Ali B

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Ali B
Background information
Birth name	Ali Bouali
Born	October 16, 1981 (1981-10-16) (age 27) Zaanstad, Netherlands
Genre(s)	Rap
Occupation(s)	Rapper
Years active	2002–present
Website	www.alib.nl (Dutch)

Ali B, a pseudonym of Ali Bouali (Zaanstad, 16 October 1981) is a Dutch Rapper of Moroccan descent. He is also a stand-up comedian and owns the label SPEC, which he has set up himself.

Biography

Ali B. spent his first years in Zaanstad but moved to Amsterdam at the age of two. After hearing Osdorp Posse's song Moordenaar [English: Murderer] he became interested in hiphop and started to rap. At 14, Ali moved with his mother to Almere, where he tried to start a serious musical career. In Almere, Ali B. gave his first performances and won the Poetry Slam in 2000/2001.

He calls himself "Ali B" to reflect the way in which criminals are named in the Dutch media.

Rise

In 2000, Ali B joined several talent shows such as Wanted, but also made it into the final of Grote Prijs van Nederland (Netherlands Grand Prize) in the category R&B/hip-hop, where he lost to singer Corey. However, his participation was not unnoticed, as two months after the final he got a contract with Warner Music. At Warner Music he released the single "Waar Gaat Dit Heen?" , which reached 2nd in the charts on the Dutch music television broadcaster The Box. His breakthrough with the general public came with his third single "Ik Ben Je Zat" , which featured vocals by Dutch R&B singer Brace. The single reached 3rd place in the Top 40 charts. Through his vigorous, entertaining and sometimes a bit brutal live performances, Ali earned widespread name recognition very rapidly, and he became eagerly sought as a talk-show guest.

Actions

Ali B performed together with Marco Borsato for War Child during the concerts of Borsato in De Kuip.

He was in the support act of American rappers 50 Cent and G-Unit in Ahoy Rotterdam and on 18 September he was the support act of Herfstpop in Rijswijk. In 2004, he won the popprijs 2004. The jury said "you simply can't miss him". According to them, Ali B proved that "you don't necessarily need a record label." From December 2004, Ali B became the new ambassador for the Trees Concerning Life foundation.

For the Platen 10-daagse (Ten Days of the Records), Ali B recorded a cover of the song "Seven Days Long" from the band Bots. Furthermore 2005 was a busy year for Ali B. He made seven episodes of the television programme "Rap Around The World", where he visited developing countries and showed in which situation the young people there survive. Moreover, Ali B lends his voice for the Dutch version of Robots. He also starts his own radio programme on broadcaster Juice FM, together with his cousin Yes-R. Besides that, he visited the Dr. Leo Kannerhuis (Centre for Autism) in Oosterbeek, were he got a tour and did a performance. In 2005, Ali won several prizes, including a TMF Award in the category 'best new national artist' and he also wins two Mobo-Awards for best clip and best national single. Ali B also gets a wax statue in Madame Tussaud.

In 2006, American Rapper Akon records a Dutch version of the single "Ghetto" with Ali B and Yes-R. Also bring Ali B the number "we love oranje", the voetbalhit André Hazes from 1988 (where Ali B added raps), again from. Ali B are ever knighted on 9 June in Het Land van Ooit to baron of ever and get its own seat to the alley in the pretpark. Other hits Zomervibe followed such as Rampeneren (with Yes-R and Partysquad), Leipe Mocro Flavour (remix with Yes-R) and. On 13 October, Ali B wins his second TMF Award in the category 'best urban act'. End 2006, Ali B is performing again with Marco Borsato during his concert range Symphonica in Rosso. Beside his big hit Wat zou je doen?, a duet with Marco Borsato, Ali B rapped with Yes-R on a special version of Dromen zijn bedrog.

Discography

Albums

Singles

References

Footnotes

External links

• Official website (Dutch)
• Ali B on 3voor12.vpro.nl (Dutch)
• biography on popinstituut.nl (Dutch)