap-fotze-li.3201836?reduced=true | language=de | access-date=March 8, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Davoudvandi | first=Miriam | title=(S+) Ikkimels Debütalbum: Als hätten der Rapper Frauenarzt und Paris Hilton ein Kind bekommen | website=DER SPIEGEL | date=February 14, 2025 | url=https://www.spiegel.de/kultur/musik/ikkimel-debuetalbum-fotze-als-haetten-rapper-frauenarzt-und-paris-hilton-ein-kind-bekommen-a-3a66e3bb-3668-4ed6-add8-4a8b5a37a451 | language=de | access-date=March 8, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Goertz | first=Maja | title=Ikkimel: Sie hat "Fotze" gesagt | website=ZEIT ONLINE | date=February 14, 2025 | url=https://www.zeit.de/kultur/musik/2025-02/ikkimel-fotze-album-pop-musik | language=de | access-date=March 8, 2025}}</ref>
== Private life == In 2024, Ikkimel made her relationship to fellow rapper Ski Aggu public.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-P3Gkjo4obs |title=Ikkimel: Freundin von Ski Aggu? Das sagt sie selbst dazu... Die freche Rapperin im Interview! |date=2024-10-25 |last=TIKonline.de |access-date=2025-10-27 |via=YouTube}}</ref> In June 2025 they announced they had separated.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hallenstein |first=Octavius |date=2025-06-04 |title=Beziehung beendet - Ski Aggu und Ikkimel haben sich offiziell getrennt |url=https://raptastisch.net/2025/06/04/beziehung-beendet-ski-aggu-und-ikkimel-haben-sich-offiziell-getrennt/ |access-date=2026-01-19 |website=Raptastisch |language=de}}</ref>
== Discography ==
=== Albums === * 2025: ''Fotze'' * 2026: ''Poppstar''
=== EPs === * 2023: ''Aszendent Bitch'' * 2024: ''Hat sie nicht gesagt''
=== Singles === * 2022: ''Cola Zero'' (with forsha) * 2023: ''Zu raus'' (with Axel X) * 2023: ''Ich seh gut aus'' (with Axel X and Lenny Fuck) * 2023: ''Vorbei an der Schlange'' (with Axel X) * 2023: ''Erste Sahne'' (with Pintendari) * 2023: ''Lifesaver'' (with Retado & Slim Salabim) * 2023: ''Keta und Krawall'' * 2024: ''Bikini grell'' * 2024: ''Fussballmänner'' * 2024: ''Hat sie nicht gesagt'' * 2024: ''Deutschland'' (Ski Aggu feat. Ikkimel) * 2024: ''Männergefühle'' (with Salò & UHD) * 2024: ''Wellness'' * 2024: ''Unisexklo'' (with Lucry & Suena) * 2024: ''Baddie'' (with Money Boy) * 2025: ''Forever Swagger'' (Money Boy feat. Ikkimel) * 2025: ''Jiggy'' (with Filow) * 2025: ''Nachtschicht'' (with 01099) * 2025: ''Germany'' (Ski Aggu, Ikkimel, Dauner, Barré) * 2025: ''Who’s That'' * 2025: ''Bling Bling'' (nocashfromparents) * 2025: ''IDGAF'' * 2025: ''Mami'' (The Cratez) * 2025: ''Giftmord'' (Barré) * 2026: ''KINK'' (Barré, Florida Juicy) * 2026: ''NOT TODAY'' (Florida Juicy, nocashfromparents) * 2026: ''TIPPS VON MIR'' (nocashfromparents, Florida Juicy)
== References == <references />
Category:1997 births Category:Living people Category:German women rappers Category:German rappers Category:People from Tempelhof