The hip-hop group Puppetmastaz was formed in 1996 in Berlin by a mix of German, Canadian and American-born artists. With a style that fuses rap, funk, electronica and the art of puppetry, Puppetmastaz is a collective of over 30 rappers, producers and DJs who laugh at the boundaries of pop culture by performing live through the medium of puppets. Fronted by its ringleader and founder Mr. Maloke, a mole puppet who is recognized by his signature glitter top hat, the group performed its first hip-hop show in 1999 and found a larger audience by releasing its first music video for "Wick-a-Woo" shortly after. Puppetmastaz made its television debut in 2000 and its recording debut in 2002 with the Humans Get All The Credits EP. First perceived as a gimmick with an expiration date, the unconventional group continued to break boundaries throughout the decade by releasing six full-length albums, touring internationally and starting its own publication, a satire magazine titled Puppetry Fair: The Clossy Gossip Gazette.
