Swollen
As often happens with pioneers, Opgezwolle never achieved the massive success of the acts that came after them. Yet, the trio, featuring rappers Sticky Steez and Phreaky Rico, and DJ and producer Delic, is considered one of the most influential hip-hop acts in the Netherlands. Opgezwolle—naturally hailing from Zwolle—is one of the acts that laid the foundation for the still-thriving Dutch-language hip-hop scene. They are also one of the first figureheads of Top Notch, the record label that would play such a significant role in the rise of this vibrant music culture.
Opgezwolle initially rose to prominence by participating in talent shows like De Oogst Van Overijssel and the Grote Prijs Van Nederland (Dutch Grand Prix). In 2001, they independently released their debut album, Spuugdingen Op De Mic, which has since become a classic in the development of Dutch-language hip-hop. Opgezwolle then signed with Top Notch, where they released their second album, Vloeistof, in 2003, featuring a guest appearance by Typhoon. After the release of this new hip-hop milestone, Opgezwolle embarked on the Buitenwesten Tour with Jawat!, DuvelDuvel, Typhoon, and Kubus.
In 2006, after a period of silence, the third album, "Eigen Wereld," was released, demonstrating Opgezwolle's continued growth, both musically and lyrically. Guest appearances include Jawat!, Duvel, Winne, and Raymzter. The album reached number 4 in the Top 40, making it the most successful Dutch-language hip-hop album to date. The group toured again, with a show at Pinkpop as one of the highlights. Unexpectedly for the outside world, Opgezwolle announced their disbandment at the end of 2007, primarily because DJ Delic wanted to explore other artistic aspects of himself. Sticky Steez and Phreaky Rico focused on their own musical projects and reunited during the #OpgezwolleTotNu show at what was then the Heineken Music Hall in Amsterdam. The performance was such a success that a tour was added to it. For now, the comeback is a one-off. In 2024, Kees de Koning, director of Top Notch, among other things, will make a seven-part podcast about the eventful history of the hip-hop pioneers, Opgezwolle Eigen Wereld: De Rest Is Geschiedenis.
