Robin Leutner aka DJ Robin released the Ballermann song “Layla” together with singer Schürze in 2022. The song sparked discussion throughout Germany due to its sexist lyrics. Despite this, or perhaps because of this, it became a huge first Malle hit that made it into the German single charts. Now the artist has revealed that he was on the verge of bankruptcy after the Corona period – and the song saved him financially. A documentary about the DJ will soon be available on YouTube.
The “Layla” Controversy
There was no getting around the Ballermann song in the summer of 2022. The track sings about a “puffmama” who is “more beautiful, younger, hotter”. It was then banned at festivals in Würzburg and later in other cities. Even Justice Minister Buschmann got involved. A bizarre discussion about the value of artistic freedom and bans was ongoing. None of this seemed to affect the success (quite the opposite). “Layla” has now been streamed more than 144 million times and dominated the top of the charts for weeks.
The success gave DJ Robin 250 appearances a year. He could even be seen on the ZDF television garden. He admitted to “Bild” in an interview that he was in financial distress before the 2022 summer hit was released. “After the Corona period, I was on the verge of bankruptcy, was empty and had no orders. I kept myself afloat with mini-jobs like with delivery heroes, as a night porter or selling mulled wine.”
A documentary for the family album
He and Apron had had “Layla” up their sleeves for a year and a half: “It was our last cartridge – and it brought gold and platinum in a short time. That completely turned my life upside down. Hence the documentary, which was actually intended for the family album, but also to process this intense time.”
The documentary in question about the 28-year-old is scheduled to appear on YouTube in four to eight weeks. The song “Bumsbar”, which followed the controversial hit, is said to have provided a lot of film material for the 95-minute film. Ex-Stuttgart striker Julian Schieber and the Summerfield bosses around IKKE Hipgold, among others, will have their say. The party documentary is said to have cost more than 10,000 euros.