Babo: The Haftbefehl Story

As in Ghetto ... well maybe not my best play with words, but as with every other time: no pun intended. We have one of the most notorious rappers Germany has produced .. the streets if you want to call it that. Them and his heritage - his father, the bloodline itself ... and the drugs he not just sold as a teenager, but also consumed.

Not just as a kid that is - depending on how involved you are in the music ... you will already most of the songs or none at all. What most might not know: the person himself ... and the people around him! Be it immediate family or extended one ... that is a lot of voices. And those talking about him - there is praise but there is also the truth about his addictions ... about his darker side.

There is a scene towards the end of the movie ... where we get to see the darkness in Haftbefehl .. he seems to distinguish between him and the artist ... maybe to keep some sort of sanity ... maybe this documentary is here to substitute a psychoanalyst ... but it is one thing for sure: super intriguing ... I had not clue who he was ... how he got where he is today ... and all those things were answered ...

This documentary really hit me. It's emotional to see how deeply depression can drag someone down, even a person who seems strong from the outside. You can feel how much pain Haftbefehl has carried - and it's both sad and inspiring to watch him open up about it so honestly.

It takes real courage to show that side of yourself, especially when most people would hide it. The fact that he lets us in, and shows his darkest moments, deserves so much respect. You can tell he's fighting - not just for himself, but for his kids and his wife.

I honestly just hope he makes it through. That he keeps going, keeps finding strength, and holds on to the good things in his life. He's someone who can make a difference for a lot of young people out there who feel lost. It's not just a story about music - it's about pain, survival, and trying to find peace. And respect for his brother !

I didn´t knew anything of Haftbefehl before - neither his music nor his character.

But this doku is one of a kind! I love the brutal honesty and showing the unvanished truth of life. Respect to Aykut for showing his raw and vulnarable self and for the directors to find a perfect and respectful mix between his successful carreer and the abysses of addiction and a destroyed childhoof. I deeply felt his pain and was pleasently surprised by this film. A really good and emotional biography - whether you know/like his music or not.

Firstly, it's an honest biographical documentary. The raw storytelling makes you worry about Haftbefehl and his family - you actually feel for them.

Secondly, Haftbefehl is portrayed as a victim. To me, that's the wrong narrative. We're talking about a drug addict; he should take ownership of his addiction. It shouldn't be rewarded or glorified with widespread attention - that sends the wrong message to future generations. He lives in Germany, a country with access to education, healthcare, and support services.

And unlike many others, he actually made it - despite trauma and growing up in a deprived neighborhood, he built a successful rap career. Gratitude should be his path. But I couldn't sense any gratitude. He doesn't have to do this. No one is forcing him to be a successful rapper.

As someone from Frankfurt, just a stone's throw from Offenbach, Haftbefehl is more than a name, he's part of the city's pulse. My preferred genre couldn't be further from his, yet I was hooked. I watched the documentary twice in one night.

What unfolds is not an image or persona, but a human: brutally honest, raw and painfully aware of the price between self-expression and self-exploitation. It does something to you. If you've ever wrestled with your own demons - however they manifest - his story reaches deep inside you.

It shifts something. You start listening to his music differently. Every word lands heavier, clearer.. a reflection of both glory and darkness, fame and unresolved trauma. You feel seen by the abyss and it stares right back.