Rucka Rucka Ali
Rucka Rucka Ali | |
---|---|
Rucka Rucka Ali (left) as he appears on the cover of his fourth studio album Rucka's World. | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Carl Marshall |
Also known as | "Itsrucka", DJ Not Nice, Seymour Schwartz, Toby Queef, TR-8R, Boris Anatasha, Jihad Joe, Zayn Hussein, Alejandro Whereizwaldo |
Born |
January 27, 1987 (age 31) Jerusalem, Israel[1] |
Origin | Troy, Michigan |
Genres | Parody, comedy, satire, comedy hip hop |
Occupation(s) | Rapper, satirist, parodist, comedian, singer |
Instruments | Vocals |
Years active | 2006–present |
Labels | Straightsavage, Serchlite |
Associated acts | MC Serch, EdWords |
Website | Official website |
Rucka Rucka Ali (born January 27, 1987) is an Israeli-American comedian, musician and Internet celebrity, best known for his black comedy political and topical song parodies on YouTube. Much of his content employs ethnic and racial stereotypes. He has received over 100 million hits on YouTube[2] with parodies such as "Go Cops!", "Ima Korean", "Ching Chang Chong", "Ebola (La La)", "TRUMP", and "Im Osama". He has released seven independent studio albums, four of which charted in the billboard top homemade albums.[3]
Early life and musical career
Rucka Rucka Ali was born in Jerusalem, Israel on January 27, 1987. He was born into an Orthodox Jewish environment, though he said he moved away from this as he grew up.[1]
Rucka Rucka Ali's singing career started on Myspace in 2006, when he released his first single "I Heart Crack".[4][5] On MySpace, Rucka developed one of his alter egos, "DJ Not Nice", who espouses stereotypical qualities of Asian people; when Rucka writes parodies on topics related to Asia or Asians, they are typically performed by this character. Rucka received traffic from writing controversial comments on popular videos on MySpace, boosting his popularity, until his account was deleted in February 2008, for breaking their anti spam policy.
On the September 11, 2008, Rucka Rucka Ali released his debut album, "Straight Outta West B",[6] which contained songs previously published on his MySpace account. When not working on his music, Rucka was an intern on Hot 102.7 WHTD's "Serchlite Saturdays", which was hosted by MC Serch.[7]
This partnership lead to Rucka playing his parody music on air and promoting his music videos on their YouTube account. After his video resulted in SerchliteTV's channel to be suspended, Rucka decided to publish his videos independently. All of his albums bar Black Man of Steal have been published on Pinegrove Records.
Most of Rucka Rucka Ali's musical content pertains to parodies containing lyrics for shock value, often including ethnic stereotypes. Celebrities and politicians whom he has imitated on more than one occasion include Barack Obama, Osama bin Laden, Donald Trump, One Direction, Justin Bieber, Kim Jong-il, and Kim Jong-un. He often auto-tunes his vocals. Others who has he impersonated multiple times include Adolf Hitler and Michael Jackson. His music tends to make use of his several satirical alter egos similar to Detroit rapper Eminem.
He has multiple alter egos, such as DJ Not Nice (Asian), Seymour Schwartz (Jewish) and Toby Queef (white American redneck). Some critics have labeled Ali as a racist as a reaction to his songs, although his humour seems heavily influenced by mainstream comedy television shows, such as South Park, Family Guy, and Chappelle's Show.[2] His videos and YouTube channels are frequently removed (since he started creating music videos he has had 17[8] YouTube channels deleted for terms of service violations), but are reuploaded by his fans, who call themselves "Rucka's Nuckas".
One of his most infamous parodies was "Ima Korean", which was a parody of The Black Eyed Peas' "I Gotta Feeling" which makes fun of Kim Jong-il and North Koreans. He later released a sequel called "My Korea's Over I Think" which is a parody of "International Love", taking place after Kim Jong-il's death in 2011, when his son Kim Jong-un took over as the leader of North Korea. In 2013, he released a third song in the series called "Kim Jong-Un Song" which is a parody of Florida Georgia Line's "Cruise" featuring Balotelli, which is about the 2013 North Korean missile crisis.
