Ali B Explained

Ali B
Birth Name:Ali Bouali
Birth Date:1981 10, df=y
Birth Place:Zaanstad, Netherlands
Years Active:1999–present
Module:Criminal information
Child:yes
Criminal Penalty:2 years imprisonment

Ali Bouali, known professionally as Ali B (born 16 October 1981), is a Moroccan and Dutch rapper and entertainer.[1] He is one of the most prominent rappers in the Netherlands[2] [3] and has collaborated with musicians such as Akon and Marco Borsato. He is seen as a leading figure in Dutch inter-ethnic relations.[4]

Ali B has released three albums and various singles, including the 2004 Dutch number-one hit "Wat zou je doen" with Marco Borsato. He has performed at national events including the 2005 Queen's Day celebration and the 2013 inauguration of Willem-Alexander.[5] He has been a judge on the television talent shows The Voice of Holland, The Voice Kids, X Factor, Holland's Got Talent and Ali B op volle toeren.

Following sexual misconduct allegations made against him in 2022, which resulted in two criminal charges for rape and two charges for assault, Ali B lost many of his endorsement deals and positions.[6] On 12 July 2024, he was convicted on one count of rape and one count of attempted rape and sentenced to two years in prison.[7] Ali B has indicated that he would appeal the sentence.[8]

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.[9] 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.

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.[10] 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."[11] 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.[12]

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."

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."[13] He eventually apologised to the Central Jewish Organisation.[14]

In 2020, Ali B started "Ik Wil Groeien" (I Want to Grow), an online coaching and self-help platform.[15] In 2021, he published the book De Ali B-Methode (The Ali B Method), featuring 12 life lessons shared by him.[16]

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.[17] 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.

Television 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. He served as judge in 2020 and 2021 in the singing talent show We Want More.

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.[18]

Rape conviction

In January 2022, the Dutch Public Prosecution Service received reports against Ali B for sexual misconduct, including one rape.[19] 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 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.[20] Singer Ellen ten Damme accused Ali B of raping her in Morocco during the recording of the show Ali B en de Muziekkaravaan.[21] [22] In another incident, Ali B was accused of assaulting The Voice of Holland contestant Jill Helena in the Amsterdamse Bos. He was also accused of digitally penetrating a 20-year-old woman in Heiloo during a writer's camp while she was performing oral sex on rapper Ronnie Flex.[23]

On 12 July 2024, Ali B was convicted on one count of rape and an additional count of attempted rape, and sentenced to two years in prison.

Discography

Albums

YearAlbumPeak positionsCertification
NED
2004Ali B vertelt het leven van de straat19
2006Petje Af42
2016Een klein beetje geluk7

Singles

YearSinglePeak positionsAlbum
NED
Dutch
Top 40

NED
Single
Top 100

[24]
2003"Waar gaat dit heen?"
(with Karima)
Tip 1957
2004"Ik ben je zat"
(feat. Brace)
32
"Wat zou je doen"
(with Marco Borsato)
11
2005"Leipe mocro flavour"
(feat. Yes-R & Brace)
22
"Wat zullen we drinken (7 dagen lang)"
(with Bots)
style="text-align:center;"-98
2006"Rampeneren"
(feat. Yes-R & The Partysquad)
46
"Wij houden van Oranje (2006)"
(feat. André Hazes)
22
"Zomervibe"2850
Till morning"
(feat Ziggy)
3842
2007"Dit gaat fout"
(feat. Gio)
2023
"Je weet zelluf"
(with The Opposites)
style="text-align:center;"-59
"Groupie love"
(feat. Yes-R, Gio & Darryl)
93
2008"Baas"
(with Sjaak)
style="text-align:center;"-19
2009"Me boy"
(with Yes-R & Lange Frans)
Tip 11style="text-align:center;"-
2011"Troubadour 2011"
(with Kaiser)
style="text-align:center;"-50
"Rosamunde 2011"
(with Yes-R & Brownie Dutch)
387
"Summertime"
(feat. Brace & the Sleepless)
Tip 1620
2015"Terwijl jullie nog bij me zijn"
(feat. Ruben Annink)
324
"Wanneer gaan we weer naar huis?"
(feat. Glen Faria)
style="text-align:center;"-57
"Gekke kleine jongen"
(feat. Glen Faria)
style="text-align:center;"-20
2017"Glimp van de duivel"
(feat. Nielson)
2894
"Ik ga weg"
(with Boef)
style="text-align:center;"-5
"Voy a Bailar"
(feat. Boef, Rolf Sanchez & RedOne)
917
"Obesitas"
(with Mula B feat. Dopebwoy)
style="text-align:center;"-58
"Paranoia"
(with Glades, Mula B feat. Lijpe)
style="text-align:center;"-style="text-align:center;"-
2018"Niet verwacht"
(with Lijpe & Ismo)
style="text-align:center;"-70
"Bentayga"Tip 2style="text-align:center;"-
"Amsterdam Marrakech"
(feat. Ahmed Chawki, Soufiane Eddyani & Brahim Darri)
style="text-align:center;"-71
"Dana"
(with Cheb Rayan, R3HAB feat. Numidia)
Tip 1042
"Meli meli"
(with Numidia feat. Ronnie Flex)
Tip 46
"Spectakel"
(feat. Boef & Ronnie Flex)
style="text-align:center;"-55
"Waar Ben jij Nou"
(feat. Jim van der Zee)
style="text-align:center;"-style="text-align:center;"-
2019"Sneaky Money"
(featuring Chivv & Boef)
style="text-align:center;"-18
2020"Anderhalf"
(featuring Poke and Judeska)
27
[25]
5

