One of the group’s trademarks was the experimentation with Dutch lyrics, which resulted the (back then) four piece in being the first ever crew in The Netherlands to release a complete demo in their native language. This turned out to be the start of a new genre they still call ‘Nederhop’ to this day, a term consisting of the words “Nederlandse” (Dutch) and “Hip-Hop”.
The start of Osdorp Posse can be tracked back as far as 1986, when Def P (real name Pascal Griffioen) made his debut on the Dutch hip-hop scene with the group Funky Fresh Force, consisting of him and DJ Dov, who would later become a famous House DJ under the pseudonym DJ The Prophet.
In 1988 Griffioen started experimenting with Dutch lyrics as a joke (translating American rap lyrics from groups such as N.W.A.), and a creative exercise (writing a couple of ‘real’ songs). His nephew Marco (later on taking on the nickname IJsblock – a literal translation of N.W.A.’s infamous Ice Cube) joined in the musical tomfoolery, as they recorded raps on instrumental tracks from their record collection, using nothing but a tape deck and a microphone.
It wasn’t until Marco and Pascal met Robin (now known as Seda) and Arthur (King) that they got down to writing real material that they found suitable for recording. Even though their musical playground that they had by then labelled Osdorp Posse (named after the Amsterdam neighbourhood Osdorp, where they all lived) consisted of a large group of friends with a continuously changing line-up, the core of the Posse was the four guys, and would remain so until twelve years later. With a lot of the co-rappers leaving the group with no interest in taking Osdorp Posse to a next level, the group recorded an infamous demo as a fourpiece. The nameless cassette – which quickly became known as ‘De Rode Demo’ (The Red Demo) – was handed out to friends, and travelled the country, taking the underground alternative music scene by storm through the tape trading circuit.
One of the many people who got hands on De Rode Demo was Saskia Sleger, the owner of the underground dancelabel DJAX. Recognizing the originality as well as the obvious talent, Sleger decided to contact the group and offer them a contract. Hardly believing what just happened to them, the young rappers immediately signed with DJAX, without reading the fine print. Def P later described this move in the band’s biography ‘Tien Jaar OP’ as impulsive and a bit naïve, but it turned out to be a good thing: the start of legendary career.
Now having to actually release cds instead of fooling around with a tapedeck, Pascal, Marco, Robin and Arthur franticly started writing out the material that they had come with before heading to a local studio in 1992, recording the first ever ‘Nederhop’ cd: the poorly produced yet explosive, hardcore and edgy twenty three song classic ‘Osdorp Stijl’ (Osdorp Style).
With an official release in stores, the group started on a journey that moved their live-shows away from the squat- and fret houses, onto the ‘ real’ alternative music scene. The album was an instant underground classic, which not only spawned an entire generation of Dutch Hip-hop acts at the time, but also quickly finding a following within a diverse group of alternative music fans such as punkers, metalheads, rockers and many alike.
The following two releases were plagued by the same production problems as their infamous debut, but through their sheer determination, explosive live shows and hardcore, relentless lyrical attitude became underground hits nevertheless. It wasn’t until they were asked to play the warm-up show at the biggest festival in the Netherlands, Pinkpop, that they got recognition from a larger audience. Their fourth cd entitled ‘Afslag Osdorp’ (Osdorp Exit), was released soon after the legendary festival appearance, and was the groups largest commercial success to that date. Riding the wave of word-to-mouth advertising following Pinkpop and their years on end of touring and self promoting (being ignored by mainstream media and critics), Afslag Osdorp sold thousands of copies; an achievement that was until then unthinkable for a Dutch rap act.
Later that year, with their popularity growing to a new height, Osdorp Posse played one of the most legendary and afterwards most talked about performances on the Dutch alternative music scene at the Lowlands Festival. Something that was euphemistically called a programming mistake, the group was set to play the smallest tent (Charlie) in the afternoon. Even though the Amsterdam crew warned the festival organisation about the possible consequences, the foursome’s advice to move their show to a bigger tent fell was ignored, resulting in half the festival attendees trying to fit in the small, claustrophobic space in anticipation of what was then one of the biggest things in Dutch music: Osdorp Posse. After the first couple of notes were played, the frantic crowd started to mosh, pogo and crowdsurf with such an enthusiasm that they nearly destroyed the entire tent. Def P later explained he had no idea how dangerous the situation was, that eventually led to an early ending of the gig when the crowd rushed to the stage, crushing the structure. No one got seriously hurt, yet everyone had witnessed and taken part in a legendary festival moment, talked about to this day.
