Cro's return

It's a sight few will see: German hip-hop artist Cro, who normally hides behind a panda visage, is sitting unmasked in a hotel in Hamburg to talk about his second album, "Melodie." He has a friendly face, but he would probably not stand out on the street, despite having become Germany's most commercially successful rapper in recent years.

His debut album, which was published in 2012 by the independent label Chimperator, was titled "Raop" - a fusion of rap and pop. It stayed at the top of the charts for five weeks, reached double platinum status and was also awarded the Echo, Germany's most important music award.

The man behind the droopy panda eyes is Carlo Waibel, who was born in 1990 in the German town of Aalen. He began recording his own music at just 10 years old. In 2011, he took to wearing his now famous mask, started calling himself Cro and published his first mix tapes. His song "Easy," in particular, caused a big stir, racking up almost 40 million clicks on YouTube by now.

"I'm often asked why I'm so successful," Cro says. "I didn't try to do something, I just did it. Just like a baker doesn't reflect on baking, but bakes. What happens then is up to the people."

Basement productions

That was Cro's mindset as he started recording his second album. "I felt under pressure to succeed for exactly one day," he says. "I experienced a short burst of trepidation because I knew that everyone would be judging this album. But when the first songs came to me, I relaxed because I realized that I could still do it."

Like his debut, Cro recorded "Melodie" in his mom's basement where he has set up a small studio for himself. Apart from a few beats by hip-hop producer Shuko, he did the album from start to finish himself.

Cro stays true to his recipe for success on the second release. Once again, he blends rap and pop into a catchy mix. There are upbeat pop tunes like "Jetzt" or the first single "Traum," which includes a wind section, but also rap songs like "Intro - I Can Feel It" or "Cop Love."

"The best songs are those that come to me spontaneously," says Cro, adding that it took him less than three hours to write "Traum," for example. "After that my head is usually completely empty. Then I need a bit of distance and can't write anything for two or three weeks. That's bad. That's when I always think I'm going to call it quits, move to the country and get a flock of sheep. But then another good idea pops up."

"Melodie" is full of good ideas - not only in the music, but also in Cro's lyrics, which are clever, bold and full of wordplay. The love song "Hey Girl" is full of imaginative comparisons, "Intro - I Can Feel It" is about settling a score with all those who do not see him as a proper hip-hop artist. In "Never Cro Up," he draws on silly nursery rhymes to talk about not wanting to grow up.

Not out to moralize

Most of Cro's songs are about how good his life is, leaving critics complaining that his lyrics are not very challenging. But that's fine with him. He says he's just out to entertain.

"I do not want to moralize and tell people what they ought to do," he says. "I do have my own opinions, and I'm committed to them, but I am not going to badger people with them. I do not feel responsible for educating my audience. That's their parents' job. I see myself as more of a companion."

And the mask? Cro will continue wearing it.

"It feels a little like a gigantic mascot costume," he says. "You can do whatever you want with it on. I could even be naked, and it wouldn't matter because no one recognizes me. It's like a protective shield. Without it, I couldn't be as relaxed and cool on stage as I am. Not everyone is friendly to me when I walk around without it. But as soon as they realize who I am, they all start gasping."

To date, the performer has gone through more than 60 masks. He refuses to tell us the name of the merchant who keeps him supplied, saying: "If I told you, they'd constantly be sold out."