Numerous awards and considerable commercial success make Clueso one of the most successful German singers. Surprising collaborations with German music legends such as Udo Lindenberg and Wolfgang Niedecken characterize the artistic work of the native of Erfurt, as does the exploration of musical genre boundaries. Clueso's shows promise great emotions and a relaxed jam character.
The career path of the German chart topper reads like a coming-of-age novel with a fairytale ending. On April 9, 1980, Clueso saw the light of day under his real name Thomas Hübner. His school days in the Erfurt area, which were rather difficult for him, were followed by a hairdressing apprenticeship without a happy ending: Clueso leaves the comb and scissors to others and prefers to devote himself to the newly ignited hip-hop passion.
< h3> Between Pink Panther and rap battles - Clueso's beginnings
Named after Inspector Clouseau from "The Pink Panther", the Thuringian starts with friends as EFP 96, later as Wostok MCs - rap battles and breakdance included. The encounter with his later manager Andreas Welskop led to the release of the vinyl single "Clüsolo" produced for promotional purposes in 1998.
A year later, Clueso Welskop followed to Cologne and signed on time At the turn of the millennium, he signed his record deal with the Four Music label, founded by the German hip-hop band Die Fantastischen Vier. The aspiring musician then trundles through the country's clubs with his first album "Text und Ton", which he will present as part of the "MTV HipHop Open" in Stuttgart.
Back to to the roots – Clueso's breakthrough
In 2002, Clueso turned his back on his adopted home of Cologne and found his new home in the recently opened “Zughafen” in Erfurt's old goods station. In 2004, songs for the second studio album “Gute Musik” were also created here. For the first time, the prevailing rap beats give way to melodic song numbers. The single "Kein Bock zu geh'n" celebrates a respectable success for the federal state of Thuringia at the "Bundesvision Song Contest".
Clueso is touring as an ambassador for the German Language across Europe, Australia and Asia. He processed the travel impressions in the 2006 album "Weit Weg". In the spring of 2007, Clueso accompanied Herbert Grönemeyer as support on his tour of Germany. In the following year, an acclaimed second place in the "Bundesvision Song Contest" lays the foundation for the first chart successes. In 2008 he was awarded the 1-Live-Krone as the best artist.
Clueso's single "Winner" was released in April 2009 and achieved gold status a short time later - further prizes followed. A lavishly produced double album is the result of a joint tour with the 90-strong STÜBAphilharmonie. His book “Clueso. Von und über." on the market.
Collaborations and own label - Clueso reinvents itself
The fifth album "An und für sich" follows in September 2011 a collaboration with Udo Lindenberg. The joint cover version of Lindenberg's "Cello" became an airplay hit at an "MTV Unplugged" concert. In 2012 Clueso founded his own label Text und Ton - in 2014 he released his sixth album "Stadtrandlichter" here, which went straight to number 1 in the German charts.
In January 2015, " Outskirts Lights” gold status. To this day, the songs on the album are considered indispensable at every Clueso concert. Anyone who snags a ticket for a Clueso performance has a good chance of hearing their greatest hits live:
- 2006: "Chicago"
- 2008: "Take away"
- 2009: "Winner"
- 2009: "Over too quickly"
- 2014: "Spin free"
- 2016: "New beginning"
- 2020: "Tell me what you want"
- 2020: "Dancing"
- 2021: "Everything in its own time"
Big success is followed by a little disappointment: Clueso and his band go their separate ways from now on. But the follow-up albums “Neuanfang” and “Handbaggage I” also became chart toppers. Together with the Fantastischen Vier, Clueso delivers the official DFB song for the 2018 World Cup with "Together". For the track "Welcome back" he gets prominent support from fellow musician Andreas Bourani. Various singles produced since 2020 will find a worthy setting with the release of the ninth studio album "Album" in October 2021.
