KSI (entertainer)

KSI shooting a video for his YouTube channel in 2012

Olatunji registered his current YouTube account on 24 July 2009 under the name KSIOlajideBT (which would later be shortened to simply "KSI"), where, inspired by other YouTubers, he uploaded gaming–commentary videos of the FIFA video game series from his bedroom at his parents' house in Watford.[3][13] After sharing his videos with friends and on online forums, KSI grew a small following of around 20,000 after two years. Introducing more vlog-style content and playing a variety of games over the next year saw his following grow more rapidly as he reached 1 million subscribers just three years after founding his channel.[20][3] By the end of 2013, KSI's subscriber count surpassed 3 million, making him the then twenty-fifth-most subscribed user on YouTube.[17] The same year, KSI visited Las Vegas,[21] where he discussed YouTube's launching of a paid-channel subscription project.[22]

KSI's initial rise to fame was not without controversy. He was widely criticised for his so-called 'rape-face', a recurring joke on his channel during 2012 and 2013,[3] and was the centre of a controversy following his actions at a Eurogamer event in 2012.[23][24] Accused of verbally and sexually harassing staff and attendees at the event, Microsoft cut ties with KSI and he was banned from all future Eurogamer events.[25] KSI subsequently apologised "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" and stated his desire to move on from the incident and be "be judged on the great content and value he gives to brands and partners, without controversy."[26]

In October 2013, KSI signed with Maker Studios' sub-network, Polaris.[27] Later that month, on 19 October 2013, KSI and four other British YouTubers formed the entertainment collective Ultimate Sidemen, later shortened to just Sidemen. Since 2014, the group has consisted of seven British YouTubers: Vikram Barn (Vikkstar123), Josh Bradley (ZerkaaHD), Tobi Brown (TBJZL), Harry Lewis (W2S), Simon Minter (Miniminter), Ethan Payne (Behzinga), and KSI.[28] The group produces online videos, most often consisting of challenges, sketches and video-game commentary, as well as selling exclusive Sidemen merchandise.[29][30]

Having written and produced comedy–rap songs for his YouTube channel in 2011,[13] KSI took his first major step into expanding his content beyond just YouTube videos in 2015 by starting his career as a serious musician and rapper. He releasing his debut song, "Lamborghini", written about his recently purchased Lamborghini Aventador, featuring P Money on 23 March 2015, reaching number 30 in the UK singles chart.[17][31] Shortly after, KSI's debut EP, Keep Up, peaked at number 1 on the UK R&B Albums Chart and he has since released a number of songs and toured with his music.[31] KSI further exapanded his content later that year, releasing a biography titled KSI: I Am a Bellend.[32][33] The book was released on 24 September 2015 in the UK and five days later in the United States,[33] and KSI toured to support the book from its release until 4 October 2015.[33] In 2016, KSI and the Sidemen published Sidemen: The Book,[34] which sold 26,436 copies within three days and topped the hardback nonfiction charts.[35]

On 4 August 2017, KSI tweeted that he would be leaving the Sidemen, citing conflicts with fellow member, Ethan Payne.[36][37] 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.[37] Later that month, KSI released a video in which he claimed that he was being deported from the United States for receiving an incorrect visa.[38] In November 2017, KSI released a video discussing whether his supposed falling out with the Sidemen was real or fake, saying, "[t]he drama wasn't entirely real but wasn't entirely fake either."[37]

KSI during the weigh-in before his amateur boxing match with Logan Paul in August 2018

British YouTuber, Joe Weller, criticised KSI and the Sidemen for artificially stirring friction between him and the Sidemen for views.[37] Following resulting public disagreements on Twitter, the pair announced that they would be facing each other in a white-collar amateur boxing match on 3 February 2018 at Copper Box Arena in London.[37] During the announcement, the two YouTubers verbally and physically confronted each other, with KSI appearing to mock Weller's struggles with depression; KSI later apologised for his comments.[37] The fight, titled KSI vs. Joe Weller, was held on 3 February 2018 and was won by KSI 1 minute and 30 seconds into the third round by way of technical knockout;[39] KSI was awarded the YouTube Boxing Championship Belt.[40] On YouTube, the fight drew 1.6 million live viewers, 21 million views within a day,[41] and over 25 million over the next several days, making it the biggest white-collar boxing fight in history.[42] KSI expressed his respect for Weller after the fight for being "way harder, way tougher than I thought," and praised him for his commitment to raising awareness for mental health, before calling out American YouTuber Logan Paul, his brother Jake Paul, and retired footballer Rio Ferdinand.[43]

