Brainpower

Gerrit-Jan Mulder, known professionally as Brainpower (born 5 February 1975), is a Dutch rapper.

Born in Belgium, he grew up in the Netherlands.

Since 1990, he has released six studio albums.

Gertjan Mulder was born in Antwerp, Belgium.

He was raised in Alphen aan den Rijn, Netherlands.

He started rapping in the mid eighties, before returning to his mother's native Amsterdam in the 1990s.

In 1998, he entered the Grote Prijs van Nederland, a national talent show for Dutch musicians.

In 1999, he was featured on Extince's track Zoete Inval.

In 2000, Brainpower was featured in Als niet Als by Doe Maar.

In that same year, he released his first single, Door Merg en Brain.

In February 2001, his debut album of the same title was released.

In 2002, Brainpower released his second album Verschil Moet Er Zijn.

The same year, he started a rap group called ADHD.

Dansplaat ("Dance Track") served as the album's lead single; it topped the charts in the Netherlands and Belgium.

In the same year, he won the MTV Award for best Dutch act.

Another one for Platinum sales in Belgium and his 2002 Hit Single also reaches gold status in Belgium.

In 2003, he released a live album, containing songs from his two first albums performed live.

It was followed by an 18-month tour.

In 2004, the group ADHD released their first album.

The following year, Brainpower released his third solo album, Even Stil.

In 2006, he starred in a small role in Afblijven.

His next album, Hart/Hard was a double album released in 2008.

In 2009, he released his Greatest Hits Box Set, consisting of 2 CDs and 1 DVD with all 30 videos he has released over the years.

The set is titled 'Mijn Manier' ('My Way') and 19 September sees the first gig of an intense 36-date Tour throughout the Benelux.

Animation studios LEMONADE and Advertisement Agency DSRPT developed a limited edition Brainpower Vinyl Art Figure, especially for the cover of this Greatest hits Box Set.

He won two platinum awards: A triple Platinum Award for being the best-selling Dutch language solo MC of all time.

In 2010 Brainpower performed with reggae/dancehall legend King Yellowman in Jamaica and played selected festivals throughout the Netherlands & Belgium.

He dropped 'Dub & Dwars' a record containing re-recorded reggae versions of his biggest tunes.

With superb riddims, partially recorded in Jamaica, produced by the Fire House Crew and Dutch producer Asher E. as well as Brainpower himself, the album hits the #1 spot in both the Reggae charts for iTunes as well as BOL.

In November, he dropped a track and a video with Jean Grae.

December 2010 marks the rapper's first Cali performance when he plays at The Viper Room on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles (USA).

On 16 April he released the song and video for "Mic Bizniz" featuring Jamaican Music Legend Yellowman, often referred to as The King of Dancehall.

There is also a mini-documentary called 'Amsterdam To Kingston' featuring exclusive footage of Brainpower performing with Yellowman and an interview with Reggae Legend John Holt amongst others.

The single was not only a digital release but also came out as a 7-inch on Yellow colored vinyl for Record Store Day.

In August he put out a new song and video called 'Light It Up' which was picked up for use in 'Body Language', a movie in which Brainpower also plays a small role as a cab-driver.

The movie hit #1 in the Netherlands.

30 September saw the release of a new song "People", the first single of the upcoming album, for which the accompanying video was shot in New York.

In 2012 Brainpower performed in Europe & the Dutch Caribbean and released several tracks, like 'Sometimes' (also featured in the 'Body Language' movie), plus two collaborations in Dutch: 'Een Mooi Bericht' ft Anthony Heidweiller, a collab with an opera singer via the world renowned Concertgebouw.

In the summer of 2012, he dropped the free EP 'The New York Sessions' featuring Jean Grae, Mr Len, Ced Gee of the Ultramagnetic MCs & more.

The same year, he became an Ambassador for F.E.L.I.S., a multi functional center in Curaçao (Dutch Caribbean) that helps support children and also combats short-term and long-term poverty.