Raymond Christiaan Rensen a.k.a. Raymzter (born 1979 in

Almere Almere () is a Planned community, planned List of cities in the Netherlands by province, city and List of municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality in the Provinces of the Netherlands, province of Flevoland, Netherlands across the IJmeer fro ...

) is a Dutch rapper.

Biography

Raymzter was born in

to a Moroccan father and a

Dutch Dutch or Nederlands commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands ** Dutch people as an ethnic group () ** Dutch nationality law, history and regulations of Dutch citizenship () ** Dutch language () * In specific terms, i ...

mother. He developed an interest in hip hop early in life after listening to a

Public Enemy Public Enemy is an American Hip-hop, hip hop group formed in Roosevelt, New York, in 1985 by Chuck D and Flavor Flav. The group rose to prominence for their political messages including subjects such as Racism in the United States, American r ...

album. He started writing lyrics in English but later switched to Dutch. In 2000 he formed a band with Dominiq Dorwart (Dj-Do), Glenn Gaddum, Jason Chocolaad and Rowin Tetteroo, and this group won the first place in the hip hop category at the "Grand Prix of the Netherlands Talent Show". He also won an MC battle, and began making a name for himself in the Dutch hip hop scene. In 2002, he contributed two songs to a compilation CD, ''Homegrown - Dope Dutch Hiphop Talent'', and in June of the same year won the "Essent Music Award", earning him a gig at

Lowlands Upland and lowland are conditional descriptions of a plain based on elevation above sea level. In studies of the ecology of freshwater rivers, habitats are classified as upland or lowland. Definitions Upland and lowland are portions of a ...

festival. In September he released his first single, "Kutmarokkanen" ("Cunt Moroccans"). The title refers to Amsterdam alderman

Rob Oudkerk Robert Herman (Rob) Oudkerk (born 20 March 1955 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch politician and general practitioner. Oudkerk was born in Amsterdam. He was the son of a Judaism, Jewish butcher and a nurse. His grandfather was David Cohen (historian), Davi ...

's comment on Dutch Moroccans, and the lyrics criticize the country's swing towards right-wing populist politics after

9/11 The September 11 attacks, also known as 9/11, were four coordinated Islamist terrorist suicide attacks by al-Qaeda against the United States in 2001. Nineteen terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners, crashing the first two into ...

. The song was a national hit and paved the way for other Dutch Moroccan hip hop artists. Raymzter's full-length debut, ''Rayalistisch'', was released in early 2003, and includes a collaboration with Dutch rapper

Brainpower Brainpower (born Gerrit-Jan Mulder; February 5, 1975) is a Dutch rapper. Born in Belgium, he grew up in the Netherlands. He has released six studio albums since 1990. Early life Gertjan Mulder was born in Antwerp, Belgium. He was raised in A ...

. Raymzter played at the Noorderslag conference, and then for a second consecutive year at the Lowlands festival. Together with D-Men (

Lange Frans & Baas B Lange Frans & Baas B ("Tall Frans & Boss B") is a Dutch hip hop duo. Both Lange Frans ( alias of Frans Frederiks) and Baas B ( alias of Bart Zeilstra) grew up in Diemen, North Holland. Musical career 1997-2003: Underground music In 1997, after a ...

) and Opgezwolle Raymzter performs live in Amsterdam's Melkweg on the Rap4Right night, an educational project for third world youth. Then in March Raymzter presented his second album Rayacties in Bitterzoet, Amsterdam. The album is recorded with producer/DJ Mass (Massimo Baudo). Late June hiphop movie Bolletjes Blues!, in which Raymzter plays a small part, is shot. Fusion flute player Chris Hinze contributes to the single/video Vechten Op Het Schoolplein ('Fighting At The School Yard'). The collaboration leads to a theatre tour by the two, dubbed Serieuzere Zaken ('More Serious Business'), featuring members from their respective bands plus Moroccan singer Rajae El Mouhandiz.

Discography

Albums * ''Rayalistisch'' (2003) * ''Rayacties'' (2005) Singles *''Kut Marokkanen ??!'' (2002) *''Altijd Laat'' (2003) *''Down Met Jou'' (2003) *''Vechten Op Het Schoolplein'' (2006) Compilations * '' Homegrown - Dope Dutch Hiphop Talent'' (2002) * '' Bolletjes Blues'' (2006)

References

External links

Raymzter's website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Raymzter 1979 births Living people Dutch people of Moroccan descent Dutch male rappers Moroccan male rappers Musicians from Flevoland People from Almere