Sticks

Sticks is the stage name of Junte Uiterwijk, who also goes by a few other aliases, including Sticky Steez. The Netherlands first became acquainted with him as a member of Opgezwolle, an influential hip-hop group from Zwolle active from 1998 to 2007. After the members went their separate ways, Sticks immediately launched his solo career. In 2007, he released the album Fakkelteit with Delic, which reached the top 10 of the Dutch album charts. Together with Phreako Rico, Typhoon, James, and producer ART, he formed the collective Fakkelbrigade. The group of friends released the album Colucci Era in 2009. The album was released through TopNotch, and videos were shot for the tracks " Schouders Ophalen" (Shoulders Collecting) and the title track.

In the years that followed, Sticks developed in various areas. In 2011, he became an ambassador for the PEC Zwolle football club, a teacher at the Rock Academy, and, with Fakkelteitgroep, developed an environment where his colleagues could develop and showcase their talent. Sticks also became A&R manager at TopNotch. Meanwhile, he continued making music himself, often in collaboration with others. Great Minds, a project Sticks started with Wu-Tang Clan producer Dr. Moon, Winne, and Jiggy Djé, released an album in 2013, after which the hip-hop supergroup also went on tour. His past with Opgezwolle was revived when he toured with his former colleague Rico in 2015 under the motto #OPgezwolleTotNu. On December 9th, Rico, Typhoon, and Sticks performed the biggest hop-hop concert in the Netherlands to date at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam. This milestone once again demonstrates how immensely popular Dutch hip-hop has become and how significant the contribution of Sticks and his colleagues is.