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.
Doofpot
Osdorp Posse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
En luister je toch? Loop je de kans dat je gedood wordt!
Want rap is info, door tekst en woorden
En d¹r zijn genoeg gestoorden die om woorden moorden
Als het gaat om poen, als het gaat om macht
zullen mensen dingen doen die men niet verwacht
Want achter de schermen of gesloten deuren
gebeuren dingen die officieel niet gebeuren
om hun chemische afval illegaal te lozen
In tonnen en vaten, want pleite is pleite!
En tonnetjes dumpen is met tonnetjes smijten
Kijk de legertop die zijn plicht verzuimt
als ergens een heel volk wordt opgeruimd
Genocide werd gepresenteerd als rotmisere,
maar bleek even later toch een doofpotaffaire
En denk aan satellieten die constant beelden schieten
van elk stukje aarde en dus ook de bloedvergieten
Amerika koopt al deze rechten op
en behoedt zichzelf zo voor een terechte strop
Want denk aan massagraven en bominslagen
Zeer goed te zien van boven, begint het te dagen?
De hele wereld is corrupt en mislukt
En de armste mensen gaan het meest gebukt!
DOOFPOT! DOOFPOT!
Onze planeet is één grote doofpot
Dus houd het deksel maar op de pan
en we koken gaar in onze eigen stoofpot
DOOFPOT! DOOFPOT!
Onze planeet is één grote doofpot
Ze zeggen de waarheid duurt het langst,
maar een korte duur is wat ons beloofd wordt!
Amerika maakt jacht op terroristen,
geloofsfanatisme en fundamentalisten
De paus is toch ook een criminele terrorist?
Ja, die seniele debiel die moest al lang in z¹n kist!
Maar dacht je dat Amerika de paus aanpakte?
Terwijl ze zelf volop in de kerken plakten?
Vergeet het maar, daar mag je niet over praten
want Bush en z¹n maten zijn net zulke fanaten!
God dit, God dat, ja je hoort het steeds
³DUS DOOD AAN ABORTUS EN LEVE AIDS!²
Het is ieder voor zich in een te volle bende
Dus iedereen misbruikt ook elkaars ellende
Neem de goede doelen, en wat ze bedoelen
en wat ze beloven met schijnheilige smoelen
Minstens driekwart van wat u doneert
hoort direct aan het doel te worden gespendeerd
Maar geef jij je gift nou per telefoon
dan is een krappe helft plotseling heel gewoon
De rest blijft hangen aan de dikke strijkstok
Wat vind jij van die geintjes die ze flikken IJsblok?
Laat ze allemaal maar de tering krijgen!
We laten ons niet langer door de macht bedreigen
Dus fok verzwijgen! De waarheid op tafel
Geen kranten met fabels, maar kleppen die snavels!
DOOFPOT! DOOFPOT!
Onze planeet is één grote doofpot!
Dus houd het deksel maar op de pan
en we koken gaar in onze eigen stoofpot
DOOFPOT! DOOFPOT!
Onze planeet is één grote doofpot!
Ze zeggen de waarheid duurt het langst,
maar een korte duur is wat ons beloofd wordt!
Een grootse bruiloft van OPa, heb ik jou daar¹
De kosten zeker tien miljoen is dat waar?
Liet Oranje nou dit geintje door het volk betalen?
Heeft de monarchie het recht dit schaamteloos te bepalen?
Ja, Willem naait Maxima, rechts naait minima
Bestaat Opolitiek correct¹ of spelen wij een crimi na?
Is er nog iemand die mij uitleggen mag
waarom je hier bepaalde dingen liever niet meer zeggen mag?
ONoord Afrikaan¹ is krantentaal voor Marrokaan
Heb de buitenlander of de allochtoon het gedaan?
Toen pissen plassen werd is het gezeik begonnen
en hebben wat mongolen nieuwe termen verzonnen
Oh sorry, ik bedoel natuurlijk geestelijk gehandicapt
Verstandelijk gehandicapt, zo één die een syndroom hebt
Zijn dat nou woorden waar ik mij voor schaam?
Fok dat! En noem het beesie toch gewoon bij z¹n naam!
De wereld is zo al ingewikkeld genoeg
En al is de leugen nog zo verschrikkelijk vroeg
De waarheid komt later en slaat een krater
in de leugens van de pater en de mooiweerprater
De wereld is een doofpot, maar wat ik denk:
Onze zelfdeceptie is een groot geschenk!
