KSI (entertainer)

KSI
KSI during the weigh-in before boxing match with Logan Paul in August 2018
Born Olajide William Olatunji
(1993-06-19) 19 June 1993
London, England[1][2]
Occupation
YouTube information
Channel
Years active 2008–present
Genre
Subscribers 19.6+ million
Total views 4.1+ billion
Network MakerGen
Associated acts
100,000 subscribers 2011
1,000,000 subscribers 2012
10,000,000 subscribers 2015
Subscriber and view counts updated as of 23 April 2018.
YouTube information
Channel
Subscribers 4.9 million
Musical career
Genres
Years active 2010–present
Labels
Associated acts
Website ksiofficial.com

Olajide William "JJ" Olatunji (born 19 June 1993),[3][4] better known as KSI (shortened from his online alias KSIOlajideBT),[upper-alpha 1] is a British YouTube personality, internet celebrity, comedian, actor, rapper and white-collar boxer.[5][6] After establishing himself on his YouTube channel, which, as of August 2018, has reached over four billion video views and more than 19 million subscribers as the 41st most subscribed channel, he has also become well known for his music. KSI released his debut extended play Keep Up in 2016, reaching number one on the UK R&B Albums Chart as well as charting in several other countries.

Entertainment career

KSI shooting a video in 2012

YouTube

Before his successful channel, Olajide had a YouTube channel (which is still online) called JideJunior, which he created on 24 April 2008.[7] Olajide opened his current YouTube account on 24 July 2009, with a video about the FIFA video game franchise.[8] According to his website, YouTubers such as Weepeler and Hjerpseth inspired him to start his own YouTube career. His main channel was previously focused on association football and FIFA, although he played other games such as Grand Theft Auto V and other PC-based modifications on his secondary channel (KSIOlajidebtHD).[9] His secondary channel contains videos of him playing more casual, arcade and horror games in a manner similar to that of fellow YouTuber PewDiePie.

KSI was the centre of a controversy following his actions at a Eurogamer event in 2012,[10][11] raised after he appeared at the Xbox One launch party in London.[12] With the reasoning of the controversy due to supposed sexual harassment of attendees of the event, Microsoft cut ties with the video game commentator, and he was banned for life from the Eurogamer Expo.[13] A message from KSI's manager stated: "Sexism is not something he condones or wants to be associated with. He wishes to apologise for any offence the video of 15 months ago may have caused in the short time it was on his YouTube channel, references to it since and subsequently used by other people. In recent months, he has also been actively avoiding certain content seen in the distant past and wants to be judged on the great content and value he gives to brands and partners, without controversy."[14]

In February 2013, KSI appeared on the video "KSI VS FIFA // The Record Slam" made by GWRomg in which he broke the previous world record for 'the most goals scored against computer' of 110 goals, by scoring 190 goals. As a result, his name appeared in the Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition (2013).[15]

In October 2013, KSI signed with Maker Studios' sub-network, Polaris.[16]

On 19 October, he and four other gaming YouTubers formed a group called the Ultimate Sidemen (later shortened to just the Sidemen), which initially consisted of himself, Ethan Payne (Behzinga), Simon Minter (Miniminter), Josh Bradley (Zerkaa), and Tobi Brown (TBJZL). The group decided to add a sixth member in Vikram Barn, known as Vikkstar123, the following month. The group then added a seventh member, Harry Lewis (wroetoshaw or "W2S" for short), in 2014.

After defeating Virgin Gaming co-founder Zach Zeldin in a match of FIFA, KSI visited Las Vegas,[17] where he discussed YouTube's launching of a paid-channel subscription project.[18]

KSI performing in 2016

2017

In early 2017, KSI stopped uploading videos to YouTube, later releasing a video in July stating that he was displeased with the direction YouTube seemed to be going. On 4 August 2017, KSI tweeted that he would be leaving the Sidemen group due to internal conflicts with fellow Sidemen member Ethan Payne.[19][20] Shortly thereafter, he released a number of diss track videos criticising members of his then-former group, to which most of the members responded back with their own.[20]

Later that month on 15 August, KSI released a video in which he claimed that he was being deported from the United States (as he was staying in Los Angeles at the time) for receiving an incorrect visa,[21] returning to the group's private mansion which he co-owns, but was otherwise not returning to the group. However, by the following month, he officially rejoined the Sidemen. This led to accusations that the Sidemen group manufactured their conflicts for the sake of getting views, as KSI and the other Sidemen gained a large number of views and subscribers upon uploading their diss tracks.

