Ali B | |
|---|---|
.jpg.webp) Ali B in 2018 | |
| Born | Ali Bouali 16 October 1981 Zaanstad, Netherlands |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper, singer, songwriter |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Website | alib |
Ali Bouali, known professionally as Ali B (born 16 October 1981), is a Dutch-Moroccan rapper.[1] He is one of the most well known rappers in the Netherlands[2][3] and has collaborated with popular musicians such as Senegalese-American artist Akon and Dutch singer Marco Borsato. He is seen as a prominent figure in Dutch inter-ethnic relations.[4]
He has released three albums and a slew of popular singles, including the 2004 Dutch number-one hit "Wat zou je doen" with Marco Borsato. He has performed at several national events, including the 2005 Koninginnedag (Queen's Day) celebration and the 2013 Inauguration of Willem-Alexander.[4][5] He also held many television roles as a judge of the talent shows The Voice of Holland, The Voice Kids, X Factor, Holland's Got Talent and Ali B op volle toeren.
Following sexual assault allegations including rape in 2022, which resulted in three charges, Ali B lost many of his endorsement deals and positions.
Life and music career
Ali B was born in Zaanstad and moved to Amsterdam's De Pijp neighbourhood when he was two, and later to Amsterdam-Oost. When he was 14, he moved to Almere. In his teenage years, he dealt drugs to make money, regularly smoked marijuana, and stole shoes from his local mosque.[6] Seeking to set him straight, his mother made Ali B live with his grandparents in Morocco for ten months. He found refuge in Islam and rapping.[4]
His 2004 collaboration with Marco Borsato, "Wat zou je doen", reached number one in the Netherlands with proceeds from sales going to the War Child charity organisation. He had further successful songs including "Leipe mocro flavor" and "Wij houden van Oranje", a remake of a football chant featuring original singer André Hazes.
In 2004, Ali B became the first rapper to receive a wax figure at Madame Tussauds Amsterdam.[7] He collaborated with Akon on the international remix of his single "Ghetto". In 2006, Ali B was knighted as the "Baron of Ooit" in the children's theme park Land van Ooit and given a statue in the park's Main Street. He received the honor because the park felt that "he is committed to children in a special way."[8]
After hugging Queen Beatrix at the 2005 Queen's Day celebration, he was often called the "knuffelmarokkaan" (cuddly Moroccan), which at first he did not like because it suggested he was only cuddly because of the low standards applied to Moroccans. However, he tried to paint the phrase in a more positive light.[9]
In 2015, The Economist noted how his "empathetic moments have probably done more to promote Dutch acceptance of Muslims than any policy could have achieved." This came amongst growing anti-Muslim tensions in the Netherlands owing to the rising popularity of far-right politician Geert Wilders and his Party for Freedom. It was noted that Ali B was such a cross-cultural icon that he "is the one prominent Moroccan-Dutch figure whom the PVV’s leaders never attack."[4]
In 2017, Ali B's song "That is Money" caused controversy over the lyric "sits on money like a Jew." Ali B said that the lyric was not antisemitic because he was "calling them good businesspeople."[10] He eventually apologised to the Central Jewish Organisation.[11]
In 2020, Ali B started "Ik Wil Groeien" (I Want to Grow), an online coaching and self-help platform.[12] In 2021, he published the book De Ali B-Methode (The Ali B Method), featuring 12 life lessons shared by him.[13]
Following accusations of sexual assault and rape in 2022, which eventually became charges, companies severed ties with Ali B. Maven Publishing ceased all printing and sales of his book The Ali B Method, and LikeMeat pulled his "Mocro Flavour" vegetarian chicken brand from shelves.[14] Telecom magnate Jasper de Rooij scrapped his planned million-dollar investment into an Ali B-promoted invention. RTL Nederland removed Ali B as a judge from all its programs, NPO 1 announced it would no longer play Ali B songs on the radio, and many Dutch celebrities unfollowed him on Instagram.[14]
Telvision career
Ali B is also known for his roles in television. In 2011 he was given his own television-show for broadcast on TROS -station; Ali B op volle toeren invites young rappers and (established) artists of other genres to make cover-versions of each other songs. In 2013, he served as a mentor on X Factor. From 2013 to 2022, Ali B served as a coach on The Voice of Holland (replacing Roel van Velzen) and The Voice Kids (replacing Nick & Simon). In 2020, he served as a judge on Holland's Got Talent. In 2016, Ali B released a single with long-time collaborator Brace and chart-topping reggae-artist Kenny B.
In 2017 he made his acting debut in the Belgian movie Patser which premiered in early 2018.