In 1996 the group received the prestigious ‘ Pop Prijs’ (Pop Prize), as a recognition of their pioneering role in the Dutch hip-hop scene. That year also marked another legendary festival performance; the Dynamo Open Air festival – at that time the most important Heavy Metal event in the world – playing as the first and only hip-hop crew ever in front of more then a 100.000 longhaired metalheads, a large portion of whom were stoned Germans (enjoying the music all the same). The following year, ‘ Osdorp’ returned to Pinkpop, this time playing not once but twice: first on the small stage, returning on the final day at the main stage in front of 60.000 people.
After the commercial and artistic successes of albums such as ‘Briljant, Hard en Geslepen’ (Brilliant, Hard and Polished) – recorded with death metal band Nembrionic, and the chart success ‘Geendagsvlieg’ (literally: No day fly, as a play on words to the term ‘one day fly’, emphasizing their timelessness) the Posse left their long time label Djax to start up their own label called RAMP Records (consisting of the first letters in their names: Robin, Arthur, Marco, Pascal). In 2000, the group’s first release on their own turf called ‘ Kernramp’ (Nuclear Disaster) became their biggest commercial success, and remains so to this day. For the first time in their 12 year long career, Osdorp Posse even landed on the Dutch TOP 40 charts with their single ‘ Origineel Amsterdams’, which eventually ploughed into the top 10.
The release of their eighth album also marked the first change in line-up the group had seen since the early demo days: DJ ‘Deegmeester’ Daan – who already joined the band on stage for quite a while – became the fifth member of Osdorp Posse. That year they returned to Lowlands Festival as a five-piece, this time on a bigger stage. Once again controversy was part of the group’s performance, with Def P openly protesting against the nationwide crowd surf ban (as a result to the Roskilde tragedy earlier that year).
Around that time the music industry started crashing down. With programmes such as Napster and Kazaa providing fans with free – yet illegal – music, Osdorp Posse’s new label had a hard time lifting off. Every release after ‘ Kernramp’, such as ‘ Tegenstrijd” (meaning both Counter Battle, and Contradiction in Dutch) and Hollandse Hardcore Hip-Hop Helden all saw decreasing sales figures. At the same time, the genre the group created – Nederhop – had become a mainstream phenomena with acts such as Extince, Def Rhymz, and new school artists and groups like Raymster and Opgezwolle taking over the Dutch hiphop scene. Osdorp Posse, never being a favourite of the mainstream media – could only witness their own decline.
Around 2004, the group had plummeted back into the underground scene, once again playing the smaller venues. The groups hardcore following had eye for their later releases with bands such as Laberinto and Blind Justice, but stayed true to their heroes all the same.
Near the end of 2008, the group has announced to call it quits. After a release party of their final effort entitled ‘2 Decennia’ (Two Decades), Osdorp Posse embarked on a farewell tour, taking them to all the places they played, rocked the mike at, and witnessed their fanatic following go crazy to their hardcore style of performing.
The group’s swansong took place on their own turf, in the Amsterdam club De Melkweg in September of 2009, leaving a legacy that can not be ignored or forgotten: the invention and perfection of Nederhop.
Beneden met vrede
Osdorp Posse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
je bent zeker nooit in een droom uitgegleden.
De dienstplicht roept je en wat is de reden?
Je moet gaan vechten voor de vrede.
Dit is grote onzin en onterecht,
maar jij hebt niks te zeggen over goed en slecht.
Je vaderland beveelt en die zegt vecht,
ja, slavernij bestaat nog echt.
hoe je medemens te doden wordt jou verteld.
Je eigen mening wordt uit je hoofd gepeld,
je wordt gewoon een pion op een slagveld.
Het leger lost problemen op door te moorden,
als er zogenaamd niet meer gepraat kan worden.
Je denkt tot moorden ben ik niet in staat,
maar je mist verantwoordelijkheid voor je daad.
Want je volgt blindelings bevelen op,
anders kost het misschien wel je eigen kop.
Je meerdere die beslist voor jou,
alleen omdat hij meer strepen heeft op zijn mouw.
Wapenfabrikanten produceren maar raak,
mensenlevens tellen niet, winst is de hoofdzaak.
Stel je voor dat alle legers vergaan,
dan zou er nooit meer oorlog en honger bestaan.
Want zelfs al maakt het leger niemand dood,
sterven daardoor nog mensen van de hongernood.
De bommen worden duurder en krachtiger,
maar maniakken vinden het juist prachtiger.
Je vecht in een oorlog tegen andere landen,
maar nooit voor jezelf, alleen voor een andere.
In een oorlog maakt het niets uit wie je bent,
je schiet op mensen die je nooit heb gekend.
Je noemt ze je vijand en alleen omdat
zij hun uniform in een ander (land hebben) gehad.
Het is je reinste vorm van discriminatie,
racisme, facisme, je lijkt wel een nazi.