During the weeks July 31, 2010 through August 7, 2010, Rucka held 5 of the top 10 spots on the Billboard Comedy Digital Tracks chart.[9][10] This feat had only been accomplished by comedy band The Lonely Island before Rucka.
Rucka Rucka Ali has released six albums, three of which charted in the Billboard Top Comedy Albums, I'm Black, You're White & These Are Clearly Parodies which peaked at No. 6[11] and Probably Racist which peaked at No. 11.[12] In September 2012, he released his sixth studio album, Rucka's World, which peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Top Comedy Albums.[13]
Rucka Rucka Ali used to have a podcast named "Rucka's Late Night Power Hour" that ran from 2011 to 2012. He now has a new podcast called "The Rucka Nucka Podcast" and continues to release songs regularly.
In December 2014, alongside Andy Dick, he announced that his new album Black Man of Steal would be released in January 2015.[14]
In 2016, Ali announced his new album Everything is Racist which was released on Christmas Day.
Controversy
In June 2010, three British students were reprimanded after publicly showing Rucka Rucka Ali's video "Ima Korean" to their class while studying different countries' musical traditions. One Korean student was "devastated, upset, very offended, feeling very lonely", being the only East-Asian child in the class. An assistant head teacher said the song was "probably racist". Rucka Rucka Ali subsequently picked the quote as the title of his next album.[15]
On July 24, 2013, Rucka Rucka Ali released the song "Zayn Did 9/11" (a parody of Selena Gomez's "Come & Get It") to YouTube which mocked Muslim One Direction member Zayn Malik, jokingly saying he committed the September 11 terrorist attacks. The single cover features a silhouette of Malik in front of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center as they were attacked.[16] The song, along with an accompanying music video released several days later, angered One Direction fans and others.[17] Business Standard called the song "offensive" and a "racist attack" on Malik.[18]
In the end of November 2013, Rucka Rucka Ali was involved in another controversy after his song "Only 17", a parody of "Just a Dream" by Nelly, was accidentally played uncensored over the speakers at a McDonald's in Wales.[19][20] Subsequently, McDonald's issued an apology to the offended customers.[21] That same week, Rucka Rucka Ali responded to the controversy on his YouTube channel by jokingly demanding a personal apology from the restaurant.[22]
Personal life
Ali is an Objectivist, as stated in his interview with Dave Rubin on The Rubin Report.[23]
At the end of the music video "Life Is Over" (a parody of "Closer"), released in October 2016, Rucka Rucka Ali admitted that he had attempted to commit suicide in the summer of 2006, noting that his death would have prevented the success of his later music career, he wished to send others "a message of hope".[24]
Discography
Studio albums[25]
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | |
---|---|---|---|
US Comedy[26] | |||
Straight Outta West B | 2008 | — | |
I'm Black, You're White & These Are Clearly Parodies | 2010 | 6 | |
A Very Rucka Christmas | 2010 | — | |
Probably Racist | 2011 | 11 | |
A Very Rucka Christmas: The 2nd Cumming | 2011 | — | |
Rucka's World | 2012 | 8 | |
Black Man of Steal | 2015 | 7 | |
Everything Is Racist | 2016 | — | |
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
Charted singles
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | |
---|---|---|---|
US Comedy[27] | |||
"I Can Do Whatever, I'm White" | 2010 | 19 | |
"Go Cops" | 2010 | 4 | |
"Ching Chang Chong" | 2010 | 7 | |
"Ima Korean" | 2010 | 2 | |
"Emo (Like a Nazi)" | 2010 | 25 | |
"I Love Minorities" | 2010 | 8 | |
"Let's Go Jesus!" | 2010 | 12 | |
"Justin's Beaver" | 2010 | 3 | |
"Osama Bin Found" | 2011 | 18 | |