On 24 February 2018, it was announced that KSI would be fighting Logan Paul in a white-collar boxing amateur boxing match, with his brother, Deji, fighting Paul's younger brother Jake on the undercard.[44] The fight ended as a majority draw, with two judges scoring the fight even at 57–57 and a third judge scoring 58–57 in favor of KSI.[45] The fight, labelled "the largest event in YouTube history"[46] and "the largest ever amateur boxing fight",[47] sold-out 21,000 tickets for Manchester Arena,[48] generating an estimated live gate revenue of over £2.7 million ($3.5 million).[49] It was watched by over 2.25 million viewers live, including over 1.05 million watching pay-per-view[50] and 1.2 million watching illegal streams on Twitch.[51][52][53] The event eventually received over 17 million online views on the official YouTube channel (pay-per-view and free-view) as of 18 September 2018,[54] in addition to over 5 million viewers who watched illegal streams on Twitch as of 28 August 2018.[55]

KSI being interviewed in the ring immediately after the bout

On 3 September 2019, a rematch between the two was announced. The fight took place on 9 November 2019 at the Staples Center, Los Angeles, and was promoted by Eddie Hearn.[56][57] Unlike the first fight, the rematch was a professional fight and the two fighters did not wear any headgear. The undercard featured professional boxers, including Devin Haney and Billy Joe Saunders.[58] KSI was trained by up-and-coming professional boxer, Viddal Riley, and Jeff Mayweather, uncle of Floyd Mayweather Jr.[59]

Upon its announcement as a professional bout, the event drew criticism from a number of figures within boxing, as well as boxing journalists and fans, some of whom labelled the fight as an 'insult' to boxing. The headline accusation was that the pair were using the event as a 'cash grab' and questioned the 'legitimacy' of the match as a professional bout, and many questioned the choice of putting professional world-title bouts on the undercard beneath two YouTubers. Others within the sport, however, were more receptive to the fight and embraced the event. The executive director of the California State Athletic Commission (the fight's sanctioning body), Andy Foster, defended the accusation that the YouTubers weren't fit to fight professionally, saying in an interview that "If they weren’t YouTube stars, this fight is still approvable in every commission in this country as debut athletes". Kevin Draper of The New York Times noted KSI, Paul and the organisers' intention to bring a new audience to a 'stagnant' sport and highlights the fact both YouTubers sought coaching from world-champion boxers and trainers.[59] Professional boxers Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder, Tyson Fury, Dillian Whyte and Andy Ruiz Jr. also expressed support for the event and the fact it was being held as a professional bout, highlighting the benefit it could bring to boxing in terms of expanding the sport's audience.[60]

After six three-minute rounds, KSI was the winner via split decision, with two judges scoring the fight 57–54 and 56–55 for KSI, while the third judge scored it 56–55 in favour of Paul.[61] Paul and KSI shook hands and shared an embrace after the fight, with both paying respect to one another, though Paul stated his intention to contest the commission for his point deduction for his illegal punches, stating that he does not dispute what happened but thought he deserved only a warning.[62][63] When asked about a possible rematch, Paul expressed his support for the idea, but KSI rejected any prospect of a third fight against Paul, saying "It's done ... I'm on to the next thing".[64][65]

KSI released his debut single, "Lamborghini", featuring British grime MC P Money, on 23 March 2015 through British musician Sway's record label Dcypha Productions.[66] The song's music video has 110 million views, making it KSI's most-viewed music video on YouTube.[67] The song charted at number 30 on the UK Singles Chart.[16] On 29 October 2015, KSI announced his debut extended play (EP) titled Keep Up. The EP's title track, which features British grime MC Jme, was released on 13 November 2015, alongside a music video which has 40 million views.[68] The song charted at number 45 on the UK Singles Chart.[16] The Keep Up EP was released on 8 January 2016 through Island Records and debuted at number 13 on the UK Albums Chart and at number one on the UK R&B Albums Chart.[69][16][70]

