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.
Echte liefde
Osdorp Posse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
bezongen als de liefde. En tevens geen een onderwerp
waar zoveel waardeloze onzin over uitgebracht is.
Luister daarom naar deze realistische hardcore
versie over de liefde....
ECHTE LIEFDE!!!!!
Liefde is een onderwerp wat ik normaal geheid vermijd,
meid of zelfs nog bestrijd.
en zeg je dan van echte liefde ben je supergek.
Want het is echt niet stoer om altijd meisjes te gaan dissen,
en zo alle gein te missen want je bent je aan het vergissen
als je denkt dat bot doen hoort bij een echte vent,
want je ben pas een echte vent als je jezelf en eerlijk bent.
Als je hardop durft te zeggen of voor mijn part rapt,
dat je echte liefde meer dan alles nodig hebt.
Vind je dat maar soft? Dan moet jij nog heel veel leren,
want echte liefde kun je niet vervangen door masturberen.
Later als je wijzer wordt dan kom je d'r wel achter,
dat je serieuzer wordt en dat 't wat anders is dan zachter.
Sterker nog, het is pas echte hardcore,
wat ik zeg en wat ik voel en daar sta ik voor.
En weet jij wel hoe het voelt om aan de rand te staan?
Je zelf te voelen als een bom, gereed om af te gaan?
Want als je van de echte liefde eenmaal geproefd hebt,
weet je het is echt de eerste levensbehoefte.
En ook al sta je dan bekend als een hele taaie,
gebrek aan echte liefde kan je laten doordraaien.
Want zonder echte liefde ben je nooit echt gelukkig,
nooit echt jezelf en altijd prikkelbaar en nukkig.
De meeste jongens denken echt alleen maar aan neuken,
en praten alleen met geile meisjes, nooit met een leuke.
Tot het moment dat echte liefde toeslaat,
en een jongensbrein in die van een man overgaat.
En opeens vind jij de snollen niet meer interessant,
en denkt alleen maar aan die ware met jouw ring aan haar hand.
Nou ben jij nog een puber vindt je dit vast flauwekul,
maar neem dit nou maar vast aan van deze jonge ouwe lul.
Echte liefde is niet soft maar keihard,
het maakt je gelukkig of kapot en verward.
Spelen met de liefde is als spelen met vuur,
neem je het niet serieus dan komt het jou zeer duur
te staan want als je juist gaat spelen met diegene
waar jij van houdt dan neemt die vroeg of laat de benen.
En dan is het te laat en het zal je diep raken,
als je merkt dat het niet meer goed valt te maken.
Dan kan je voor je vrienden wel de bink uithangen,
maar ik weet als jij alleen zit stromen tranen langs je wangen.
En waar is dan opeens die stoere jongen gebleven,
die gisteren nog zei: "Er zijn genoeg andere teven."
SUKKEL! Denk er maar een goed over na,
de kwaliteiten van een meisje hangen niet in d'r beha.
Je verbergt dat je soft bent, doet of je de botste bent.
Maar al met al trek jij aan het kortste end.
Ik ben niet gehersenspoeld door een breinwisser,
want ik ben en blijf nog steeds de harde snollendisser.
Niemand van die snollen kan met mij een spel spelen,
want ik weet wat ik wil en de rest kan mij niet schelen.
Echte liefde voor mij, of anders niets,
dan hou ik het wel bij m'n dope raps en beats.
En vond je deze tekst maar soft gelul,
dan weet ik dat ie eigenlijk te hard voor je was, knul.
Echte liefde
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The lyrics of Osdorp Posse's "Echte Liefde" speak to the importance of real love and the harm caused by neglecting it. The song begins with a critique of the endless stream of cheesy love songs and overused cliches, placing it within the genre of "realistic hardcore" and sets the tone for a frank and honest examination of the meaning and value of love. The rapper explains that he used to avoid or even oppose the topic of love due to the weak and superficial nature of many pop songs in this category. He also criticizes the tendency of men to "diss" girls instead of being honest and true to themselves.
At the midpoint of the song, he makes it clear that real love is both powerful and dangerous. Once you have experienced it, it becomes an essential part of your life, and neglecting it can make you feel lost and confused. The rapper encourages young people to be honest about their needs and feelings and to not treat love as something to be conquered or played with. Instead, he advocates for genuine connection and commitment, not just to make someone else happy but to find true happiness themselves. He asserts that love is not a soft and simple matter, but one that requires strength and courage to face and embrace.
In the end, he speaks directly to the listener, acknowledging that it may be difficult to fully appreciate his message. He challenges those who may dismiss his words as "soft gelul" or superficial saying, "you know that it was actually too hard for you, kid." The song encourages listeners to understand the real value of love, acknowledge its power, and dare to embrace it in all its complexity.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, schatje, er is geen een onderwerp zoveel
bezongen als de liefde. En tevens geen een onderwerp
waar zoveel waardeloze onzin over uitgebracht is.
Love is a topic that has been sung about very often. However, there has also been so much useless nonsense written about it.
Liefde is een onderwerp wat ik normaal geheid vermijd,
meid of zelfs nog bestrijd.
Normally, I avoid or even fight the subject of love.
Want de meeste liefdesliedjes vind ik superwack.
en zeg je dan van echte liefde ben je supergek.
