Modern musical influences from all over the world

Rotterdam is the birthplace of gabber. It wasn't strange that the hardcore version of house was invented in the city with this industrial character because of the big harbour. But that same port  also makes that Rotterdam have a lot of immigrants. They also influenced the music from Rotterdam very much.

During the second edition of Buma Rotterdam Beats (17, 18 en 19 november) this coming weekend a lot of that music from all over the wolrd will be presented in several venues throughout Rotterdam. The festival was set up to bring together all sorts of music from the big city, somtetimes it's being reffered to as urban but the organisation rather uses the term beats. With beats they mean hiphop, reggae, dubstep, soul, drum 'n bass and newer styles like moombathon.

Not only there will be a lot of concerts and parties, but there is also a conference where bookers, managers and other professional businesspeople can meet and learn from each other. Buma Rotterdam Beats has the ambition to be the international platform for urban music, something like  Amsterdam Dance Event and Miami Winter Conference are to dance.

Ntjam Rosie is a singer based in Rotterdam, last year she performed during BRB.

It's not that strange they've chosen Rotterdam. Hiphop was popular in the city from the start. A lot of young children from immigrant parents we're active with rapping, graffitti, dj'ing and breakdance. Hiphop and gabber have since then sort evolved together to r 'n b, drum 'n bass and dubstep and more.  

Postmen for  example mixed reggae and hiphop together. They did it long before Danish band Outlandish did the same and had big hits throughout Europe. Postman is now a solo-artist.

Nowadays there is this producer Munchi, also from Rotterdam and also bringing different styles together. He is a key figure in moombahton, a new influential club genre with a worldwide popularity, based on a mix of slowed down Dutch house music and reggaeton. He will talk about his international experiences. At only 21-years old, Munchi has worked closely with Diplo, M.I.A. and Dave Nada amongst others. Munchi will host a party in Worm.

Munchi is playing during the Tropical Bass Night

Also two labels from Rotterdam will host a party. Lowriders and Subway are responsible for the closing party full of dubstep and similar styles like wobble and uk garage. Noizboiz and Halp from Rotterdam will perform together with several English dj's. And that's exactly what the festival is all about, bringing international artists together with musicians from Rotterdam.

Noizboiz

                                                                                                              Photo's 1 and 2: Mike Breeuwer

                                                                                                              Photo's 3 and 4: Promotion