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.
Harder dan te hard
Osdorp Posse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
IJsblok, de draaitafeltennisser en O.P. manager
is weer eens in het huis.
King, de t-shirt dealer en de gekke vierwieler
is weer eens in het huis.
Def P, de Nederhop oprichter, onverslagen tekstdichter
is weer eens in het huis.
Seda, de beatprofessor en de tweede rapagressor
De Osdorp Posse!
Een nieuwe CD!
Ja het wordt weer tijd voor oprechte eerlijkheid
en kwaliteit van 't begin tot 't eind.
Want de rest die klierde
dus de O.P. komt nu alweer met de vierde.
De derde was voor veel mensen al te hard,
maar de vlijmscherp-stijl was nog maar de start.
Dus harder dan te hard is nou de fokking titel,
want ik blijf toonaangevend en vernieuwend als een Beatle.
De deffe dope tekstdichter en de woordvoerder
is nu nog gerichter en 10 procent stoerder.
Jij dacht ik ben als tekstschrijver niet te vertrouwen,
tot bleek dat ik elke tekst kon onderbouwen.
Je noemt me racistisch, je noemt me facistisch,
je noemt sexistisch, nou effe realistisch.
Niemand is beter dan mij, heter dan mij,
feller dan mij, sneller dan mij,
roffer dan mij, toffer dan mij,
frisser dan mij, gisser dan mij.
En met m'n dope beats d'r bij, zijn wij de best beluisterde hiphop groep.
Veel beter dan de meeste van die nieuwe school troep.
Want ik kick nog steeds op het pure van rap,
dus ik steun de terugkeer van de boom-bap.
Nooit eerder was er een Nederlandse rapgroep
met vier CD's uit, dus wat ik net roep
is iets om trots op te zijn en te vieren,
dus breng maar wijven, wiet en de Belgische bieren.
En daarna gaan we keihard door,
op naar de vijfde en hardcore.
Op Djax een underground label dus relaxed,
want we maken wat we willen en het zijn roffe trax
met een boodschap, kom maar klootzak,
want lege rijms blaas ik weg als een lege broodzak.
Want ik ben niet beneden met de zondagsrijmers,
foute timers en mediaslijmers.
Iedereen wil nou wel in het Nederlands gaan rappen,
maar doe het dan toch eens een keertje beter dan dat neppe.
Kijk, rijms van me jatten dat doen zelfs sint en piet,
maar een goeie tekst schrijven dat kunnen jullie niet.
Dus als je niks te zeggen hebt ga dan ook geen platen
vol praten over criminele maten in de straten.
Je hoeft niet te bewijzen hoe dom je bent,
want dat weten wij toch al lang al zonder je band.
Dus als jij respect wil stop dan met die pulp,
zodat Nederhop kan groeien ook zonder mijn hulp.
En zit je me dwars omdat je eigenwijs bent,
dan maak ik aan jouw gangster image gauw een end.
Samen met de Posse kan je sterker staan,
want ik stop niet voor het werk is gedaan.
Punk!
O-S-D-O-R-P, O-S-D-O-r, O-S-D-O-R-P.
O-S-D-O-R-P, O-S-D-O-r, O-S-D-O-R-P.
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The lyrics to Osdorp Posse's song Harder dan te hard are a declaration of the group's strength and confidence in their music. They introduce themselves and their team, highlighting their individual talents, such as IJsblok's turntablism and Def P's lyricism. They also reference their previous album, which some found too intense, and explain that the title of this new album reflects their determination to always push the limits and be innovative. Def P seems to take pleasure in the criticism he receives from others who call him racist or fascist, saying that he can back up his lyrics and asserting his superiority as a rapper. He also critiques the current state of Dutch hip hop, calling out those who try to imitate without bringing anything unique to the genre.
The song expresses a desire for honesty, quality, and authenticity in music, and a willingness to keep working hard and fighting against those who would try to bring them down. The group describes themselves as underground and independent, making music that they want to make, without concern for commercial success or pleasing the mainstream. They end the song with a rallying cry for their hometown of Osdorp, spelling out the name of their neighborhood and affirming their pride in where they come from.
Overall, this song showcases Osdorp Posse's confidence in their skills and their dedication to making music that is true to themselves, even if it is not always popular. Their lyrics are sharp and uncompromising, challenging listeners to think critically about the state of Dutch hip hop and encouraging them to embrace the underground spirit of the genre.
Line by Line Meaning
Uhnummuh dikkie dikkie,
Introducing the members of the Osdorp Posse
IJsblok, de draaitafeltennisser en O.P. manager is weer eens in het huis.
IJsblok, the turntable tennis player and O.P. manager, is back in the house
King, de t-shirt dealer en de gekke vierwieler is weer eens in het huis.
King, the t-shirt seller and the crazy four-wheeler, is back in the house
Def P, de Nederhop oprichter, onverslagen tekstdichter is weer eens in het huis.