Personal life
He is married to Breghje Kommers, the half-sister of professional footballer Abel Tamata.[15]
Sexual assault charges
In January 2022, the Dutch Public Prosecution Service received reports against Ali B for sexual misconduct, including one rape.[16] This took place while Ali B was working as a judge at The Voice of Holland, as reported by the Dutch YouTube show BOOS episode "This is the Voice". He has denied all allegations. In March 2023, Ali B was charged with three counts of sexual assault, including two rapes and one other assault. The incidents occurred between 2014 and 2018 in Morocco, Amsterdam and Heiloo.[17] Singer Ellen ten Damme accused Ali B of raping her in Morocco during the recording of the show Ali B en de Muziekkaravaan.[18][19] In another incident, Ali B was accused of raping an 18-year-old The Voice of Holland contestant in his studio.[20][21] The most recent incident reportedly took place in Heiloo in 2018. The trial is scheduled to begin in June 2024.[17]
Discography
Albums
| Year | Album | Peak positions | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| NED | |||
| 2004 | Ali B vertelt het leven van de straat | 19 | |
| 2006 | Petje Af | 42 | |
| 2016 | Een klein beetje geluk | 7 | |
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NED Dutch Top 40 |
NED Single Top 100 [22] | |||
| 2003 | "Waar gaat dit heen?" (with Karima) |
Tip 19 | 57 | |
| 2004 | "Ik ben je zat" (feat. Brace) |
3 | 2 | |
| "Wat zou je doen" (with Marco Borsato) |
1 | 1 | ||
| 2005 | "Leipe mocro flavour" (feat. Yes-R & Brace) |
2 | 2 | |
| "Wat zullen we drinken (7 dagen lang)" (with Bots) |
- | 98 | ||
| 2006 | "Rampeneren" (feat. Yes-R & The Partysquad) |
4 | 6 | |
| "Wij houden van Oranje (2006)" (feat. André Hazes ) |
2 | 2 | ||
| "Zomervibe" | 28 | 50 | ||
| "'Till morning" (feat Ziggy) |
38 | 42 | ||
| 2007 | "Dit gaat fout" (feat. Gio) |
20 | 23 | |
| "Je weet zelluf" (with The Opposites) |
- | 59 | ||
| "Groupie love" (feat. Yes-R, Gio & Darryl) |
9 | 3 | ||
| 2008 | "Baas" (with Sjaak) |
- | 19 | |
| 2009 | "Me boy" (with Yes-R & Lange Frans) |
Tip 11 | - | |
| 2011 | "Troubadour 2011" (with Kaiser) |
- | 50 | |
| "Rosamunde 2011" (with Yes-R & Brownie Dutch) |
38 | 7 | ||
| "Summertime" (feat. Brace & the Sleepless) |
Tip 16 | 20 | ||
| 2015 | "Terwijl jullie nog bij me zijn" (feat. Ruben Annink) |
32 | 4 | |
| "Wanneer gaan we weer naar huis?" (feat. Glen Faria) |
- | 57 | ||
| "Gekke kleine jongen" (feat. Glen Faria) |
- | 20 | ||
| 2017 | "Glimp van de duivel" (feat. Nielson) |
28 | 94 | |
| "Ik ga weg" (with Boef) |
- | 5 | ||
| "Voy a Bailar" (feat. Boef, Rolf Sanchez & RedOne) |
9 | 17 | ||
| "Obesitas" (with Mula B feat. Dopebwoy) |
- | 58 | ||
| "Paranoia" (with Glades, Mula B feat. Lijpe) |
- | - | ||
| 2018 | "Niet verwacht" (with Lijpe & Ismo) |
- | 70 | |
| "Bentayga" | Tip 2 | - | ||
| "Amsterdam Marrakech" (feat. Ahmed Chawki, Soufiane Eddyani & Brahim Darri) |
- | 71 | ||
| "Dana" (with Cheb Rayan, R3HAB feat. Numidia ) |
Tip 10 | 42 | ||
| "Meli meli" (with Numidia feat. Ronnie Flex) |
Tip 4 | 6 | ||
| "Spectakel" (feat. Boef & Ronnie Flex) |
- | 55 | ||
| "Waar Ben jij Nou" (feat. Jim van der Zee) |
- | - | ||
| 2019 | "Sneaky Money" (featuring Chivv & Boef) |
- | 18 | |
| 2020 | "Anderhalf" (featuring Poke and Judeska) |
27 [23] |
5 | |
Featured in
| Year | Single | Peak positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NED Dutch Top 40 |
NED Single Top 100 |
BEL (Fl) | |||
| 2005 | "Hartendief" (Brace feat. Ali B) |
7 | 5 | - | |
| "Het kind" (Brace feat. Ali B & J-Rock) |
38 | 35 | - | ||
| 2006 | "Ghetto (remix)" (Akon feat. Ali B & Yes-R) |
3 | 2 | - | |
| "Hard to Get" (Gio feat. Ali B, Party Squad & Ambush) |
Tip 4 | 41 | - | ||
| "De leipe Bauer flavour" (Frans Bauer feat. Ali B & Lange Frans) |
- | 14 | - | ||
| 2008 | "Eeyeeyo" (Darryl feat. Ali B, Soumia & Rio) |
29 | 10 | - | |
| 2013 | "Koningslied" (Nationaal Comité Inhuldiging featuring various artists including Ali B) |
2 | 1 | 41 | |
| "Muziek" (Marco Borsato feat. Bag2Bank & Ali B) |
9 | 1 | Tip 8 | ||
| 2017 | "Ego" (Mula B feat. Ali B) |
- | 77 | - | |
| "Money voor mij" (Kosso feat. Ali B & Boef) |
- | 74 | - | ||
