To those who aren’t geographically inclined, the name Greenland may conjure images of lush pastures, scenic vistas, and idyllic farming villages. WRONG! The name Greenland may be somewhat of a misnomer. There’s not much “green” at all. In fact, eighty percent of this country is covered by a ubiquitous ice sheet. The harsh climate of this frozen island would seem to stifle any kind of growth within this country. However, as testament to the resiliency of hip hop, the art form has found a home in Greenland and has begun to thrive. In 1984, hip hop migrated from the boroughs of NYC to the frosty fjords of Greenland. The following year saw the inception of Greenland’s most prominent hip hop crew, Nuuk Posse.

Although Greenland is situated in the Arctic region more closely to Canada, it still maintains strong ties to Europe, more specifically Denmark. Ethnically, the Nuuk Posse is comprised of members who share the same Inuit ancestry. The multilingual crew often rhymes in Greenlandic, Danish, and English. Group members are Andreas Hojgaard, Lars Sørensen, Peter Motzfeldt, Henrik Pedersen, Thomas Hansen, and John Olsen. The origins of the group can be traced back to ’85 when Peter, John, and Henrik first formed a crew. They drew their inspiration from such influential artists as Africa Bambaata, Grand Master Flash, Kool Moe Dee, and the Rock Steady Crew while immersing themselves in every aspect of hip hop culture—DJing, rhyming, breaking, and putting up graffiti. In 1992, after officially christening themselves the Nuuk Posse, the group dropped their first single “Sussa Appinnagu.” This was followed-up by their first album, NP in 1995. Kataaq, their first international album was subsequently released in 1996 via Belgian record label Subrosa.

The group’s proud heritage is reflected in their music as they fuse old school hip hop elements with traditional Inuit music. The essence of their music is captured perfectly in their song “Sussa Appinnagu.” The emcees drop lyrics in their native tongue over a beatbox and Inuit chants.

Nuuk Posse has been instrumental in empowering the youth of their country and instilling a sense of Inuit pride among them. The crew strives to educate their brethren and remind them to never forget their roots. As a result of their efforts, they have received several accolades such as being awarded the National Cultural Prize in 1996 and being appointed as one of the United Nations’ Messengers of Truth in 2004.