I
Flip Kowlier

About:

(pseudonym of Filip Cauwelier), 1976

Born in Izegem Filip began his musical career in the crossoverband The Prophets of Finance and My Velma.  Around 1997 the remains of the bands changed in the hip hop group 't Hof van Commerce with Kowlier as MC. In 1998 their debut album ‘En in Izzegem’ sold 8.000 copies. After the second Hof van Commerce album he craved for something else. A band was put together, and based on quickly recorded demo's, they stirred the interest of producer Wouter van Belle (Axelle Red, Gorki ...) and Dead Man Ray drummer Karel de Backer. The name of the band eventually became simply Flip Kowlier, after "De Barabassen" and "Bernard & Edwyn" didn't pass the test. The plan was to release a full-cd in September 2000, but to all kind of circumstances, it took till September of the year after for these plans to materialize. A first time Flip Kowlier introduced himself to the audience through a gig in the Ancienne Belgique opening for Laïs (spring 2001). An MP3 of the song 'Kwestie van Organisatie' stirred the anticipation for the debut 'Ocharme Ik' an album unlike his work with HvC with a much more singer/songwriter feel to it. The album sold platinum in Belgium and received two ZAMU-awards At the time the project seemed a side project since HvC picked up recording the next year. The album ‘Rocky 7’ became their biggest succes selling 10.00 copies. One more album would follow but Kowlier started to focus more and more on his solo-work. In 2004 his second album ‘In de fik’ is released, featuring a duet with Hooverphonic’s Geike Arnaert ('Bjistje in min uoft'). A year later he also releases his first children’s book ‘Conflicten over etensresten’ together with illustrator Frow. In 2006 he delivers the themesong for the movie ‘Ex-drummer’ called 'De Grotste Lul Van't Stad'. A year his third album is released. After a tour a limited live album ‘Live in de Living’ is sealed with Belgian magazine Humo in 2008. Also a new children’s book is released under the title ‘Over Kabouters’. Meanwhile he Works together with Michael Franti and Gabriel Rios for the beneficial single ‘What’s this’ (for the project ‘Music for life’). In 2009 he is honoured with the Flemish Cultureprize for Music. The album ‘Otoradio’ appears in 2010. He later stals his solo career for a third return of rapcombo Hof van Commerce in 2012.

On the web:

- Flip's website: http://www.flipkowlier.be/

If you like this, you probably like... / european counterparts:

Macaco (Spain)

What do we think:

DB: Kowlier sings in West-flemish dialect and this is incrompehensible even to Dutch en Flemish speaking listeners. Still musically his music his hip, original and vibrant. In the slipstream of his hiphop crew HvC other bands sprung up from the western region of Belgium. His solo work is much more diverse then hiphop alone and has elements of reggae, folk and pop.

Recommended albums:

♪♪♪ - Ocharme Ik - 2001

♪♪♪ - In de fik - 2004

- De Man van 31 - 2007

♪♪♪♪ - Otoradio - 2010

♪♪♪♪ - Cirque - 2013

With Hof van Commerce:

♪♪1/2 - Stuntman - 2012

En in Izzegem - 1998 / Herman - 1999 / Rocky 7 - 2002/ Ezoa en niet anders - 2005

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♪♪♪♪♪ = outstanding album, an absolute must-have
♪♪♪♪ = great album, highly recomended
♪♪♪ = nice album
♪♪ = be careful, requires listening before buying
♪ = best to be avoided