The Freestyles Chapter 25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition (Vinyl Remaster Side A)

The Freestyles Chapter – 25th Anniversary

“A Piece Of Dutch Hip Hop History”.

That’s what it said on the tape, recorded between 1995-1999, back then.

Guess that tagline is an even more befitting ‘sub’ title, right now.

Fascinated by language, and drawn to all kinds of music (and words & lyricism in general) ever since I was a kid, I started rapping sometime around 1986. First mimicking Run DMC, The Fat Boys, Whistle & Kool Moe Dee. Then when I heard Eric B. & Rakim’s “Move The Crowd” I knew what I wanted to do with my life: I knew I was an MC. When I heard that song, it was like God opened a window in heaven, pointed at me and my heart, and I found my calling. In 1988 I started writing my own verses, which later evolved into songs. Then, between 1989-1991 I started to explore and develop my freestyle skill. And when I say freestyle, I mean going off the dome. Truly improvising on the spot. To me it’s the epitome of creativity. The essence of having skills as an MC. I wrote at least about 750 songs from ’88 – ’93. But aside from this, it was also all about improvisation.

By the time spring 1991 came around, I was basically constantly freestyling, everywhere I went. And every chance I got. From the local mall in Alphen a/d Rhyme to rooftops in Paris. Then from stages in Alphen and Amsterdam, to battling myself, to cyphers in New York, Detroit & Philly. From radio-shows in Holland & Belgium….to the world!

For years I was basically wandering the planet, going off the dome anywhere I went.

As I’m writing this, on May 17, 2024, exactly 25 years after TLM and me finished the Master MD (yes, it was a MiniDisc), I feel incredibly grateful. The Freestyles Chapter was the first full length tape I ever dropped. To be able to release this project on vinyl 25 years later, feels just as great to me, as it is humbling. As well as mad exciting!

It’s a sonic window, that allows you to stare into another world, and catch a glimpse of a magical time, a different era….

– Gertjan “Brainpower” Mulder, Amsterdam, May 17, 2024

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“Most likely the very first full length (bilingual) project in Holland, that was completely done off the dome…”
– Dutch Gems x LYRIC Recordings x AppleDizzle, 2024

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“Brainpower is a talented MC with skills of doing off the head freestyles. I saw something special in him back when we met in the ‘96/‘97 era. I invited him on stage in the middle of our show (with Kool Keith), threw on a record and Brainpower took it from there. Throughout his career, he has dropped good music consistently. Brainpower was – and remains – one to keep your eyes on.”
– DJ Jaycee Brooklyn [Brooklyn, New York / North Carolina, USA] (Kool Keith / Ultramagnetic MC’s)

“We all left the spot after him, ‘cause he smoked mics.
I thought he was from another planet the way he was spitting.
And he never choked. Cleverness, off the top of the head rhymes:
He was – and is – something else…”
– Edson Sabajo [Amsterdam, Holland]
(DJ & co-founder / co-owner of PATTA)

“Rhyme wise (as well as production wise),
the nineties were like a true school for development and skill”
– Maikal X [Haarlem, Holland] (Artist / Shy Rock / Rollarocka / Frass Nation]

“He dropped rhymes like a lyrical mathematician, I felt I was in the presence of a living thesaurus.”
– Lloyd De Meza [Alphen, Amsterdam & Rotterdam, Holland]
(Artist / Old School MC: Peppermint Fresh)

“Freestyle & written are two different ballgames, and Brain has mastered them both like a true MC.”
– MC Excellent [Rotterdam, Holland]
(Artist / MC / Host Punch Out Battles)

“Brainpower has always been a beast on the mic.
Sharp lyrics and a flawless delivery.”
– RMB [Rotterdam, Holland] (Lorenzo Jonathas / RMtainment / MC)

“In case y’all forgot, let me remind y’all that the homie Brain is an OG Freestyle legend. He has the receipts, he was there, he was everywhere and he still is. 25 years later they’re gonna try to copy his style. But they can’t. They’re gonna try to re-write history, but they can never write him out!”
– Lex One GTPS [Queens, New York & Miami, Florida, USA]
(No Hype / Wynwood Social Club / Artist / Get That Paper Son / co-founder of BAP!)

Brainpower – Bookings & Info:

– Europe
www.mcbrainpower.nl
Info: management@brainpowernow.com
Bookings: flip@twistagency.nl ben@twistagency.nl

– Global
www.brainpowernow.com
Bookings & info: management@brainpowernow.com

Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok & Snapchat: @MCBrainpower

#Brainpower #TheFreestylesChapter #Vinyl

Available here:
https://dutchgemsrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-freestyles-chapter

Vinyl – Brainpower – The Freestyles Chapter 25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition

Remaster: Statinski Mastering
Reissue Cover Art: AZHQ ONE

LYRIC RECORDINGS X DUTCH GEMS X APPLEDIZZLE – P & C 1999 & 2024