Most notably, YouTuber Joe Weller released a diss track of his own criticising KSI and Sidemen for faking their "Sidemen war", which led to KSI and Weller attacking each other on Twitter.[20] This resulted in their announcing, at an annual content creator-focused event called Upload (which KSI and some of the other Sidemen members founded), that they would be facing each other in a boxing match on 3 February 2018 at Copper Box Arena in London.[20] During the announcement, the two YouTubers verbally and physically confronted each other, with KSI making fun of Weller's struggles with depression.[20] Both released follow-up videos with KSI apologising for his remarks. In November 2017, KSI released a video discussing the issue of whether his supposed fight with the Sidemen was real or fake, with him saying that "[t]he drama wasn't entirely real, but wasn't entirely fake either."[20] (See the Amateur boxing section below for information on the match.)

Music

In 2011, KSI branched out into music, mainly as a rapper. Starting out with fellow YouTuber Randolph, he released "Heskey Time", a rap song about footballer Emile Heskey which was released on iTunes just before Christmas in 2011. The video features Heskey missing various chances on FIFA. Following the success of "Heskey Time", he began doing a segment on his channel called "Football Rap Battles", a video series, on which he and Randolph play the characters of famous figures from the world of football. Although it started off with raps featuring world footballers including Mario Balotelli and managers like Sir Alex Ferguson, one involves KSI as himself against Robin van Persie, hitting out at van Persie's acrimonious transfer from Arsenal to rivals Manchester United. He appeared in music videos with Droideka, directing and appearing in his music video for his song Get Hyper, whilst also collaborating with British rapper Sway, releasing two tracks with the London born rapper.

KSI released his first single as a solo artist on 23 March 2015 titled "Lamborghini", which features rapper P Money. The song was released under Sway's record label Dcypha Productions. On 29 October 2015, KSI announced his debut EP titled Keep Up. It was released on 8 January 2016 by Island Records. The EP's title track, featuring Jme, was released on 13 November 2015 alongside a music video released two days later. On 29 July 2016, KSI released "Friends with Benefits" featuring Dutch musical group MNDM. The song was released as a single to his second EP Jump Around, which was released on 28 October. KSI self-released his third EP, Space, on 30 June 2017, before releasing a fourth titled Disstracktions three months later. The latter became his second EP to top the UK R&B Albums Chart.

Amateur boxing career

KSI during the weigh in for his boxing match against Joe Weller

On 3 February 2018, KSI competed in his first white collar amateur boxing match against fellow YouTube personality Joe Weller (KSI vs. Joe Weller) at the Copper Box Arena in Hackney Wick, London, winning the fight 1 minute and 30 seconds into the third round by way of technical knockout.[22] On YouTube, the fight drew 1.6 million live viewers, 21 million views within a day,[23] and over 25 million over the next several days, becoming the biggest white-collar boxing fight in history.[24] KSI was awarded the YouTube Boxing Championship Belt.[25]

KSI showed respect to Weller after the fight for being "way harder, way tougher than I thought," and praised him for his commitment to raising awareness on mental health issues. He then proceeded to call out American internet personality Logan Paul, his brother Jake Paul, and retired footballer Rio Ferdinand.[26]

On the weekend of 24 February 2018, it was announced that the Paul brothers would be fighting the Olatunji brothers (KSI and his younger brother Deji, also known as ComedyShortsGamer) in a boxing match,[27] with the matches divided between relative ages (the elder brothers KSI vs. Logan Paul in one match and the younger brothers Deji Olatunji vs. Jake Paul in another match).[27] One judge scored the fight in favour of KSI and two judges scored a draw, resulting in a majority draw.[28] The fight has been labeled "the largest event in YouTube history"[29][30] and "the largest ever amateur boxing fight".[31]