On 29 April 2016, KSI released "Goes Off", featuring British artist Mista Silva, which is the first single from his second EP titled Jump Around.[71] KSI was scheduled to perform at Glastonbury Festival on 22 June 2016, but he backed out of performing the day before due to being unhappy about the early time slot he had been given.[72] KSI released the Jump Around EP's second single, "Friends with Benefits", with Dutch EDM group MNDM, on 29 July 2016, alongside a music video which has 45 million views.[73][74][75] The song charted at number 69 on the UK Singles Chart.[16] The EP's title track, featuring American rapper Waka Flocka Flame, was released as the EP's third single on 16 September 2016, alongside a music video which has 13 million views. The Jump Around EP was released on 28 October 2016 through Island Records.[76] One of the EP's songs, "Touch Down", featuring rapper and singer Stefflon Don, appeared on the soundtrack of the 2017 film Baywatch.[77]

KSI performing in 2019 on his New Age tour

After taking a four-month hiatus from YouTube, on 25 June 2017, KSI independently released "Creature", alongside a music video which has 25 million views.[78][79] The song charted at number 100 on the UK Singles Chart.[16] "Creature" was the first single from KSI's third EP, Space, which was released independently on 30 June 2017.[80]

KSI released his fourth EP, Disstracktions, on 29 September 2017 through Island Records.[81] The EP included the diss tracks "Earthquake", featuring American YouTuber and rapper RiceGum, "Little Boy", "Two Birds, One Stone" and "Adam's Apple". Disstracktions charted at number 31 on the UK Albums Chart and at number one on the UK R&B Albums Chart.[16][82] KSI confirmed one week before the release of Disstracktions that it would be his final release with Island Records and that all future music would be released independently.[83]

On 31 January 2018, KSI independently released "Uncontrollable", featuring British grime MC Big Zuu, alongside a music video which has 29 million views.[84][85] The song was used as KSI's ring walk entrance music for KSI vs. Joe Weller on 3 February 2018.[86] The song charted at number 89 on the UK Singles Chart.[16] KSI independently released "On Point" on 17 August 2018, alongside a music video which has 38 million views.[87][88] The song was used as KSI's ring walk entrance music for KSI vs. Logan Paul on 25 August 2018.[89]

KSI announced on 28 February 2019 that he would be releasing a collaboration album with British YouTube rapper Randolph titled New Age, as well as going on a tour across the UK and some parts of Europe to promote the album. New Age was released independently on 12 April 2019.[90] The album debuted at number 17 on the UK Albums Chart and at number one on the UK R&B Albums Chart.[91][92]

On 4 November 2019, it was announced that KSI had signed with RBC Records, under BMG Rights Management, to "take his music to the next level" and "further develop his music career in the US and internationally".[93] On the same day, it was confirmed that KSI had started working on his debut album.[93] On 7 November 2019, KSI released the album's first single, "Down Like That", featuring American rappers Rick Ross and Lil Baby and British singer and producer S-X.[94][95] The track was performed live by the featured artists during KSI's ring walk for KSI vs. Logan Paul II on 9 November 2019.[96] "Down Like That" peaked at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart, making it KSI's second highest-charting single in the UK to date, and it received a Silver certification from the BPI.[16][97] KSI released the album's second single, "Wake Up Call", featuring American rapper and singer Trippie Redd, on 31 January 2020.[98][99] The song charted at number 11 on the UK Singles Chart, making it KSI's third highest-charting single in the UK to date.[16] The album's third single, "Poppin", featuring American rappers Lil Pump and Smokepurpp, was released on 27 March 2020 and charted at number 43 on the UK Singles Chart.[100][101][16] "Houdini", featuring British rapper and singer Swarmz and British rapper Tion Wayne, was released as the fourth single from the album on 24 April 2020.[102][103] The song charted at number 6 on the UK Singles Chart, making it KSI's highest-charting single in the UK to date.[16]

KSI's debut album, titled Dissimulation, was released on 22 May 2020, followed by a deluxe edition three days later.[104][105][106] Dissimulation debuted at number 2 on the UK Albums Chart and at number one on the UK Independent Albums Chart, UK R&B Albums Chart, Irish Albums Chart and US Heatseekers Albums Chart.[16][107] The album's fifth single, "Cap", featuring American rapper Offset, was released on the same day as the album and charted at number 24 on the UK Singles Chart.[108][16] KSI was scheduled to perform at several music festivals throughout 2020, including Parklife, Longitude, Reading and Leeds and Weekender Jersey, but all of these festivals were either cancelled or postponed due to the global outbreak of COVID-19.[109][110][111][112]