Met ruzie tussen leiders heb je niets te maken,
dus vecht niet om dingen die jou niet raken.
Misschien zal dan ooit de dag nog komen,
dat alle mensen die van vrede dromen,
massaal weigeren om geweld te gebruiken,
en deze wereld zal niet meer naar rottend bloed ruiken.
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The Osdorp Posse song "Beneden met vrede" is a strong criticism of the military draft and war. The lyrics depict how a person is brainwashed into joining the military and killing people, all in the name of "peace." The song challenges the idea that killing is a necessary means to achieve peace and argues that war only brings more misery, as it is the ultimate form of discrimination.
The song highlights how the military creates a hierarchical system where the higher-ups give orders, and those lower in rank blindly obey, even though these orders may go against their own conscience. It exposes the propaganda used in the military to condition soldiers to believe that killing is the best way to solve problems, and how this robs people of their individuality and turns them into mere pawns in a larger, violent game. The song ends by imagining a world where people refuse to use violence to solve their problems and instead strive for true peace.
Line by Line Meaning
Je denkt dat je alles hebt, je bent tevreden,
You think you have everything and are content.
je bent zeker nooit in een droom uitgegleden.
You have never fallen into a dream.
De dienstplicht roept je en wat is de reden?
The military draft calls you and what is the reason?
Je moet gaan vechten voor de vrede.
You have to go fight for peace.
Dit is grote onzin en onterecht,
This is nonsense and unjust.
maar jij hebt niks te zeggen over goed en slecht.
But you have no say in what is good and what is bad.
Je vaderland beveelt en die zegt vecht,
Your homeland commands you to fight.
ja, slavernij bestaat nog echt.
Yes, slavery still exists.
Alles wat je wordt geleerd draait om geweld,
Everything you are taught revolves around violence.
hoe je medemens te doden wordt jou verteld.
You are told how to kill your fellow human being.
Je eigen mening wordt uit je hoofd gepeld,
Your own opinion is peeled out of your head.
je wordt gewoon een pion op een slagveld.
You become just a pawn on a battlefield.
Het leger lost problemen op door te moorden,
The army solves problems by killing.
als er zogenaamd niet meer gepraat kan worden.
When supposedly there can't be any more talking.
Je denkt tot moorden ben ik niet in staat,
You think that you are not capable of murder.
maar je mist verantwoordelijkheid voor je daad.
But you lack responsibility for your actions.
Want je volgt blindelings bevelen op,
Because you blindly follow orders.
anders kost het misschien wel je eigen kop.
Otherwise, it might cost you your own head.
Je meerdere die beslist voor jou,
Your superior decides for you.
alleen omdat hij meer strepen heeft op zijn mouw.
Only because he has more stripes on his sleeve.
Wapenfabrikanten produceren maar raak,
Weapon manufacturers produce recklessly.
mensenlevens tellen niet, winst is de hoofdzaak.
Human lives don't count; profit is the main goal.
Stel je voor dat alle legers vergaan,
Imagine if all armies would disappear.
dan zou er nooit meer oorlog en honger bestaan.
Then there would never be war and hunger again.
Want zelfs al maakt het leger niemand dood,
Because even if the army doesn't kill anyone,
sterven daardoor nog mensen van de hongernood.
People still die of starvation because of it.
De bommen worden duurder en krachtiger,
Bombs become more expensive and powerful.
maar maniakken vinden het juist prachtiger.
But maniacs find it more beautiful.
Je vecht in een oorlog tegen andere landen,
You fight in a war against other countries,
maar nooit voor jezelf, alleen voor een andere.
But never for yourself, only for another.
In een oorlog maakt het niets uit wie je bent,
In a war, it doesn't matter who you are.
je schiet op mensen die je nooit heb gekend.
You shoot at people you have never known.
Je noemt ze je vijand en alleen omdat
You call them your enemy and only because
zij hun uniform in een ander (land hebben) gehad.
They have worn their uniform in another country.
Het is je reinste vorm van discriminatie,
It is the purest form of discrimination,
racisme, facisme, je lijkt wel een nazi.
Racism, fascism, you seem like a Nazi.
Met ruzie tussen leiders heb je niets te maken,
You have nothing to do with quarrels between leaders,
dus vecht niet om dingen die jou niet raken.
So don't fight for things that don't affect you.
Misschien zal dan ooit de dag nog komen,
Maybe one day the day will come,
dat alle mensen die van vrede dromen,
That all people who dream of peace,
massaal weigeren om geweld te gebruiken,
Collectively refuse to use violence,
en deze wereld zal niet meer naar rottend bloed ruiken.
And this world will no longer smell of decaying blood.
Contributed by Benjamin A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.