Flashlights flash, children wave the red flags of FC Bayern Munich, the audience enthusiastically claps their hands with their paper fans. The basketball players from FC Bayern Munich arrive.
On Shrove Tuesday it was celebrated for the seventh time “Music meets basketball” took place in BMW Park. A sporting event with a live musical act during the break and after the game. “Above all, American-influenced hip-hop, fashion and streetball are central themes of basketball culture. That’s why we decided in 2016 to combine our sport and music into a series of events,” explains Andreas Burkert, press spokesman for the Bayern Basketballer. After eight years, the organizer “FC Bayern Munich Basketball GmbH” is bringing a female guest appearance to the stadium.
And who will be the first woman to follow in the footsteps of Max Giesinger, Sido and Clueso? 21-year-old rapper Badmómzjay. She gratefully accepts the offer: “I’m happy to be able to do this. I’m keen on it.” At the same time, it is a dream come true for her to be able to perform at a sporting event.
On the field, the first-placed “Niners Chemnitz” and FC Bayern Munich, who are next in the rankings, are fighting a duel in the Basketball Bundesliga home game. Badmómzjay’s live act fits like a glove, commentator Thomas Killian announces the artist during the break.
She is an eye-catcher. The fiery red hair – her external trademark – is perfectly styled. “I always tend to put pressure on myself, but I’m very self-confident and think that I know exactly what I’m doing,” she explains. You can see that. The rapper confidently walks into the middle of the field with her glittering silver microphone. Then the bass kicks in and she heats up the hall with her song “Come with me.” Her pink jersey says “Don’t trust bitches.” A reference to her new mixtape of the same name, out March 8th.
Growing up in Brandenburg an der Havel, Badmómzjay, whose real name is Jordan Napieray, signed her first record deal at the age of 18. Shortly afterwards she released her debut album “badmómz” and landed in the top 10 of the official German charts. The artist has already won the “MTV Europe Music Award” twice as “Best German Act”. She was the first female rapper to be on the cover of German magazine in 2022 Vogue and with the release of her last album “Survival Mode” she graced the large billboard in New York’s Times Square. As a reminder, she is only 21 years old.
After a short setup, the rapper starts the concert with her second song of the evening, “Survival Mode.” In the song she packs a very clear message: “But tell me, what happens to women in business when they are nice? Are they pushed or are they considered weak?” Perhaps for many it is too provocative, too socially critical, too direct. After a few songs the stadium was only half full. “Do you still have energy, Munich?” Badmómzjay cheers on the audience, “Can’t hear you, people”. Now what’s left is making noise with the paper fans. Neither the empty seats nor the brief technical failure unsettle her. “My energy is always the same and I will give just as much 100 percent as I do at my own concerts,” she assures.
Badmómzjay plays her last song of the evening with her hit “Ohne Dich”. “I was super excited. Thank you Munich. Thank you for the love,” she says goodbye. On December 4th she returns to the Tonhalle in Munich with her “Survival Mode Tour”. In summary: FC Bayern Munich won the game, adequate appreciation from the audience for the artist left something to be desired and the event couldn’t convince every basketball fan to stay for the live act afterwards.