Van goed of kwaad? dat is nou de test!
Mensen liegen en bedriegen en we vinden het best...
DOOFPOT! DOOFPOT!
Onze planeet is één grote doofpot!
Dus houd het deksel maar op de pan
en we koken gaar in onze eigen stoofpot
DOOFPOT! DOOFPOT!
Onze planeet is één grote doofpot!
Ze zeggen de waarheid duurt het langst,
maar een korte duur is wat ons beloofd wordt!
The song "Doofpot" by Osdorp Posse is a commentary on corruption and concealment of the truth in various aspects of society. The lyrics emphasize how people often turn a blind eye to events happening in the world and how those in power hide the truth to maintain their grip on power. The first few lines of the song warn that speaking out about certain issues may put one in danger, indicating the power dynamics at play. The song then goes on to describe how powerful people often prioritize money and control over human lives and the environment. It touches on topics like illegal dumping of chemical waste, genocide being presented as a misfortune, and how the world's poorest people suffer the most.
Furthermore, the song talks about religious fanaticism, the mismanagement of funds for charity, and how language is manipulated to mask discrimination. The song also questions societal norms and values through examples like the funding of an extravagant wedding from public money and how certain language is used to label people who do not fit into the dominant culture. The overall message of the song is that people should not be complacent and accept the corruption and lies but must strive to know the truth and demand accountability.
Line by Line Meaning
Dit is een doofpot, dus doe maar net of je doof wordt
This is a cover-up, so pretend like you're deaf
En luister je toch? Loop je de kans dat je gedood wordt!
And if you still listen? You're risking your life!
Want rap is info, door tekst en woorden
Because rap provides information through lyrics and words
En d¹r zijn genoeg gestoorden die om woorden moorden
And there are enough crazies who kill over words
Als het gaat om poen, als het gaat om macht, zullen mensen dingen doen die men niet verwacht
When it comes to money, when it comes to power, people will do unexpected things
Want achter de schermen of gesloten deuren, gebeuren dingen die officieel niet gebeuren
Because behind the scenes or closed doors, things happen that officially don't happen
Zoals directeuren die massaal verkozen om hun chemische afval illegaal te lozen
Like directors who choose to illegally dump their chemical waste
In tonnen en vaten, want pleite is pleite! En tonnetjes dumpen is met tonnetjes smijten
In barrels and drums, because being gone is being gone! Dumping barrels is like throwing barrels
Kijk de legertop die zijn plicht verzuimt, als ergens een heel volk wordt opgeruimd
Look at the military top neglecting its duty when a whole nation is being wiped out
Genocide werd gepresenteerd als rotmisere, maar bleek even later toch een doofpotaffaire
Genocide was presented as a disaster, but turned out to be a cover-up affair
En denk aan satellieten die constant beelden schieten, van elk stukje aarde en dus ook de bloedvergieten
And think about satellites shooting constant images, of every piece of land, including the bloodshed
Amerika koopt al deze rechten op, en behoedt zichzelf zo voor een terechte strop
America buys all these rights, protecting itself from a rightful noose
Want denk aan massagraven en bominslagen, Zeer goed te zien van boven, begint het te dagen?
Because think about mass graves and bombings, very visible from above, is it starting to dawn?
De hele wereld is corrupt en mislukt, En de armste mensen gaan het meest gebukt!
The whole world is corrupt and failed, and the poorest people suffer the most!
DOOFPOT! DOOFPOT! Onze planeet is één grote doofpot
COVER-UP! COVER-UP! Our planet is one big cover-up
Dus houd het deksel maar op de pan en we koken gaar in onze eigen stoofpot
So keep the lid on the pan and we'll cook in our own stew
Ze zeggen de waarheid duurt het langst, maar een korte duur is wat ons beloofd wordt!
They say the truth lasts the longest, but a short duration is what's promised to us!
Amerika maakt jacht op terroristen, geloofsfanatisme en fundamentalisten
America hunts terrorists, religious fanaticism, and fundamentalists
De paus is toch ook een criminele terrorist? Ja, die seniele debiel die moest al lang in z¹n kist!
Isn't the pope also a criminal terrorist? Yes, that senile idiot should have been in his casket a long time ago!
Maar dacht je dat Amerika de paus aanpakte? Terwijl ze zelf volop in de kerken plakten?
But did you think America would go after the pope? While they themselves had a strong presence in the churches?
Vergeet het maar, daar mag je niet over praten want Bush en z¹n maten zijn net zulke fanaten!
