The Proov is seen as one of the most idiosyncratic hip-hop groups in the Netherlands. While many rappers nowadays go for easy-to-hear Dutch lyrics, The Proov continues stiffly in English and is most in line with groups from the Native Tongue movement or The Pharcyde. It is also called intelligent hip-hop, as a counterbalance to the gangster rapers who top the charts. In 2000 the band released their
… debut Traditions. They did perform with a band, but The Proov mainly kept moving in the underground. It took five years before its successor Battle Mode saw the light. On this album The Proov comes back very strongly with fifteen tracks of high quality. Like fellow countryman Pete Philly, The Proov can easily compete with American groups. Rappers Gumshoe and CeeMajor collaborated on the album with producers Colt, L Geronimo, Nicolay (Foreign Exchange), Mercury Waters (from Baltimore) and Kid Sublime. The record also features contributions from Couzin Steve, Incksalonius (Brooklyn, USA), Dee Ferguson and DJ Kypski. The Proov shows that there is more and more to be achieved in the field of hip-hop in the Netherlands. (JdD)more