Amateur boxing record

Professional record summary
2 fights 1 win 0 losses
By knockout 1 0
Draws 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
2 Draw 1–0–1 United States Logan Paul MD 6 25 Aug 2018 United Kingdom Manchester Arena, Manchester, England Retained YBC title
1 Win 1–0 United Kingdom Joe Weller TKO 3 (6), 1:30 3 Feb 2018 United Kingdom Copper Box Arena, London, England Won inaugural YBC title

Other media

On 16 March 2015, KSI announced via his YouTube channel that he was releasing a book titled KSI: I Am A Bellend, called KSI: I Am A Tool in the United States.[32]

It is described by its publishers as “an all-out assault on the online universe”,[33] as the book includes his history and controversies on YouTube.[34] The book was released on 24 September 2015 in the UK and five days later in the United States.[32] KSI did a tour supporting the book on 24 September 2015, ending on 4 October 2015.[34]

In June 2015, it was announced that KSI, along with YouTube personality Caspar Lee, will star in a movie entitled Laid in America. It was released on 26 September 2016 and features other YouTube personalities including his own brother ComedyShortsGamer, Timothy DeLaGhetto and Josh Leyva.[35]

Personal life

Olatunji's younger brother, Deji Olatunji, is also a well known YouTube personality known as ComedyShortsGamer. JJ and Deji both ranked number one and two respectively as "UK’s Most Influential YouTube Creators" by Tubular Labs in 2015.[36][37]

Olatunji was born in London but grew up in Watford, Hertfordshire.[1] He attended the Berkhamsted School together with fellow Sidemen member Simon Minter (miniminter).[38]

Olatunji is a supporter of Arsenal F.C. and has appeared on several different channels, including BT Sport, where he played FIFA with England and then Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.[39] He also played PES with Germany and Arsenal attacking midfielder, Mesut Özil.[39] He has publicly stated that he is an agnostic. However, he has also stated in regards to religion and God, "I believe in the ting [thing], but I don't know what the ting is", a view more in line with agnostic theism.[40][41]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Recipient Result Ref.
2016 NME Award Vlogger of the Year KSI Won [42]

Discography

Extended plays

List of extended plays
Title Album details Peak chart positions
UK
[43]		 UK R&B
[44]		 CAN
[45]		 NZL
[46]		 SCO
[47]		 US R&B/HH
[48]		 US Rap
[49]
Keep Up 1316323151914
Jump Around
  • Released: 28 October 2016
  • Label: Island
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 ———————
Space
  • Released: 30 June 2017[50]
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 ————[upper-alpha 2]87——
Disstracktions
  • Released: 29 September 2017[52]
  • Label: Island
  • Formats: Digital download
 311—————

Singles

As lead artist

List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
UK
[43]		 UK
R&B
[53]		 AUS
[54]		 IRL
[55]		 SCO
[56]
"Lamborghini"
(featuring P Money)		 2015 307—6128 Non-album single
"Keep Up"
(featuring Jme)		 457789040 Keep Up
"Goes Off"
(featuring Mista Silva)		 2016 ————— Jump Around
"Friends with Benefits"
(with MNDM)		 6912——43
"Jump Around"
(featuring Waka Flocka Flame)		 ————77
"Creature" 2017 100———— Space
"Little Boy" 82———87 Disstracktions
"Adam's Apple" 93————
"Two Birds One Stone" 97————
"Uncontrollable"[57]
(featuring Big Zuu)		 2018 89———85 Non-album singles
"On Point" ————98
List of singles as featured artist, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
UK
[58]
"Sweaty Goals"
(as BlacknWhite)		 2012 68 Non-album single
"No Sleep"
(Sway featuring KSI, Tigger Da Author and Tubes)		 2013 44 Wake Up
"Christian Bale"
(Yogi featuring Casey Veggies, Knytro, Sway, KSI and Raptor)		 2014 — Burial
"MAC-10 Flow"
(Sway featuring KSI)		 — Non-album singles
"Slow Motion"[59]
(Randolph featuring KSI)		 2018 —

Notes

  1. ↑ "KSI" stands for "Knowledge, Strength, Integrity".
  2. ↑ Space did not enter the NZ Top 40 Albums Chart but peaked at number six on the NZ Heatseekers Albums Chart.[51]