| 2018 | "Slow down" (Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike x Quintino feat. Boef, Ronnie Flex, Ali B & I Am Aisha) |
18 | 4 | - | |
| "Willie" (Oualid feat. Ali B, MocroManiac & Kippie) |
- | 80 | - | ||
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Poetry Slam | |
| 2004 | Essent Awards | |
| 2004 | Megaward | |
| 2004 | Zilveren Harp | |
| 2004 | Dutch Urban Award | |
| 2004 | Mobo Award | Best Dutch Urban act |
| 2004 | Buma Cultuur Pop Award | |
| 2005 | Mobo Award | |
| 2005 | Kids Choice Award | Best Kaaskop |
| 2005 | TMF Awards | Best newcomer |
| 2005 | Nightlife Award | |
| 2006 | TMF Awards | Best Urban Act |
| 2007 | 3FM Awards | Best R&B/HipHop Artist |
| 2012 | Gouden Televizier-Ring | Best TV program for Ali B op volle toeren (nomination) |
| 2012 | Zilveren Televizier-Ster Man | Best male host |
References
- ↑ van Wijk, Jetteke (4 April 2007). "Dutch rapper Ali B. in Middle East". Radio Nederland Wereldomroep. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
- ↑ Kooijman, Jaap (2008). Fabricating the absolute fake: America in contemporary pop culture. Amsterdam University Press. p. 113. ISBN 978-90-5356-492-9.
- ↑ Miezkowski, Sylvia; Smith, Joy; de Valck, Marijke (2008). Sonic interventions. Rodopi. p. 269. ISBN 978-90-420-2294-2. Retrieved 23 January 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 "The rapper Ali B has charmed the Netherlands. Can he stay above the fray?". The Economist. 21 November 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- ↑ "Koninginnedag 2005: win de Seat Altea van Bea". www.autozine.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- ↑ "Ali B.: Ik jatte schoenen uit de moskee, ik ging echt ver". Algemeen Dagblad. 5 March 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
- ↑ ANP, Door (9 December 2004). "Ali B eerste rapper met beeld in Madame Tussauds (video)". NU (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- ↑ "Ali B wordt Baron van Ooit". www.omroepflevoland.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- ↑ Novum, Door (27 August 2011). "Ali B niet blij met 'knuffelmarokkaan'". NU (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- ↑ "Dutch Rapper Defends 'Sits on Money Like a Jew' Lyrics". The Forward. 5 January 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- ↑ Rijken, Kemal (6 January 2017). "Ali B. betuigt spijt aan CJO om antisemitische zin". Jonet.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- ↑ "Of course, I say to Ali B Are you sure you want a Bentley". APG. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- ↑ Offringa, Hans (24 November 2021). "Ali B over zijn nieuwe boek: "Dit is de oogst van wat ik toen zaaide"". Op1. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- 1 2 "Zakenimperium Ali B brokkelt af, al is 'KLM waarschijnlijk eerder failliet'". RTL Nieuws (in Dutch). 25 January 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- ↑ "Abel Tamata bonkt op de deur bij PSV" (in Dutch). BN/DeStem. 22 December 2010. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
- ↑ "Rape accusation filed against The Voice judge Ali B.; Another allegedly groped minors". NL Times. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
- 1 2 Nwafor, Justice (22 December 2023). "Ali B and Jeroen Rietbergen Face Prosecution - A Shadow on 'The Voice of Holland'". BNN Breaking. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
- ↑ "Singer Ellen ten Damme accuses Ali B of sexual misconduct | NL Times". nltimes.nl. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
- ↑ "Ali B ook vervolgd voor seksueel ontoelaatbaar gedrag bij Ellen ten Damme, al deed zij geen aangifte". Retrieved 25 December 2023.
- ↑ Boffey, Daniel (21 January 2022). "Dutch creator of The Voice accused of victim-blaming over abuse claims on show". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- ↑ Roxborough, Scott (15 March 2023). "'Voice of Holland' Ex-Stars Charged With Sexual Offenses". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
- ↑ "Discografie Ali B". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
- ↑ "Top 40 week 16 van 2020".
External links
- Official website (in Dutch)
- Ali B on 3voor12.vpro.nl (in Dutch)
- biography on popinstituut.nl (in Dutch)
- Ali B discography at MusicBrainz