Amsterdam has never been short on hip-hop talent, but OGD is focused on something bigger than simply adding another name to the city’s roster.
As an emcee, producer and driving force behind OVI Records, OGD has been blowing up the spot with gritty laid back sample-driven production, underground lyricism and a commitment to physical music and community. His Pressure Makes Diamonds project helped establish the vision, while his work with OVI Records continues to push Amsterdam’s underground scene forward.
OGD is putting energy into the infrastructure around the music, showcases, listening parties, physical releases, independent stores and bringing Amsterdam’s international scene into the same room. That’s the bigger picture behind OVI Records and the Sound Army mentality, build the culture.
For MRC Promo, we’ll be connecting with OGD, OVI Records, and the crew as this thing builds, stay tuned. Amsterdam’s hidden gems are flowing over and under the canals, and we just started digging.
What Can You Tell Us About The Event Showcase And Listening Party Hosted By You, OVI Records And Platypus Records. Why Platypus Records?
OGD: Platypus is basically home field for me. These guys have really been holding down the boom-bap scene in Amsterdam, and they’ve supported me from the very beginning.
I actually did Pressure Makes Diamonds 1 with them, and every in-store I’ve done has been there, so there’s already a history between us. It just made sense to do this one with them too.
For this edition, OVI Records is organising the event at The Record Club at the NYX Hotel on Rembrandtplein, with Platypus involved around the release and physical side of things.
I wanted to create something that felt bigger than just a release party, a proper night where the music and the people around it can come together.
Who Is OVI Records?
OGD: OVI Records is basically an assortment of sounds, the Sound Army.
It’s a platform built around the different sounds, artists and people that make up my scene. It’s not limited to one specific sound, but the foundation is definitely rooted in boom-bap and underground hip-hop.
The idea is to bring all these different sounds together under one roof, put out physical music, create events and build a community around it.
Looking Back At Earlier Tapes Like Pressure Makes Diamonds Tape 1 Compared To THE MOVE And Pressure Makes Diamonds 2, What’s Different About The New Release?
OGD: A big part of it is planning.
Pressure Makes Diamonds 1 sold out way quicker than I expected, so I had the opportunity to really sit down and think about what I could do better with the next release.
With PMD2, everything is bigger and more thought out. We’re on vinyl now and the record is going into 40+ stores across Europe, which is crazy when I think about where I started.
But I still wanted to keep that raw feeling. The idea is to grow without losing what made people fuck with it in the first place.
What’s Made You Decide To Pair Digital Streaming With An Exclusive, First-Come Cassette Drop At Platypus? How Are They Selling?
OGD: I think physical music is important, but for me it’s also about the people you meet through music.
That’s really what hip-hop is about to me. You can meet somebody you’ve never seen before, put on a record, start talking about what’s dope, exchange philosophies and suddenly you’re building something together.
Streaming obviously makes the music accessible to everybody, but the cassette gives people something physical and something connected to the moment.
And because it’s limited, if you want one, you’ve actually got to come through and be part of it.
As Someone In Amsterdam’s Underground Scene, What Is One Hidden Detail About The City’s Hip-Hop Culture That Outsiders Usually Overlook?
OGD: There’s a really high level of MCs in Amsterdam. There’s so much talent here, but I think what’s sometimes missing is the sense of community around it.
That’s actually a big reason why I’m hosting this event.
I want to bring people together. Different artists, producers, DJs, writers, heads who have been around forever and people who are just discovering the scene now.
There are a lot of hidden gems in Amsterdam. I think sometimes we just need to put everybody in the same room and let it happen.
How Long Have You Been Organizing Hip-Hop Events And How Does Today’s Crowd Compare To When You First Started Putting On Showcases?
OGD: I’ve been organising the in-stores since Pressure Makes Diamonds 1, but this time around I’m really doing everything around the event.
I’m doing it together with my amazing partner Lila Kramer, from organising the venue to the lineup, posters, promo, all of it, the whole shabang.
It’s definitely a different level of responsibility, but I like that. You get to control the whole vision instead of just one part of it.
And the crowd has grown with us. That’s probably the most rewarding part, seeing people who came to the first events still pulling up, while new people are discovering what we’re doing.
Do You Have Roots In Aerosol Art, Are You A Writer Yourself?
OGD: I actually grew up around a bunch of writers.
Back in the day I was more of the spotter, hahaha. I definitely write, but these days I write on beats.
I’ve always been around that culture though, and I think that mentality definitely carries over into everything I do now.
Whether you’re writing your name on a wall, making a beat, putting out a record or throwing an event, it’s about creating your own identity and making something happen yourself.
With Projects Like Pressure Makes Diamonds 2 Rolling Out, What’s Next For You And OVI Records?
OGD: Honestly, the goal is to make the world see how dope Amsterdam is.
We’ve got a bunch of physical releases lined up, some really dope collaborations and a lot of things in motion.
I don’t want to give away too much yet, but just be prepared.
OVI is just getting started.
Are There Any Plans For A Showcase Across The Atlantic To Perform Or Tour In The US?
OGD: For sure. I think that would be a dope opportunity for bigger and better things.
A lot of the music we love comes from the US, so being able to take what we’re building in Amsterdam over there and connect with people would be special.
I’d definitely be down for that. If the right opportunity comes along, we’ll make it happen.
Who Would You Say Is Currently Europe’s Biggest Hip-Hop City, And Where Does Amsterdam Fit Into That Picture?
OGD: That’s a hard one because there are some serious cities in Europe. Paris is obviously a powerhouse, London too, Berlin has its own thing.
But I think Amsterdam has something really special because of how diverse the city is.
There’s a long history of Amsterdam being a place where different cultures and people could come together, and I think you still see that reflected in the scene today.
You can have somebody making straight boom-bap, somebody coming from a completely different cultural background, writers, DJs, producers, all in the same room.
I honestly think we have some hidden gems right here in Amsterdam. Maybe we’re not the loudest city in Europe, but there’s a lot happening underneath the surface.
And that’s what I’m trying to bring to the front with OVI.
FOLLOW & SUPPORT
- Follow OGD: Instagram / Social Link
- Follow OVI Records: OVI Records Link
- Support OVI Records & Physical Releases: Store Link
- Listen to OGD: Spotify Link
- Follow Platypus Records: Platypus Records Link
- About MRC Promo: mrcnnlive.com
Stay locked with MRC Promo for more underground hip-hop, interviews, music, events and culture from Amsterdam and beyond. MRC Promo will be doing more with OGD, OVI Records and the crew, stay tuned.