References

  1. 1 2 FaZe Clan (3 February 2018). "TRAINING KSI - Exclusive Documentary". Retrieved 10 July 2018 – via YouTube.
  2. ↑ Zerkaa (19 August 2017). "KSI - Little Boy (Official Lyric Breakdown)". Retrieved 10 July 2018 – via YouTube.
  3. ↑ "KSI [SDMN] on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  4. ↑ Olatunji, Olajide (8 January 2017). "WTF HAVE YOU DONE?!". YouTube. Retrieved 20 January 2017. For those of you that don't know, my real name is Olajide William Olatunji; William being my English name.
  5. ↑ Guinness World Records 2016 Gamer's Edition - Page 61 "The fastest lap of Laguna Seca in GT 5 (two players) is by Callum McGinley and Olajide Olatunji (both UK) on 8 August 2013."
  6. ↑ "This Is Your Chance To Ask KSI Anything As We Go In The Zone". MTV UK. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  7. ↑ "JideJunior". YouTube. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  8. ↑ Olatunji, Olajide. "KSIOlajidebt Home". Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  9. ↑ "KSIOlajidebtHD". YouTube. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  10. ↑ Cordell, Ben (October 2012). "YouTube Celeb KSI Sexually Harasses Attendees At Expo". StickTwiddlers.
  11. ↑ KSI (3 January 2017). "REACTING TO "SEXUAL HARASSMENT"". Retrieved 10 July 2018 – via YouTube.
  12. ↑ Totilo, Stephen (6 October 2012). "Booth Babes Not The Only Embarrassment At Eurogamer Expo". Kotaku. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  13. ↑ Schreier, Jason (23 November 2013). "YouTuber Says He Was Censored For Criticising Another YouTuber". Kotaku. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  14. ↑ Yin-Poole, Wesley (23 November 2013). "YouTuber KSI dumped by Microsoft after Xbox One launch appearance". Eurogamer. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  15. ↑ "GWR OMG: Watch KSI attempt FIFA 13 goals record in Arsenal v Tottenham showdown". Guinness World Records News. 4 February 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  16. ↑ Gutelle, Sam (29 October 2013). "Captain Sparklez, KSIOlajidebt, Ali-A Among New Polaris Gamers". Tubefilter. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  17. ↑ C., Carl (13 February 2013). "KSIOLAJIDEBT VIDEO IN VEGAS FOR CHALLENGE SERIES!". Virgin Gaming. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  18. ↑ "KSIOlajidebt and Ali-A on YouTube pay channel charging". BBC. 10 May 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  19. ↑ Kent, Mike (4 August 2017). "KSI Confirms Rumors Regarding His Involvement [With] The Sidemen". Dexerto. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Alexander, Julia (30 January 2018). "YouTubers, FIFA gamers set for momentous boxing match to settle months of drama". Polygon. Vox Media. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  21. ↑ Kent, Mike (August 2017). "KSI Reveals He's Being Deported from the US". Dexerto. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  22. ↑ Emma Kelly (3 February 2018). "KSI wins clash against Joe Weller in the third round". Metro. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  23. ↑ "KSI Vs Weller Got Over 20 Million Views On YouTube Last Night". LADbible. 4 February 2018.
  24. ↑ "KSI Reveals What He Said to Joe Weller in the Ring During a Breakdown of the YouTuber Boxing Fight". Dexerto. 7 February 2018.
  25. ↑ "KSI Wants You to Choose One of Six Personalities to Fight Next for the YouTube Boxing Championship Belt". Dexerto. 19 February 2018.
  26. ↑ Jessica Lindsay (4 February 2018). "KSI vs Joe Weller result – What happened and who will KSI fight next?". Metro. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  27. 1 2 Alexander, Julia (26 February 2018). "YouTube boxing just went international, so when does YouTube get involved?". Polygon. Vox Media. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  28. ↑ "Who won KSI vs Logan Paul fight? Result from YouTube boxing fight in Manchester". mirror. 25 August 2018.
  29. ↑ MoreSidemen (24 August 2018). "THE BIGGEST EVENT IN INTERNET HISTORY..." – via YouTube.