"I'm Obama" | 2013 | 19 | |
"Only 17" | 2014 | 17 | |
"Ebola (La La)" | 2014 | 6 | |
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
Comedy year-end chart
Song | Position | Year |
---|---|---|
"Ima Korean" | 5 | 2010[28] |
"Go Cops" | 7 | |
"Ching Chang Chong" | 12 | |
"Don't Be a Playa, Haiti" | 15 | |
"Go Cops" | 16 | 2011[29] |
"Justin's Beaver" | 18 |
Released singles (per Discogs and iTunes)[30][31]
- I Can Do Whatever I'm White (2009)
- Don't Be a Playa, Haiti (2010)
- Take your Pants Off (2010)
- I'm Afraid (Of Black Ppl) (2010)
- We're All Asian (2010)
- Let's Go Jesus! (2010)
- I Don't Like Old People (2010)
- Do The Pussyfart (feat. DJ Pussyfarts) (2010)
- Imma Korean (feat. DJ Not Nice) (2010)
- Jews & Fags (2011)
- Fat Violent Dykes (2011)
- Osama Bin Found (feat. Osama Bin Laden & Barack Obama) (2011)
- Rebecca's Black (High Day) (2011)
- Justin's Beaver The Movie (2011)
- Wutchu Jewin? (feat. Toby Queef & Seymour Schwartz) (2011)
- Eff Australia (2011)
- Go Cops (2011)
- Brony Style (Ima Pedophile) (2012)
- Yo Perry! (2012)
- My Name's Obama (2012)
- Rucka & Friends (2012)
- Ginger (2014)
- Eff Germany (2014)
- Kim Jong Un Song (2015)
- TRUMP (2015)
- I Say Herro (2016)
- My Name's Donnie Trump (2016)
- Grab America by the Pussy (2017)
- Heroes and Trolls (2017)
- Hitler is Pewdiepie (2017)
- Phones Gay (2017)
- Isis Isis Baby (2017)
- Leafy is Literally (2017)
- I'm Thainese (Not Chinese) (2017)
- It's Very Gay Bro (Jake Paul) feat. Copper Cab (2017)
- Aluwakbar (2018)
- Eat a D (2018)
Music videos
Year | Video | Director |
---|---|---|
2008 | "I Can Do Whatever I'm White" | MC Serch |
2013 | "Justin's Beaver" | Pinegrove Collective |
2015 | "Kim Jong Un Song" | Dave Farese |
2015 | "Shake Ur Tush" | non-album track |
2017 | "EBOLA 2.0." | non-album track |
Year | Title | Parody Of |
---|---|---|
2017 | "Grab America By The Pussy" | "Sit Still, Look Pretty"
By Daya |
2017 | "Heroes & Trolls" | "All Star" By Smash Mouth |
2017 | "Hitler Is Pewdiepie" | "Scars to Your Beautiful" By |
2017 | "iPhones Gay" | "Why Don't You Get a Job?" By The Offspring |
2017 | "Isis Isis Baby" | "Ice Ice Baby" By Vanilla Ice |
2017 | "Leafy is Literally" | "Crawling" By Linkin Park |
2017 | "It's Very Gay Bro" | |
2017 | "Milo's Gay" | "Paris" By The Chainsmokers |
2017 | "Sargon" | "Starboy" By The Weeknd ft. Daft Punk |
2017 | "I'm In The Illuminati" | "Shape of You" By Ed Sheeran |
2017 | "Dear White People" | "Despacito" By Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee |
2017 | "I'm Racist (In No Way Whatsoever" | "Body Like a Back Road" By Sam Hunt |
2017 | "Treat Jew Better" | "Treat You Better" By Shawn Mendes |
2017 | "Prince Ali Obama" | "Prince Ali" By Robin Williams for Aladdin |
2017 | "Party In The TSA" | "Party in the U.S.A." By Miley Cyrus |
2017 | "All I Do is Game" | "Stay" By Zedd ft. Alessia Cara |
2017 | "Not My Fault (That We Black)" | "There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back" By
Shawn Mendes |
2017 | "I'm Thainese (Not Chinese)" | "Sorry Not Sorry" By Demi Lovato |
2018 | "China Na Na (ft. DJ Not Nice)" | "Havana" By Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug |
2018 | "Logan Dindu Nuffin" | "New Rules" By Dua Lipa |
2018 | "This Is Why We Can' Have Rice Things
(ft. DJ Not Nice) |
"This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things" By |
2018 | "Aluwakbar" | "Rockstar" By Post Malone ft. 21 Savage |
2018 | "Eat a D" | "Meant to Be" By Bebe Rexha ft. Florida Georgia Line |
2018 | "Aids In Africa" | "Africa" By Toto |
2018 | "Netherlands Gay" | "Whatever It Takes" By Imagine Dragons |
2018 | "White People Can't Even" | "The Middle" By Zedd ft. Maren Morris & Grey |
2018 | "Kim & I" | "Him & I" By G-Eazy ft. Halsey |
References
- 1 2 The Rubin Report (December 15, 2017). "Rucka Rucka Ali: Parody Rap and Objectivism". YouTube. Event occurs at 12:58.
