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Ali B
Ali B (2018).jpg
Ali B in 2018
Born
Ali Bouali

(1981-10-16) 16 October 1981 (age 43)
Zaanstad, Netherlands
Occupation
  • Rapper
  • singer-songwriter
  • television presenter
  • cabaret performer
  • stand-up comedian
Years active 1999–present
Criminal information
Criminal penalty 2 years imprisonment

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

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. 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.

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. 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. 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."

Ali B - 13-09-2008 1
Ali B in 2008

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.

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." He eventually apologised to the Central Jewish Organisation.

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

Following accusations 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. 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

Bouali is married to Breghje Kommers, the half-sister of professional footballer Abel Tamata. They have three sons together. His cousin is Yes-R, who is also a rapper and television personality.

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
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
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
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