by Evan C. GutierrezPatrick Decker, better known to German gangsta rap fans as Fler, was born on the western outskirts of Berlin. With no father figure in sight, Decker experienced trouble in school, ultimately deciding to live on his own, apprenticing as a painter. Decker's hip-hop dreams came late, not rapping at all before the age of 20. Pursuing hip-hop rather than criminal activity, Decker was first heard as a guest artist on Bushido recordings, under the name Franc White in 2002. A year later Decker signed to Aggro Berlin, Germany's premier gangsta rap record label. Under the name Fler, the artist released his first single in 2004, called "Aggroberlina," which debuted in the Top 100 on national charts. Fler's first solo record hit shelves and airwaves a short time later, on May 1, 2005. The record's single "Neue Deutsche Welle" (New German Wave) drew heavy criticism for containing right-wing nationalist ideas. Fler and Aggro Berlin label execs became the center of a national scandal relating to rap lyrics and nationalist/neo-Nazi identity. Repeatedly refuting claims that he supported right-wing radical agendas, Fler's debut record made Billboard's European Top 100 nevertheless. A year later, his follow-up record, Der Trendsetter, repeated that success and shifted lyrical focus from ideas of national identity to more benign gangster themes. The song "Cus Junge" even explored the beauty of Turkish/German women, a move no doubt creating distance between the artist and his neo-Nazi reputation. The 2007 release Airmax Muzik was followed by an international tour featuring Fler and several of his labelmates.