- 1 2 Rucka Rucka Ali Loves Minorities Current.com (June 21, 2010). Retrieved on 2011-06-05.
- ↑ "Rucka Rucka Ali : Billboard". billboard.com. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
- ↑ "iAMA Rucka Rucka Ali". Reddit. 2013-01-01. Retrieved 2016-07-20.
- ↑ "The History Of RuckaRucka". 2012-04-28. Retrieved 2016-07-29.
- ↑ "Straight Outta West B by Rucka Rucka Ali on Apple Music". Apple. 2008-09-11. Retrieved 2016-07-29.
- ↑ "iAMA Rucka Rucka Ali". Reddit. 2013-01-01. Retrieved 2016-07-20.
- ↑ http://ruckasworld.com/
- ↑ "Comedy Digital Tracks : Jul 31, 2010 | Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard.com. 2010-07-31. Retrieved 2015-08-29.
- ↑ "Comedy Digital Tracks : Aug 07, 2010 | Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard.com. 2010-08-07. Retrieved 2015-08-29.
- ↑ "Comedy Albums". Billboard.com. March 5, 2011. Retrieved February 4, 2012.
- ↑ Rucka Rucka Ali at AllMusic
- ↑ "Rucka Rucka Ali | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
- ↑ Ali, Rucka Rucka (December 9, 2014). "NEW ALBUM!!!!". Facebook.
- ↑ "Bournemouth school pupils told off over 'racist' video". BBC News. June 17, 2010. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
- ↑ Robertson, James (August 5, 2013). "Racist song accusing Muslim singer Zayn Malik for 9/11 terrorist attacks sparks outrage". Daily Mirror. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
- ↑ Zicarelli, Gabriella (August 6, 2013). "ANDPOP Directioner's Start Petition To Have Racist Song Aimed At Zayn Malik Removed From iTunes". Andpop.com. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
- ↑ "Zayn Malik faces racist attack". Business Standard. August 6, 2013. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
- ↑ "McDonalds apologises for playing explicit rap track at 9:30am in Wales". Gigwise. 2013-11-21. Retrieved 2015-08-29.
- ↑ "McDonald's Apologizes for Playing a Rucka Rucka Ali Song in Wales". Businessweek. 2013-11-21. Retrieved 2015-08-29.
- ↑ Stone, Anthony (November 21, 2013). "McDonald's sorry over rap lyrics". Yahoo News.
- ↑ McCoppin, Suzy (November 26, 2013). "Controversial Rapper Rucka Rucka Ali Seeks Apology from McDonald's". Popdust.
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_snt45unyqY
- ↑ itsRucka (October 4, 2016). "Chainsmokers "Closer" PARODY Life is Over ~ Rucka Rucka Ali". YouTube. Event occurs at 4:15.
- ↑ "Rucka Rucka Ali : Albums : Rhapsody". rhapsody.com. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
- ↑ "Comedy Album Charts". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media.
- ↑ "Comedy Track Charts". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media.
- ↑ "Comedy 2010 Year End".
- ↑ "Comedy 2011 Year End".
- ↑ "Rucka Rucka Ali - Singles and EPs". Discogs. Retrieved December 13, 2014.
- ↑ "Rucka Rucka Ali". iTunes. Retrieved December 13, 2014.