TopNotch is a Dutch record label specializing in hip-hop. [1] The label was founded in 1995, and is run by Vincent Patty. [2] After some commercial success (with rap acts such as De Jeugd van Tegenwoordig, The Opposites, Def Rhymz, Postmen, and Extince) it became allied with Virgin EMI Records, and since 2004 has a marketing and distribution deal with PIAS Entertainment Group. It has expanded into Dutch-language music by singer-songwriters such as Lucky Fonz III, and in 2009 signed a distribution and marketing agreement with Universal Music Group. Still praised in 2009 as "the brand for high-quality Dutch hip-hop", it sought to expand into other musical genres.
Founder Kees de Koning is a former music journalist and manager of Anouk. He is credited with "putting Dutch hip-hop on the map" with TopNotch, signing acts such as De Jeugd van Tegenwoordig, Extince, and The Opposites. Initially the label, which released music that didn't automatically receive radio play, used platforms such as YouTube [lower-alpha 1] and Hyves to get attention for its artists, and added Instagram and Vine. TopNotch also collaborates in marketing with companies such as the brewery Bavaria and insurance company Centraal Beheer; for the latter, it made a video featuring Anouk, watched over 2 million times by August 2013. [4] After achieving commercial success with Def Rhymz, Postmen, and Extince, the label acquired a reputation such that Virgin EMI Records hired de Koning as A&R and label manager in 2000. Success with Raymzter and Opgezwolle notwithstanding, de Koning's contract was not renewed after four years, and the label was in danger of folding. In 2004, PIAS Entertainment Group signed a distribution and marketing deal with TopNotch, saving the label. The first releases after the restructuring were by VSOP, Duvel Duvel, and Kubus. [5] In 2009, the label make a distribution and marketing agreement with Universal Music Group (owners of Virgin EMI) and signed a non-hip-hop act, gabber punk band Aux Raus. [6]
Their fifteenth anniversary, in 2010, was celebrated with a two-day festival in the Melkweg. [2] That same year the label signed Lucky Fonz III, a Dutch-language singer, in a more comprehensive effort to expand beyond hip-hop which also included signing Surinamese singer Damaru; de Koning had personally pursued the artist, whose monthly performances in the TV show De Wereld Draait Door he admired. [7] Their biggest commercial success to date is Gers Pardoel, whose "Ik neem je mee" is referred to as the most successful Dutch song ever; the song's video had 15 million views by 15 August 2013, a Dutch record. [8]
De Koning started another company in 2006, Good Life, with Jerry Leembruggen and Ruben Fernhout (founders of The Partysquad and owners of the production company F & L Entertainment). Good Life aimed to produce more pop-oriented, rhythm and blues artists (such as Wudstik) through record deals and events. [9]
Dutch hip hop or Nederhop ("Netherhop") is hip hop / rap music created by Dutch speaking musicians in the Netherlands and Flanders (Belgium). Although the first Dutch rappers in Europe typically wrote in the English language, this began to change when Osdorp Posse gained a big following of fans. They were the first to record and release hip hop in the Dutch language, perform for big crowds and to achieve chart success with their albums.
Doe Maar was a Dutch pop band that combined punk, ska, and reggae influences. Formed in 1978, they broke up in 1984, reunited in 2000, and remained sporadically active from then until 2021, when their frontman, Henny Vrienten, died. They are considered to be one of the most successful pop bands in Dutch history. The name Doe maar translates as "go ahead" or "just do it". Throughout their career, the band released five studio albums, four live albums, ten compilations, and numerous singles.
Peter Kops, known professionally as Extince, is one of the first Dutch language rappers, or Dutch Hip-Hoppers to achieve a top-40 hit in the mainstream Dutch music charts. His hit song "Spraakwater" rose into the top-ten, and was a historic breakthrough for Dutch-language rap & hip-hop – even more than for the artist himself.
Watskeburt?! is a song by the Dutch hip hop group De Jeugd van Tegenwoordig. "Watskeburt" is a contraction of the Dutch sentence "Wat is er gebeurd?".
De Jeugd Van Tegenwoordig is a Dutch hip hop and R&B group based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, renowned for their musical approach of irreverent, humorous lyrics and electronic beats. Their humorous style is characterized by their frequent use of word play, lyrical flirting with languages other than Dutch and the propagating of neologisms, such as "Watskeburt?!".
Opgezwolle was a Dutch rap group consisting of MCs Sticky Steez and Phreako Rico, and beatmaker DJ Dippy Delic.
Dennis Bouman, known professionally as Def Rhymz, was a Surinamese-Dutch rapper best known for his humouristic raps.
Bas Bron is a musical artist and a producer of mostly electronic music from Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Eigen Wereld is Opgezwolle's third album, released on the Dutch TopNotch label.
Remon Stotijn, known professionally as Postman or The Anonymous Mis, is a Dutch rapper and record producer, who is a member of the band Postmen.
Anthony Pengel, known professionally as U-Niq, is a Dutch rapper from Rotterdam. He was part of the rap group The Most Official.
Jerreley Zanian John Slijger, known by his stage name Kempi, is a Dutch rapper.
The Partysquad is a Dutch DJ production team. It consists of Jerry Leembruggen, Ruben Fernhout and Lorenzo Biemans. Since the early 2000s they have had 12 singles charting on the Dutch Top 40. They produced part of British rapper M.I.A.'s fourth and fifth albums, Matangi, released in 2013, and AIM, released in 2016.
Gerwin Pardoel, better known by his stage name Gers Pardoel or mononymously as Gers, is a Dutch rapper. He rose to fame in 2009, due to his successful collaboration with The Opposites on the single "Broodje Bakpao". Pardoel's debut studio album Deze wereld is van jou was released in November 2011 and was certified Platinum by the NVPI. The Nederhop artist is best known for his number-one single "Ik neem je mee", which became the most successful Dutch-language and Dutch-artist hit in the Dutch Top 40 ever.
Abid Tounssi, known by his stage name Salah Edin, is a Dutch Moroccan ex-rapper and actor.
Winston Bergwijn, known professionally as Winne, is a Dutch rapper.
Broederliefde are a Dutch hip-hop group, originating from Rotterdam. The group is composed of five rappers: Emms, Jerr, Sjaf, Edson and Mella. In 2016, their project Hard Work Pays Off 2 sat at the top of the album charts in the Netherlands for three months.
Eugene Voorn, known professionally as Redlight Boogie or SugaCane, is a Dutch rapper. He is considered one of the pioneers of hip hop music in the Netherlands.