Postmen

Emerging from the Netherlands, a trio devoted to merging hip-hop and reggae made their entrance in 1998 via the debut single "Cocktail," which promptly climbed into the Dutch Top 20. Producer and rapper Anonymous Mis, DJ G-Boah, and singer Rollarocka comprise the Rotterdam outfit, whose name derives from Burning Spear's track "African Postmen." Jamaican sounds inform the group to the same degree as rap, a style that had already claimed dominance within Dutch youth culture. Anonymous Mis put it this way during an interview: "What I like about reggae is the positive vibe. It’s more peaceful and far less fashion-conscious than hip-hop. So our raps should radiate a sense of peace and unity. At the end of the day, we like to provide entertainment and education." After "Cocktail" came the single "U Wait," followed by the album Documents whose standout cut, "Renaissance," spotlighted female R&B trio Dignity and underscored the growing presence of credible black music across Holland in the late '90s. Anonymous Mis meanwhile kept collaborating with Dutch hip-hop artists under the banner of his production company, Social Life.