I think most love songs are really lame. If you say you believe in true love, I think you're crazy.
Want het is echt niet stoer om altijd meisjes te gaan dissen,
en zo alle gein te missen want je bent je aan het vergissen
als je denkt dat bot doen hoort bij een echte vent,
It's not cool to always insult girls, missing out on all the fun. If you think being rude is what a real man does, you're mistaken.
want je ben pas een echte vent als je jezelf en eerlijk bent.
You're only a real man if you're honest and true to yourself.
Als je hardop durft te zeggen of voor mijn part rapt,
dat je echte liefde meer dan alles nodig hebt.
If you have the courage to say out loud, or even rap, that you need true love more than anything else.
Vind je dat maar soft? Dan moet jij nog heel veel leren,
want echte liefde kun je niet vervangen door masturberen.
If you think that's soft, then you still have a lot to learn. Real love cannot be replaced by masturbation.
Later als je wijzer wordt dan kom je d'r wel achter,
dat je serieuzer wordt en dat 't wat anders is dan zachter.
As you get older and wiser, you'll realize that love is serious and different from anything else.
Sterker nog, het is pas echte hardcore,
wat ik zeg en wat ik voel en daar sta ik voor.
In fact, it's true hardcore to stand up for what I say and feel.
En weet jij wel hoe het voelt om aan de rand te staan?
Je zelf te voelen als een bom, gereed om af te gaan?
Do you even know what it feels like to be on the edge? To feel like a bomb, ready to blow up?
Want als je van de echte liefde eenmaal geproefd hebt,
weet je het is echt de eerste levensbehoefte.
Once you've tasted true love, you know it's really the first necessity of life.
En ook al sta je dan bekend als een hele taaie,
gebrek aan echte liefde kan je laten doordraaien.
Even if you're known as a tough guy, the lack of true love can make you go crazy.
Want zonder echte liefde ben je nooit echt gelukkig,
nooit echt jezelf en altijd prikkelbaar en nukkig.
Without true love, you're never really happy, never yourself, and always irritable and moody.
De meeste jongens denken echt alleen maar aan neuken,
en praten alleen met geile meisjes, nooit met een leuke.
Most guys only think about sex and only talk to horny girls, never to interesting ones.
Tot het moment dat echte liefde toeslaat,
en een jongensbrein in die van een man overgaat.
Until the moment when true love strikes and a boy's brain becomes that of a man.
En opeens vind jij de snollen niet meer interessant,
end enkt alleen maar aan die ware met jouw ring aan haar hand.
Suddenly, you don't find sluts interesting anymore and only think about that one true love with a ring on her finger.
Nou ben jij nog een puber vindt je dit vast flauwekul,
maar neem dit nou maar vast aan van deze jonge ouwe lul.
You may still be a teenager and think this is nonsense, but take it from this young old man.
Echte liefde is niet soft maar keihard,
het maakt je gelukkig of kapot en verward.
True love is not soft but hardcore. It can make you happy, break you, or confuse you.
Spelen met de liefde is als spelen met vuur,
neem je het niet serieus dan komt het jou zeer duur
te staan want als je juist gaat spelen met diegene
waar jij van houdt dan neemt die vroeg of laat de benen.
Playing with love is like playing with fire. If you don't take it seriously, it will cost you dearly. If you play games with the one you love, they will eventually leave you.
En dan is het te laat en het zal je diep raken,
als je merkt dat het niet meer goed valt te maken.
And then it's too late, and it will deeply hurt you when you realize it's beyond repair.
Dan kan je voor je vrienden wel de bink uithangen,
maar ik weet als jij alleen zit stromen tranen langs je wangen.
You can act like a tough guy in front of your friends, but I know that when you're alone, tears will flow down your face.
En waar is dan opeens die stoere jongen gebleven,
die gisteren nog zei: "Er zijn genoeg andere teven."
And where did that tough guy go, who yesterday said: "There are plenty of other girls."
SUKKEL! Denk er maar een goed over na,
de kwaliteiten van een meisje hangen niet in d'r beha.
FOOL! Think about it, a girl's qualities are not in her bra.
Je verbergt dat je soft bent, doet of je de botste bent.
Maar al met al trek jij aan het kortste end.
You try to hide that you're sensitive and act like you're the toughest. But in the end, you're the one who loses out.
Ik ben niet gehersenspoeld door een breinwisser,
want ik ben en blijf nog steeds de harde snollendisser.
I haven't been brainwashed by a mind eraser. I'm still the tough guy who can get any girl he wants.
Niemand van die snollen kan met mij een spel spelen,
want ik weet wat ik wil en de rest kan mij niet schelen.
No slut can play a game with me because I know what I want, and I don't care about the rest.
Echte liefde voor mij, of anders niets,
dan hou ik het wel bij m'n dope raps en beats.
It's true love for me, or nothing else. I'll stick to my dope raps and beats instead.
En vond je deze tekst maar soft gelul,
dan weet ik dat ie eigenlijk te hard voor je was, knul.
And if you thought this text was soft nonsense, then I know it was actually too hardcore for you, kid.
ECHTE LIEFDE!!!!!
TRUE LOVE!!!!!
Contributed by Juliana W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.