Who recognises Eminem in Bärndütsch?

The theatre stage is not a natural habitat for a rapper. It may seem strange in theory, but the spotlights of the Rigiblick theatre provide a look behind the scenes rather than in front of them as part of the new "Punchlines & Protokoll" format. Here, Swiss dialect rap stars are taken into unfamiliar territory. They are appreciated, quizzed, rapped, punchlines are dissected and personal matters are discussed. If you stay cool, you'll probably pass the test.

Shkelzen Kastrati and Denis Serbest aka Xen and Danase pass this test with flying colours on a chilly Tuesday evening at the beginning of December. In front of a sold-out audience, they show humour and, above all, great respect for each other. One builds verse constructs like Eminem, with emotions like 2Pac; the other raps nonchalantly, all from the hip, with comparisons and lines like daggers, always with the whole imaginary clan behind him.

"Punchlines & Protokoll - Zwischen Bühne, Biografie & Beat" brings together deserving exponents of the local rap scene. On this evening, we experience a wildly gesticulating, eloquently chatting Xen and a wonderfully monosyllabic Danase. Just coolness.

Xen's debut "Ich gäge mich" (2025) was a technical quantum leap for dialect rap. Since then, he has broken records and collected precious metal in collaboration with Physical Shock and his melodic partner EAZ. Danase, in turn, owes his legendary status not least to the Virus Bounce Cypher, the biggest Swiss live rap event, where over 80 rappers compete once a year with exclusively written lyrics and their strongest punchlines. His style: minimalist beats, recurring samples, images that are created and remain in seconds.

Both have long since found their place in the scene, are deep in their thirties and have been active since the early 2000s. Their tracks are well-known and their skills are undisputed. But what drives them? What sound did they grow up with? How well do they know each other's rap history and careers? And what else do they want to achieve?

Initiator Visu Suter moderates the conversation, works out the biographies and asks estimation questions about the other, such as when "Gauner, Ledig, Suecht..." was released (no, Xen, not 2003, but 2012), while the band around drummer Timo Meier and rapper Jay Jules provides the musical context.

They covered tracks by Nas and Outkast, "I Ain't Mad At Cha" by 2Pac, "Straight Outta Compton" by N.W.A. and supported the two guests with short performances. The most entertaining part of the evening is a quiz in which the two have to recognise hits such as "Without Me" (Eminem), "Hot in Herre" (Nelly) or "Blow Your Mind" (Eve) using Bernese-German translations.

And no sooner has a Christmas wish list formed in their heads with a new Danase and Sterneis EP and a grim Xen album, and a slight urge to drink beer, than the ninety minutes are over. The format is extended at the bar, in conversation and later in the headphones on the way home.

On Tuesday 20 January at 8pm, rappers Cachita and Soukey meet, on 19 May E.KR. and Nativ and many more in between. All information at theatre-rigiblick.ch