"Ik rap niet alsof ik een player ben"

This study explores how localization is demonstrated in Dutch rap lyrics in comparison to American rap lyrics. American rap has a bad image because of their violent and sex-oriented lyrics and video’s. This negatively influences the image of Dutch rap. Therefore the relevance of this study is that there is a general fear for the influence of the United States that will eventually alter our Dutch culture. For this study 200 lyrics from the cd’s of popular American and Dutch rappers are used to perform a systematic quantifying content-analysis of the themes in Dutch rap lyrics in comparison to these from American rap lyrics. The results show that there is a distinct difference in themes between Dutch and American rap lyrics, implying that Dutch rap had indeed been localized. Dutch rap has a profound character, showing that they maintain their own identity with little influence of American rap.