  30. ↑ Hamdani, Adam (25 August 2018). "KSI and Logan Paul weigh-in ahead of 'biggest internet event in history'". Independent. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  31. ↑ Radio Times Staff (22 August 2018). "KSI v Logan Paul: why are YouTube's biggest stars going to fight in the boxing ring?". Radio Times. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  32. 1 2 Gutelle, Sam (29 September 2015). "YouTube Star KSI's New Book Flies Off The Shelves In Two Countries". Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  33. ↑ Ditum, Nathan. "Why it's worth trying to understand KSI, YouTube's most controversial star". NewStatesman. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  34. 1 2 "YouTubing 'bell-end' KSI: 'I'm a really nice guy'". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  35. ↑ "YouTube Stars KSI, Caspar Lee To Star In 'Laid In America' Feature Film". tubefilter. 5 June 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  36. ↑ "Two Nigerian Brothers, Olajide & Deji Olatunji Top UK's Most Influential YouTube Creators". Information Nigeria. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  37. ↑ "Only a third of UK's top 10 most influential YouTuber's traffic originates in UK". The Drum. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  38. ↑ miniminter (23 February 2018), EATING THE WORLD'S MOLDIEST CHEESE!, retrieved 25 February 2018
  39. 1 2 "Top Five: Celebrity Arsenal fans". Vavel. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  40. ↑ Sidemen (2018-03-18), SIDEMEN ANSWER THE MOST SEARCHED GOOGLE QUESTIONS, retrieved 2018-07-29
  41. ↑ "Googing Myself". Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  42. ↑ "NME Awards 2016 with Austin, Texas full winners list". NME. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  43. 1 2 "KSI: full Official Charts History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  44. ↑ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  45. ↑ "KSI – Canadian Albums Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  46. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – KSI – Keep Up". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  47. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
    • Space: "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100 – 7 July 2017". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  48. ↑ "R&B/Hip Hop Albums: Week of 30 January 2016". Billboard. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  49. ↑ "Top Rap Albums: Week of 30 January 2016". Billboard. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  50. ↑ "Space – EP by KSI on iTunes". Apple Inc. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  51. ↑ "NZ Heatseekers Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 10 July 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  52. ↑ "Disstracktions – EP by KSI on Apple Music". Apple Inc. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  53. ↑
    • For "Lamborghini": "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40: 29 March 2015 – 4 April 2015". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 4 April 2015. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
    • For "Keep Up": "Official R&B Singles Chart: 20 November 2015 – 26 November 2015". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
    • For "Friends with Benefits": "Official R&B Singles Chart: 5 August 2016 – 11 August 2016". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  54. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (16 January 2016). "ARIA Singles: Justin Bieber 'Love Yourself' Spends 6th Week at No 1". Noise11. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  55. ↑ "GFK Chart-Track". Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  56. ↑
    • For "Lamborghini": "Official Scottish Singles Chart Top 100 : 29 March 2015 – 4 April 2015". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
    • For "Keep Up": "Official Scottish Singles Chart Top 100: 20 November 2015 – 26 November 2015". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
    • For "Friends with Benefits": "Official Scottish Singles Chart Top 100 : 5 August 2016 – 11 August 2016". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
    • For "Jump Around": "Official Scottish Singles Chart Top 100: 23 September 2016 – 29 September 2016". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
    • For "Little Boy": "Official Scottish Singles Chart Top 100 : 6 October 2017 – 12 October 2017". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
    • For "Uncontrollable": "Official Scottish Singles Chart Top 100 : 9 February 2018 – 15 February 2018". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
    • For "On Point": "Official Scottish Singles Chart Top 100 : 24 August 2018 – 30 August 2018". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  57. ↑ "Uncontrollable (feat. Big Zuu) by KSI on Apple Music". Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  58. ↑ Peak chart positions for singles in the United Kingdom:
    • For "Sweaty Goals": "BlacknWhite: full Official Charts History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
    • For "No Sleep": "Sway: Full Official Charts History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  59. ↑ "Slow Motion (feat. KSI) by Randolph on Apple Music". Retrieved 13 July 2018.
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