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.
Ik eerst
Osdorp Posse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ik eerst, IK EERST! Ik eerst, IK EERST!
Dat is de mentaliteit die nu heerst
Ik eerst, IK EERST! Ik eerst, IK EERST!
Dokter, mijn hoofd doet het zeerst!
Oh dokter Schepper, kunt u even snel komen
Maar niemand die mij kan vertellen wat het precies is
Of wat het verlies is na een planetaire crisis
We zitten hier met z¹n allen op één bol
Het wordt hier voller dan vol, maar niemand vindt het te dol
Oh dokter, ze zeggen dat ik mijn verstand mis,
maar ik voel dat er echt iets aan de hand is
(oe!) Je ziet het goed als de aarde bloedt
Hete lava stroomt fel uit een rode gloed
Als een stil protest van een verlichte stoet
En wie het eerste wegebt gaat ten onder in de vloed (2x)
Ik eerst, IK EERST! Ik eerst, IK EERST!
Dat is de mentaliteit die nu heerst
Ik eerst, IK EERST! Ik eerst, IK EERST!
Dokter, mijn hoofd doet het zeerst!
De aarde heeft koorts en het wordt hier steeds heter
We beginnen al te zweten maar we willen het niet weten
De poolkappen smelten en het water stijgt
Maar hoe rijker de econoom, hoe harder die zwijgt
De problemen worden per generatie groter
Maar wij willen ze niet stoppen want dat gaat zo klote
Ze zoeken dat maar lekker in de toekomst uit
Want wij leven zo wel best en gaan massaal voor de buit
Egoïsme, het kankergezwel van de mensheid
En zij die dit verspreiden raken zelf hun grens kwijt
tussen goed en kwaad, dood of overleving
Goed sterft en kwaad kent geen vergeving
(oe!) Je ziet het goed als de aarde bloedt
Hete lava stroomt fel uit een rode gloed
Als een stil protest van een verlichte stoet
En wie het eerste wegebt gaat ten onder in de vloed (2x)
Ik eerst, IK EERST! Ik eerst, IK EERST!
Dat is de mentaliteit die nu heerst
Ik eerst, IK EERST! Ik eerst, IK EERST!
Dokter, mijn hoofd doet het zeerst!
We willen krijgen, houden, hebben, eigen vrouwen backstabben
en zijn pas een tevreden mens in een nieuwe Mercedes Benz
De tweede wens is innerlijk, eerst komt uiterlijk vertoon
Realiteit is hinderlijk, alles moet duidelijk en schoon
En zo blijven wij maar hopen op de betere tijden
Maar geen dokter komt ons beiden uit ons lijden bevrijden
Want waarschijnlijk heeft het lot toch al lang bepaald
dat onze toekomst door ons heden wel wordt ingehaald
Want de eersten zullen de laatste zijn -
De laatsten worden de eersten, maar het maakt je klein
Want je komt aan de beurt, hoe je het ook bekijkt
als de wraak van de aarde op de mens neerstrijkt!
Hij eerst, HIJ EERST! Hij eerst, HIJ EERST!
Dat is de mentaliteit die dan heerst
Hij eerst, HIJ EERST! Hij eerst, HIJ EERST!
Dokter, zijn hoofd doet het zeerst!
The lyrics to "Ik eerst" by Osdorp Posse convey a strong message about the prevalent mentality of individuals prioritizing their own needs and desires above everything else. The song begins with the singer sarcastically demanding attention from the doctor, symbolizing the self-centered mindset. They express a feeling of being lost and unable to understand the consequences of a planetary crisis or the loss it brings. The lyrics highlight the irony that despite living together on one planet, people continue to ignore the worsening conditions.
The second verse emphasizes the urgency of the situation, as the Earth is depicted as having a fever and becoming hotter. The melting polar ice caps and rising water levels are mentioned, with a clear indication that the wealthiest individuals are silent while the problems worsen. The song critiques the selfishness and egoism that have become a cancerous tumor within humanity. This selfishness leads to a loss of moral boundaries, where it becomes difficult to distinguish between good and evil, life and death. The consequences are inevitable, as depicted by the imagery of the Earth bleeding and the lava flowing, signaling destruction for those who fail to address the crisis.
Line by Line Meaning
Volgende patiënt a.u.b.!
Next patient please!
Ik eerst, IK EERST! Ik eerst, IK EERST!
Me first, ME FIRST! Me first, ME FIRST!
Dat is de mentaliteit die nu heerst
That is the prevailing mentality
Ik eerst, IK EERST! Ik eerst, IK EERST!
Me first, ME FIRST! Me first, ME FIRST!
Dokter, mijn hoofd doet het zeerst!
Doctor, my head hurts the most!
