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

Almere Almere () is a planned city and municipality in the province of Flevoland, Netherlands, located about 20 km to the east of Amsterdam (as the crow flies) across the IJmeer. Bordering Lelystad and Zeewolde, the municipality of Almere comprise ...

) is a Dutch rapper.

Biography

Raymzter was born in

to a Moroccan father and a

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

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

Public Enemy "Public enemy" is a term which was first widely used in the United States in the 1930s to describe individuals whose activities were seen as criminal and extremely damaging to society, though the phrase had been used for centuries to describe ...

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 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 p ...

festival. In September he released his first single, "Kutmarokkanen" ("Cunt Moroccans"). The title references 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 Jewish butcher and a nurse. His grandfather was David Cohen, who was President of th ...

's comment on Dutch Moroccans, and the lyrics critique the country's swing towards right-wing populist politics after 9/11. 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 Gerrit-Jan Mulder, known professionally as Brainpower (born 5 February 1975), is a Dutch rapper who writes, records and performs in both English as well as his native Dutch. He was born in Belgium and grew up in the Netherlands. He started mak ...

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

D-Men D-Men was a Dutch rap formation established in 1997 under the name D-Men Squad. This was after a freestyle session they held on a basketball court in Diemen-Zuid. The original members of D-Men were rapper Lange Frans, his brother rapper Brutus an ...

(

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 ...

) 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 rappers Moroccan rappers Musicians from Flevoland People from Almere