Brainpower

Gertjan Mulder, born in Antwerp in 1975, performed under the name Brainpower after settling in Amsterdam, Netherlands. His earliest attempts at crafting rap lyrics date to 1989 and gained momentum once he relocated to Amsterdam for university in 1994. He first gained attention by serving as MC at local parties, then earned major recognition in 1998 with the best R&B/Hip-Hop award at the Grand Prix of the Netherlands talent show. His initial recording appearance occurred in 1999 when he backed Dutch rapper Extince; the following year he issued his own debut single, “Door Merg & Brain” (Through Bone & Brain). That release led directly to the 2001 album of the same name and secured him a place on the Pinkpop Festival bill. A 2002 reissue of the debut coincided with multiple music awards and simultaneous number-one positions on both the Belgian and Dutch charts. He next collaborated on a single with American rapper Nas, then delivered his third album, Even Stil, in 2005. Additional full-length projects followed, including the double album Hart/Hard in 2008.