Oh dokter Schepper, kunt u even snel komen
Oh doctor Creator, can you come quickly
want ik voel dat we ziek zijn en ik zie de symptomen
because I feel that we are sick and I see the symptoms
Maar niemand die mij kan vertellen wat het precies is
But no one can tell me exactly what it is
Of wat het verlies is na een planetaire crisis
Or what the loss is after a planetary crisis
We zitten hier met z'n allen op één bol
We're all here on one globe
Het wordt hier voller dan vol, maar niemand vindt het te dol
It's getting crowded here, but no one finds it too crazy
Oh dokter, ze zeggen dat ik mijn verstand mis
Oh doctor, they say I'm missing my mind
maar ik voel dat er echt iets aan de hand is
but I feel that there's really something going on
(oe!) Je ziet het goed als de aarde bloedt
(Ouch!) You can see it clearly when the earth bleeds
Hete lava stroomt fel uit een rode gloed
Hot lava flows fiercely from a red glow
Als een stil protest van een verlichte stoet
Like a silent protest of an enlightened procession
En wie het eerste wegebt gaat ten onder in de vloed (2x)
And those who fade away first will perish in the flood (2x)
De aarde heeft koorts en het wordt hier steeds heter
The earth has a fever and it's getting hotter here
We beginnen al te zweten maar we willen het niet weten
We're already starting to sweat but we don't want to know it
De poolkappen smelten en het water stijgt
The polar ice caps are melting and the water is rising
Maar hoe rijker de econoom, hoe harder die zwijgt
But the richer the economist, the more they stay silent
De problemen worden per generatie groter
The problems are getting bigger with each generation
Maar wij willen ze niet stoppen want dat gaat zo klote
But we don't want to stop them because that sucks
Ze zoeken dat maar lekker in de toekomst uit
Let them figure it out in the future
Want wij leven zo wel best en gaan massaal voor de buit
Because we're doing fine like this and greedily go for the loot
Egoïsme, het kankergezwel van de mensheid
Egoism, the cancerous growth of humanity
En zij die dit verspreiden raken zelf hun grens kwijt
And those who spread it lose their own boundaries
tussen goed en kwaad, dood of overleving
between good and evil, death or survival
Goed sterft en kwaad kent geen vergeving
Good dies and evil knows no forgiveness
(oe!) Je ziet het goed als de aarde bloedt
(Ouch!) You can see it clearly when the earth bleeds
Hete lava stroomt fel uit een rode gloed
Hot lava flows fiercely from a red glow
Als een stil protest van een verlichte stoet
Like a silent protest of an enlightened procession
En wie het eerste wegebt gaat ten onder in de vloed (2x)
And those who fade away first will perish in the flood (2x)
We willen krijgen, houden, hebben, eigen vrouwen backstabben
We want to get, keep, have, backstab our own women
en zijn pas een tevreden mens in een nieuwe Mercedes Benz
and only feel satisfied in a new Mercedes Benz
De tweede wens is innerlijk, eerst komt uiterlijk vertoon
The second wish is inner, appearance comes first
Realiteit is hinderlijk, alles moet duidelijk en schoon
Reality is bothersome, everything must be clear and clean
En zo blijven wij maar hopen op de betere tijden
And so we keep hoping for better times
Maar geen dokter komt ons beiden uit ons lijden bevrijden
But no doctor comes to free us from our suffering
Want waarschijnlijk heeft het lot toch al lang bepaald
Because fate has probably long decided
dat onze toekomst door ons heden wel wordt ingehaald
that our future is already being overtaken by our present
Want de eersten zullen de laatste zijn -
Because the first will be the last -
De laatsten worden de eersten, maar het maakt je klein
The last will be the first, but it makes you small
Want je komt aan de beurt, hoe je het ook bekijkt
Because it's your turn, no matter how you look at it
als de wraak van de aarde op de mens neerstrijkt!
when the earth's revenge descends upon mankind!
Hij eerst, HIJ EERST! Hij eerst, HIJ EERST!
Him first, HIM FIRST! Him first, HIM FIRST!
Dat is de mentaliteit die dan heerst
That is the prevailing mentality at that time
Hij eerst, HIJ EERST! Hij eerst, HIJ EERST!
Him first, HIM FIRST! Him first, HIM FIRST!
Dokter, zijn hoofd doet het zeerst!
Doctor, his head hurts the most!
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Def P, Seda
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
loempiavreter
Heerlijk nummer!
krazoner
goed gezegd!respect voor je houding!
Jordi Prummel
ik luisterde dit al sinds me 4de (van zover ik weet) en ben nu 12 ik had die gasten net nog live gezien ze zijn egt de shit de best en dat zullen ze blijven
JumpingTomato
OP is de echte shit :) De eerste én de beste!
Ian G
Was laatst nog in panama bij Unrated OP met labirintho. Was vet :D
thathunder
Nederhop! De echte oldschool! HArdcore rap
Gezoes
Mooi nummer, al bijna tien jaar. Ik draag het op aan de BABYBOOMERS....
Wander Kuper
Jeugdsentiment! Osdorp Posse roelz!
zilst mennekeb
lekker liedje!!!!!!!!!!
Leetleaver
er is een verschil tussen een cover en een ode :)