Forget about it, you can't talk about it because Bush and his buddies are just as fanatic!
God dit, God dat, ja je hoort het steeds ³DUS DOOD AAN ABORTUS EN LEVE AIDS!²
God this, God that, yeah you hear it all the time ³SO DEATH TO ABORTION AND LONG LIVE AIDS!²
Het is ieder voor zich in een te volle bende Dus iedereen misbruikt ook elkaars ellende
It's every man for himself in an overcrowded mess So everyone also exploits each other's misery
Neem de goede doelen, en wat ze bedoelen en wat ze beloven met schijnheilige smoelen
Take the charities, and what they mean and what they promise with hypocritical faces
Minstens driekwart van wat u doneert hoort direct aan het doel te worden gespendeerd
At least three-quarters of what you donate should go directly to the cause
Maar geef jij je gift nou per telefoon dan is een krappe helft plotseling heel gewoon
But if you give your gift by phone, suddenly just half is considered normal
De rest blijft hangen aan de dikke strijkstok Wat vind jij van die geintjes die ze flikken IJsblok?
The rest lingers on the fat embezzlement What do you think of those tricks they pull, IJsblok?
Laat ze allemaal maar de tering krijgen! We laten ons niet langer door de macht bedreigen
Let them all go to hell! We won't be threatened by power anymore
Dus fok verzwijgen! De waarheid op tafel Geen kranten met fabels, maar kleppen die snavels!
So screw silence! Put the truth on the table No newspapers with fables, but shut those beaks!
Een grootse bruiloft van OPa, heb ik jou daar¹ De kosten zeker tien miljoen is dat waar?
A grand wedding of OPa, oh boy Is it true the costs are ten million?
Liet Oranje nou dit geintje door het volk betalen? Heeft de monarchie het recht dit schaamteloos te bepalen?
Did Orange let the people pay for this trick? Does the monarchy have the right to shamelessly decide?
Ja, Willem naait Maxima, rechts naait minima Bestaat Opolitiek correct¹ of spelen wij een crimi na?
Yes, Willem screws Maxima, the right screws the minimum Exists Opolitically correct¹ or are we playing a crime scene?
Is er nog iemand die mij uitleggen mag waarom je hier bepaalde dingen liever niet meer zeggen mag?
Is there still someone who can explain why you're not allowed to say certain things here anymore?
ONoord Afrikaan¹ is krantentaal voor Marrokaan Heb de buitenlander of de allochtoon het gedaan?
ONoord Afrikaan¹ is newspaper language for Moroccan Did the foreigner or the immigrant do it?
Toen pissen plassen werd is het gezeik begonnen en hebben wat mongolen nieuwe termen verzonnen
When pissing became peeing, the whining started and some idiots came up with new terms
Oh sorry, ik bedoel natuurlijk geestelijk gehandicapt Verstandelijk gehandicapt, zo één die een syndroom hebt
Oh sorry, I mean mentally handicapped Intellectually handicapped, someone with a syndrome
Zijn dat nou woorden waar ik mij voor schaam? Fok dat! En noem het beesie toch gewoon bij z¹n naam!
Are those now words I should be ashamed of? Screw that! Just call the animal by its name!
De wereld is zo al ingewikkeld genoeg En al is de leugen nog zo verschrikkelijk vroeg
The world is already complicated enough And even if the lie is terribly early
De waarheid komt later en slaat een krater in de leugens van de pater en de mooiweerprater
The truth comes later and creates a crater in the lies of the priest and the fair-weather speaker
De wereld is een doofpot, maar wat ik denk: Onze zelfdeceptie is een groot geschenk!
The world is a cover-up, but what I think: Our self-deception is a great gift!
Van goed of kwaad? dat is nou de test! Mensen liegen en bedriegen en we vinden het best...
Between good and evil? That's the test! People lie and deceive, and we're fine with it...
DOOFPOT! DOOFPOT! Onze planeet is één grote doofpot!
COVER-UP! COVER-UP! Our planet is one big cover-up!
Dus houd het deksel maar op de pan en we koken gaar in onze eigen stoofpot
So keep the lid on the pan and we'll cook in our own stew
Ze zeggen de waarheid duurt het langst, maar een korte duur is wat ons beloofd wordt!
They say the truth lasts the longest, but a short duration is what's promised to us!
Lyrics © Red Brick Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ATTILA SZABO, PASCAL GRIFFIOEN, ROBIN BEZUIJEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind