Favorite - 3002

3002 doesn't open with a scream, but with a signal. "Intro (Carate Dummy X is ON)" establishes a controlled simulation atmosphere, an entryway into the enclosed universe where Christoph Alex, better known as Favorite, has chosen to confine himself. Released on December 26, 2025, through the House of Arts label, this studio album marks a particular temporal loop in his trajectory: it serves as a pivot between Alternative für Deutschland (2017) and the following project, Queenkiller (2025). With its 16 tracks spread across 44 minutes and 41 seconds, the album prioritizes narrative immersion over a constant stream of flows. The structure alternates between complete tracks and shorter spaces, like breaths between the main sequences, confirming an artistic approach that emphasizes sonic density rather than pure length.

Carate Dummy X: the boundaries of an enclosed universe

The cyclical architecture of the project is immediately apparent. Its presence is doubly significant, as it is credited as the author of the track ("Writer"), far beyond the simple role of a vocalist. The album concludes symmetrically with "Outro (Carate Dummy X is OFF)," sealing a closed circuit where the assumed identity of the German rapper born in Essen can resonate without the constraint of a fictional introduction.

Shameless Bitch & Siktir Lan: a limited mapping of collaborations

At the heart of this map is "Siktir Lan," a track that functions as a unique vocal crossroads. On this particular track, the list of collaborators doubles: Autizt and Flashus Christus share the stage with Favorite. This is a rare configuration that imposes a specific vocal density at this point in the listening experience, creating an immediate contrast with the surrounding solo performances. The album only features these three tracks with guest appearances, out of a total of sixteen tracks, which highlights Favorite's decision to limit her strategic alliances to specific moments rather than making them a constant practice. Each appearance, therefore, is a punctual event, a temporary alliance for a single track, without extending to the entire album or the artist's broader career.

Between Buaka and Raymatic: the density of a quarter of an hour of listening

The sonic identity of 3002 is based on a hybrid production collaboration, far from being the work of a single architect. The names Buaka, House of Arts Studios, and Raymatic are explicitly associated with the project, complemented by two other producers whose identities are not revealed in the credits. The production alternates between full tracks and shorter pieces, suggesting an album-oriented approach that emphasizes immersion rather than a continuous flow. The main producers, including Buaka, bring this sonic density that allows the album to breathe without ever losing its tension, between "Jede Nacht Schüsse" and "Weltgeschehen," without ever falling into emptiness.

From Alternative to Queenkiller: the weight of the trajectory

Within this narrative structure, where Christoph Alex explores the closed universe initiated by his alter-ego, 3002, there are occasional interventions that fragment the main flow without diminishing its dramatic tension. On "Drogenjunk", "VR3", and "Tochter auf Kox", the artist maintains an absolute solo presence, confirming that his collaborations with MoH, Autizt, Flashus Christus, and DERO remain as genuine sonic anomalies, concentrated solely on the three mentioned titles: "Shameless Bitch", "Siktir Lan", and "Red Cup". This strategic restraint contrasts sharply with the previous album, Alternative für Deutschland, released seven years earlier in 2017, revealing here a maturity where lyrical density outweighs the multiplication of voices. Thus, 3002 functions less as a linear progression than as a laboratory where Favorite tests the limits of his own vocal identity, between the fictional introduction activated by Carate Dummy X and the realistic conclusion that marks the end of this controlled experience, before the House of Arts fully unleashes the sonic purification of the next album. The album maintains a dialectical relationship with Favorite's history. It is not simply a culmination, but a strategic crossroads between two significant periods in his career. After Alternative für Deutschland (2017), where the German rapper had already established his style in German, 3002 serves as a bridge to Queenkiller. The House of Arts label ensures the release of the album, marking an independent foothold that persists despite changes in release strategies. The absence of external reviews or numerical ratings does not diminish the importance of the work, which stands on its own internal construction.

Technical specifications

- Release date: December 26, 2025 - Label: House of Arts - Tracks: 16 (44 minutes 41 seconds) - Opening / closing: Intro (Carate Dummy X is ON) / Outro (Carate Dummy X is OFF) - Guest artists: MoH, Autizt, Flashus Christus, DERO - Previous album: Alternative für Deutschland (2017)