Def P, the founder of Dutch hip hop and undefeated lyricist, is back in the house
Seda, de beatprofessor en de tweede rapagressor is weer eens in het huis.
Seda, the beat professor and the second rap aggressor, is back in the house
De Osdorp Posse!
Introducing the Osdorp Posse as a whole
Een nieuwe CD!
Announcing the release of a new CD
Ja het wordt weer tijd voor oprechte eerlijkheid en kwaliteit van 't begin tot 't eind.
It's time for genuine honesty and quality from beginning to end
Want de rest die klierde dus de O.P. komt nu alweer met de vierde.
Due to the criticism of others, O.P. is releasing their fourth album
De derde was voor veel mensen al te hard, maar de vlijmscherp-stijl was nog maar de start.
The third album was already too hardcore for many people, but the razor-sharp style was only the beginning
Dus harder dan te hard is nou de fokking titel, want ik blijf toonaangevend en vernieuwend als een Beatle.
The new album is even harder than before and the title reflects this. O.P. will continue to be innovative and groundbreaking like The Beatles
De deffe dope tekstdichter en de woordvoerder is nu nog gerichter en 10 procent stoerder.
The deaf dope lyricist and spokesperson is now even more focused and 10% tougher
Jij dacht ik ben als tekstschrijver niet te vertrouwen, tot bleek dat ik elke tekst kon onderbouwen.
You may have thought I wasn't trustworthy as a lyricist, but I can back up every word I write
Je noemt me racistisch, je noemt me facistisch, je noemt sexistisch, nou effe realistisch.
You may call me racist, fascist, or sexist, but let's be realistic
Niemand is beter dan mij, heter dan mij, feller dan mij, sneller dan mij, roffer dan mij, toffer dan mij, frisser dan mij, gisser dan mij.
No one is better, hotter, fiercer, faster, rougher, cooler, fresher or sharper than me
En met m'n dope beats d'r bij, zijn wij de best beluisterde hiphop groep.
Combined with my dope beats, we are the most listened-to hip-hop group
Veel beter dan de meeste van die nieuwe school troep.
Much better than most of the new school trash
Want ik kick nog steeds op het pure van rap, dus ik steun de terugkeer van de boom-bap.
I still love the purity of rap, so I support the return of the old-school boom-bap style
Nooit eerder was er een Nederlandse rapgroep met vier CD's uit, dus wat ik net roep is iets om trots op te zijn en te vieren, dus breng maar wijven, wiet en de Belgische bieren.
No Dutch rap group has ever released four albums before, so what I just announced is something to be proud of and celebrate. Bring on the women, weed, and Belgian beers
En daarna gaan we keihard door, op naar de vijfde en hardcore.
And then we'll continue even harder, on to the fifth album and even more hardcore
Op Djax een underground label dus relaxed, want we maken wat we willen en het zijn roffe trax met een boodschap, kom maar klootzak.
On Djax, an underground label, we're relaxed and make whatever we want, delivering rough tracks with a message. Bring it on, sucker
Want lege rijms blaas ik weg als een lege broodzak.
Empty rhymes will be blown away like an empty bread bag
Want ik ben niet beneden met de zondagsrijmers, foute timers en mediaslijmers.
I'm not into Sunday rappers, bad timing, or media suck-ups
Iedereen wil nou wel in het Nederlands gaan rappen, maar doe het dan toch eens een keertje beter dan dat neppe.
Everyone wants to rap in Dutch now, but do it better than the fake stuff
Kijk, rijms van me jatten dat doen zelfs sint en piet, maar een goeie tekst schrijven dat kunnen jullie niet.
Copying my rhymes is something even Santa and his helpers do, but writing good lyrics is not something you can do
Dus als je niks te zeggen hebt ga dan ook geen platen vol praten over criminele maten in de straten.
If you have nothing to say, don't make records full of talk about criminal buddies in the streets
Je hoeft niet te bewijzen hoe dom je bent, want dat weten wij toch al lang al zonder je band.
You don't need to prove how dumb you are because we already know it without your crew
Dus als jij respect wil stop dan met die pulp, zodat Nederhop kan groeien ook zonder mijn hulp.
If you want respect, stop making garbage so that Dutch hip-hop can grow even without my help
En zit je me dwars omdat je eigenwijs bent, dan maak ik aan jouw gangster image gauw een end.
If you're bothering me because you're stubborn, I'll quickly put an end to your gangster image
Samen met de Posse kan je sterker staan, want ik stop niet voor het werk is gedaan.
Together with the Posse, you can stand stronger because I won't stop until the job is done
Punk!
Punk rock spirit infused in hip hop
O-S-D-O-R-P, O-S-D-O-r, O-S-D-O-R-P.
Spelling out the name of the Osdorp Posse
O-S-D-O-R-P, O-S-D-O-r, O-S-D-O-R-P.
Repeating the name of the Osdorp Posse
Contributed by Josiah Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.