Dutch rap has made quite a name for itself over the last few years. It all started in the 1980’s when the first rappers switched from trying to copy American rappers to rapping in Dutch. They experienced strong success. Extince and Osdorp Posse were the pioneers of Dutch rap, now Dutch rap has made as far as the popular social media app TikTok.
Lil Kleine
Perhaps the most remarkable rappers of the modern Dutch rap world. Joining the rap game in 2005 he has had a surprisingly large impact for such a short career. He was a coach for The Voice of Holland in 2018. After releasing his debut album in 2016 all of his songs were in the top 35 after the first week! His two following albums experienced similar success. His album also became the most streamed new album on spotify in Dutch history. Lil Kleine is expected to keep up this success and influence future generations of rap. Since 2015 his top hit is “Drank & Drugs” and it has reached over 42 million views.
Osdorp Posse
Founded in 1989 in Amsterdam this was one of the first Dutch rap groups. It was extreme sounding rap combining the style of hardcore and gansta rap. It was disregarded by the media, but they still managed to create a tremendous amount of influence. Their music was even banned over radios, but that wasn’t the end of Osdorp Posse, simply a change of style to more social issues. Having released twelve in their 20 years, it was a difficult but solid career for Osdorp Posse! One of their hit songs is “Orgineel Amsterdam”. Released in the year 2000 it was a good start to the millennium!
Ali B
Ali Bouali is a singer, songwriter and rapper. Born in 1981, he is one of, if not most well known rappers in the Netherlands. Ali was given his own television show where he brings in young artists and rappers to make covers for songs. Bouali has also been a coach on The Voice of Holland as well as The Voice Kids. Ali B has released three albums and has earned fifteen awards. He has been rapping for 20 years and is still racking up hits. His most popular song is “Ik Ben Je Zat” released in 2004 it has experienced a great amount of success topping the list in fourth for over 20 weeks.
Ronnie Flex
Ronell Langston Plasschaert has come into the rap game quite late compared to the rest after making his debut hit in 2012, yet he has still managed to make a growing impact on the rap community. The baby from 1992 has had seven songs that have made it to the number one spot on the Dutch top 100 billboard. With four albums to his name and many features with other popular rappers like Boef, Lil Kleine and even Ali B he will certainly continue his rap impact. One of his most notable hits is “1,2,3” racking in over 12 million views since its release in 2016.
Extince
Peter Kops, professionally known as Extince was one of the first big Dutch rappers that appeared on the Dutch music charts. Born in 1967 in Oosterhout, he is currently over 50 years old but is still active in the feild of rap. With 7 albums to his name he has made a great impact on not only Dutch culture but upcoming rappers as well! His most popular song was “Spraakwater” released in 1995. It was an immediate hit.
The Opposites
The Opposites consists of two friends named Willem and Twan. The group that have released 9 albums in just their ten year active career. They are one of the most well known Dutch rap groups of the early 2000’s. The group has collaborated with familliar Dutch rappers such as Yes-R, Lange Frans and Baas B. They have had multiple songs topping the Dutch top 100. Their most well known song is “Slapeloze Nachten” topping not only the top 100 in the Netherlands but top 20 in the Belgium top 100 as well. This Dutch banger was released in 2012 under his second best album which came one year later in May of 2013.
Gers Pardoel
The 38 year old Gerwin Pardoel has had a passion for hip-hop since he was young, yet only been rapping for the last 11 years but still he has made an outstanding impact! He made a name for himself in 2009 when he collaborated with The Opposites which was immensely successful. When he released his debut album in 2011 it became certified Platinum. This was a major success for Gers Pardoel. He has become one of the most successful Dutch rappers in history. He has released 2 albums and 11 singles. His most successful song is “ik neem je mee” released in 2011.
Baas B
Born in 1982 Bart Zeilstra (Baas B) has been rapping since the late 1990’s. He was a member of a hip-hop duo together with Lange Frans for ten years before the reformed and split up. He has had a sprouting solo career, having rapped with Yes-R and Jayh. Baas B has had a voiceover part for the animated film Cars. He has released multiple albums and many more singles. One of his most notable hits is “Het land Van” together with his duo partner Lange Frans. This song captures some of the Netherlands’ greatestthings.
Lange Frans
Born in November of 1980, this rapper and hip-hip artist was the duo partner of Baas B with a similar career due to the shared success with Baas B. With 5 albums to his name and over 10 album appearances he too is one of the most influential rappers in the Netherlands. His success has led him to appear on television as presenter. He has also released multiple mixtapes which were all successful. Yet nothing has been quite as succsessful as his slow song with The Lau, “Zing Voor me”.
Mr. Probz
Dennis Princewell Stehr, better known as Mr. Probz has made international success. Mr. Probs has been into hip-hop, soul and R&B since he was young and in 2005 he made that dream come true, officially starting his rap career. He has been made an appearance in over 20 songs. Only one album has been released since 2005 but has still made a tremendous impact. Dennis’s most notable song is a remix of his song “Waves”. Remixed by Robin Schulz. This song has made it to number one in 7 countries and top 3 in 6 others. The songs has accumulated over 400 million views on youtube. This song has recieved over 15 platinum certifications.