Well, those guys may (still) be among the top 10 best-selling German rap artists. I have to slightly correct you, though. The 'tough guy' thing is a bit outdated in 2015. There has been a huge turnaround in terms of what's hip, trendy and popular in the last couple of years, mostly due to artists like Cro, Casper or Marteria. So called hipster rap or pop rap is the hot stuff nowadays. Just look at YT views:

Sido – Bilder im Kopf (49 million views)
Cro – Easy (46 million views)
Marteria – Kids (37 million views)
Alligatoah – Willst du (34 million views)

Those numbers are pretty impressive, considering there are only 100 million native speakers worldwide according to Wikipedia. No "gangster rapper" has topped that lately, no matter how successful he might be. Not Kollegah, not Haftbefehl. Only Bushido came close with his remarkable 10-minute-diss-track against a certain rapper whose name shall not be mentioned.

Last week, Blumentopf, one of Germany's most talented, most respected (as well as most hated) and longest existing rap crews announced their breakup after more than 20 years. 'Kein Zufall', their debut LP from 1997 was one of those albums that introduced me to this whole German rap thing back in da days when I only knew US acts like Cypress Hill, Wu-Tang and 2Pac. A minute of silen... sound, please.

Blumentopf - 6 Meter 90 (1997)

Blumentopf - Nur dass ihr wisst (2001)

Blumentopf - Schweiß (2006)

Blumentopf - Fenster zum Berg (2011)

And let's not forget about their wonderful tribute to gaming and nerd culture:

Blumentopf - Profis

Now, I'm not a massive fan of cube, but the boy can rap! he aint half bad ina film either - but at any rate...

today WAS a good day!

This one is a must-listen: Rain - Mac Miller ft. Vince Staples: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DqBBZ98n8A

Love Vince in general, and this beat is incredible. Plus Mac (someone I'm not ultra familiar with) really brings it here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VArcuzke2c8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fC-dS-8-_J4

and the hilarious Stitches...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe837V98CNw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBPUTNU2xoA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZ6MuD6Ze-4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJ2ggxjx9yQ

I can't look away, it's so fucking... lmao....

Anyone else know about and like the NYC collective Nuk Fam (Junk Science, Iller Than Theirs, Scott Thorough, NEMC, Probe etc.)? Sadly they're pretty much underdogs and so it's not that easy to link to their best songs online. I couldn't even find some of my favorites like "New York" and "Bathroom Floor" by Nuk Fam or "TBTAJ Pt. 2" by Junk Science feat. Kray, and for others I'll have to link to the full album streams:

Check out track 2 ("Raw") and 7 ("Monkey Drums") of the Nuk Fam EP "... The New Singles?", as well as track 2 ("To Be Ill"), 7 ("Smorg") and 9 ("Lo-Top Sneakers (feat. Baje One)") of the self-titled Iller Than Theirs album.

Bandcamp:
Junk Science - Clark Kent
Junk Science - Pop Rocks (Extended Disco Edit)

YouTube:
Junk Science - Roads (feat. Scott Thorough & Probe)
Junk Science - Do It Easy
Junk Science - Hey
Junk Science - Fire Drill
Junk Science - Woodchucks (feat. Loer Velocity)
Junk Science - That Being Said (feat. Iller Than Theirs)
Junk Science - That's The Way
Junk Science - House Wigger
Tone Tank - Ain't Shit Changed?!?

I can imagine they're not for everybody but I just love those beats and samples; the flow is quite nice too when at its best.

Antlive: figure me out (video) new real hip hop. Representing BROOKLYN
Twitter @antliveproject

Haven't heard this in a seafarer's familiy time!
Redman - Muddy Waters

Genetikk - D.N.A.

I usually don't pay attention to things like that, but damn, the girl in this video is really beautiful.

SSIO - Nullkommaneun

Song starts at 2:30. This dude is hilarious. Helps to understand the language, though. ^^

Schwesta Ewa - Escortflow

A Frankfurt-based former high-class prostitute of Polish heritage turned Germany's most successful female MC. Deal with it.

Crack Ignaz & Wandl - James Dean

Far out, man.

BTNG - Gewachsen auf Beton

BTNG stands for Boateng, which is his surname, as well as those of his brothers Jérôme and Kevin-Prince. Football fans will understand.

AVVVIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT!

Its bigger than... tits?! O____o?/

Weerd Science is dope. Cage is mega dope.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBLDfaNji8o

My #1 by far, if you like darker hip-hop check out his side project Sam Hill.
https://soundcloud.com/samhill666/the-peucharist

I feel like just leaving this here.