Featured in

YearSinglePeak positionsAlbum
NED
Dutch
Top 40

NED
Single
Top 100

BEL
(Fl)
2005"Hartendief"
(Brace feat. Ali B)
75style="text-align:center;"-
"Het kind"
(Brace feat. Ali B & J-Rock)
3835style="text-align:center;"-
2006"Ghetto (remix)"
(Akon feat. Ali B & Yes-R)
32style="text-align:center;"-
"Hard to Get"
(Gio feat. Ali B, Party Squad & Ambush)
Tip 441style="text-align:center;"-
"De leipe Bauer flavour"
(Frans Bauer feat. Ali B & Lange Frans)
style="text-align:center;"-14style="text-align:center;"-
2008"Eeyeeyo"
(Darryl feat. Ali B, Soumia & Rio)
2910style="text-align:center;"-
2013"Koningslied"
(Nationaal Comité Inhuldiging featuring various artists including Ali B)
2141
"Muziek"
(Marco Borsato feat. Bag2Bank & Ali B)
91Tip 8
2017"Ego"
(Mula B feat. Ali B)
style="text-align:center;"-77style="text-align:center;"-
"Money voor mij"
(Kosso feat. Ali B & Boef)
style="text-align:center;"-74style="text-align:center;"-
2018"Slow down"
(Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike x Quintino feat. Boef, Ronnie Flex, Ali B & I Am Aisha)
184style="text-align:center;"-
"Willie"
(Oualid feat. Ali B, MocroManiac & Kippie)
style="text-align:center;"-80style="text-align:center;"-

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category
2000Poetry Slam
2004Essent Awards
2004Megaward
2004Zilveren Harp
2004 Dutch Urban Award
2004Mobo AwardBest Dutch Urban act
2004Buma Cultuur Pop Award
2005Mobo Award
2005Kids Choice AwardBest Kaaskop
2005TMF AwardsBest newcomer
2005Nightlife Award
2006TMF AwardsBest Urban Act
2007Best R&B/HipHop Artist
2012Best TV program for Ali B op volle toeren (nomination)
2012Best male host

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Dutch rapper Ali B. in Middle East. van Wijk. Jetteke. 4 April 2007. Radio Nederland Wereldomroep. 22 January 2010.
  2. Book: Kooijman, Jaap. Fabricating the absolute fake: America in contemporary pop culture. Amsterdam University Press. 2008. 113. 978-90-5356-492-9.
  3. Book: Miezkowski, Sylvia. Smith, Joy. de Valck, Marijke. Sonic interventions. Rodopi. 2008. 269. 978-90-420-2294-2. 23 January 2010.
  4. News: The rapper Ali B has charmed the Netherlands. Can he stay above the fray?. 22 November 2015. The Economist. 21 November 2015.
  5. Web site: Koninginnedag 2005: win de Seat Altea van Bea . 2023-12-27 . www.autozine.nl . nl.
  6. Web site: 2022-01-21. Boycot Marco Borsato en Ali B: muziek in de ban, beeld uit Madame Tussauds. 2024-07-14. parool.nl. nl.
  7. Web site: 2024-07-12. Ali B krijgt twee jaar cel voor verkrachting en poging tot verkrachting. 2024-07-12. nos.nl. nl.
  8. Web site: 2024-07-12. Ali B gaat in hoger beroep tegen celstraf. 2024-07-23. ad.nl. nl.
  9. Web site: 2022-01-21. 5 March 2012. Ali B.: Ik jatte schoenen uit de moskee, ik ging echt ver. Algemeen Dagblad.
  10. Web site: ANP . Door . 2004-12-09 . Ali B eerste rapper met beeld in Madame Tussauds (video) . 2023-12-27 . NU . nl.
  11. Web site: Ali B wordt Baron van Ooit . 2023-12-27 . www.omroepflevoland.nl . nl.
  12. Web site: Novum . Door . 2011-08-27 . Ali B niet blij met 'knuffelmarokkaan' . 2023-12-27 . NU . nl.
  13. Web site: 2017-01-05 . Dutch Rapper Defends 'Sits on Money Like a Jew' Lyrics . 2023-12-27 . The Forward . en.
  14. Web site: Rijken . Kemal . 2017-01-06 . Ali B. betuigt spijt aan CJO om antisemitische zin . 2023-12-27 . Jonet.nl . nl-NL.
  15. Web site: Of course, I say to Ali B Are you sure you want a Bentley . 2023-12-27 . APG . en-US.
  16. Web site: Offringa . Hans . 2021-11-24 . Ali B over zijn nieuwe boek: "Dit is de oogst van wat ik toen zaaide" . 2023-12-27 . Op1.
  17. Web site: 2022-01-25 . Zakenimperium Ali B brokkelt af, al is 'KLM waarschijnlijk eerder failliet' . 2023-12-27 . RTL Nieuws . nl.
  18. Web site: Abel Tamata bonkt op de deur bij PSV. 22 December 2010. 5 April 2015. nl. BN/DeStem.
  19. Web site: Rape accusation filed against The Voice judge Ali B.; Another allegedly groped minors . 2022-03-10 . NL Times . en.
  20. Web site: Rapper Ali B could face 3 years in prison for raping, sexually assaulting three women .
  21. Web site: Singer Ellen ten Damme accuses Ali B of sexual misconduct NL Times . 2023-12-25 . nltimes.nl . en.
  22. Web site: Ali B ook vervolgd voor seksueel ontoelaatbaar gedrag bij Ellen ten Damme, al deed zij geen aangifte . 2023-12-25 .
  23. Web site: Ali B volhardt in zijn onschuld, maar zijn slachtoffers voelen zich verminkt: ‘Nee is nee, Ali’ . 2024-06-18 . de Gelderlander.
  24. Web site: Discografie Ali B. dutchcharts.nl. 28 March 2020.
  25. Web site: Top 40 week 16 van 2020.