The Opposites

The Opposites, a Dutch hip-hop duo, broke into the mainstream in 2006 once their single "Slaap" climbed into the Top Ten. Childhood friends Willy (born Willem de Bruin) and Big2 (Twan van Steenhoven) had already started making music together as teenagers. After recording their 2005 debut LP De Fik Er In in English to match the style of their hip-hop heroes, the pair chose to rap in Dutch after signing with the influential Netherlands indie label Top Notch. Although "Slaap" lifted the Opposites from obscurity to national recognition, the follow-up single "Oew Oew" never charted. Their sophomore LP Rauwdauw still moved briskly after its late-2006 release.