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Ali B
Ali B in 2018
Born	Ali Bouali (1981-10-16) 16 October 1981 (age 43) Zaanstad, Netherlands
Occupations	Rapper singer-songwriter television presenter cabaret performer stand-up comedian
Years active	1999–present
Criminal information
Criminal charge	Rape Attempted rape
Penalty	2 years imprisonment
Website	alib.nl (in Dutch)

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.

Following sexual misconduct allegations made against him in 2022, which resulted in two criminal charges for rape and two charges for assault, Ali B lost many of his endorsement deals and positions. On 12 July 2024, he was convicted on one count of rape and one count of attempted rape and sentenced to two years in prison.

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. In his teenage years, he dealt drugs to make money, regularly smoked marijuana, and stole shoes from his local mosque. 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."

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 of sexual assault and rape 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.

Rape conviction

In January 2022, the Dutch Public Prosecution Service received reports against Ali B for sexual misconduct, including one rape. This took place while Ali B was working as a judge at The Voice of Holland, as reported by the Dutch YouTube show BOOS episode "This is the Voice". He denied all allegations. In March 2023, Ali B was charged with three counts of sexual assault, including two rapes and one other assault. The incidents occurred between 2014 and 2018 in Morocco, Amsterdam, and Heiloo. Singer Ellen ten Damme accused Ali B of raping her in Morocco during the recording of the show Ali B en de Muziekkaravaan. In another incident, Ali B was accused of assaulting The Voice of Holland contestant Jill Helena in the Amsterdamse Bos. He was also accused of digitally penetrating a 20-year-old woman in Heiloo during a writer's camp while she was performing oral sex on rapper Ronnie Flex.

On 12 July 2024, Ali B was convicted on one count of rape and an additional count of attempted rape, and sentenced to two years in prison. Both Ali B and the prosecution have indicated that they would appeal the sentence.

Discography

Albums

Singles

Featured in

Awards and nominations

References

1. van Wijk, Jetteke (4 April 2007). "Dutch rapper Ali B. in Middle East". Radio Nederland Wereldomroep. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
2. Kooijman, Jaap (2008). Fabricating the absolute fake: America in contemporary pop culture. Amsterdam University Press. p. 113. ISBN 978-90-5356-492-9.
3. Miezkowski, Sylvia; Smith, Joy; de Valck, Marijke (2008). Sonic interventions. Rodopi. p. 269. ISBN 978-90-420-2294-2. Retrieved 23 January 2010.
4. ^ "The rapper Ali B has charmed the Netherlands. Can he stay above the fray?". The Economist. 21 November 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
5. "Koninginnedag 2005: win de Seat Altea van Bea". www.autozine.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 December 2023.
6. "Boycot Marco Borsato en Ali B: muziek in de ban, beeld uit Madame Tussauds". parool.nl (in Dutch). 21 January 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
7. ^ "Zakenimperium Ali B brokkelt af, al is 'KLM waarschijnlijk eerder failliet'". RTL Nieuws (in Dutch). 25 January 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
8. ^ "Ali B krijgt twee jaar cel voor verkrachting en poging tot verkrachting". nos.nl (in Dutch). 12 July 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
9. "Ali B.: Ik jatte schoenen uit de moskee, ik ging echt ver". Algemeen Dagblad. 5 March 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
10. ANP, Door (9 December 2004). "Ali B eerste rapper met beeld in Madame Tussauds (video)". NU (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 December 2023.
11. "Ali B wordt Baron van Ooit". www.omroepflevoland.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 December 2023.
12. Novum, Door (27 August 2011). "Ali B niet blij met 'knuffelmarokkaan'". NU (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 December 2023.
13. "Dutch Rapper Defends 'Sits on Money Like a Jew' Lyrics". The Forward. 5 January 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
14. Rijken, Kemal (6 January 2017). "Ali B. betuigt spijt aan CJO om antisemitische zin". Jonet.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 December 2023.
15. "Of course, I say to Ali B Are you sure you want a Bentley". APG. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
16. Offringa, Hans (24 November 2021). "Ali B over zijn nieuwe boek: "Dit is de oogst van wat ik toen zaaide"". Op1. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
17. "Abel Tamata bonkt op de deur bij PSV" (in Dutch). BN/DeStem. 22 December 2010. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
18. "Prachtig! Ali B noemt pasgeboren zoon Nouri". Sportnieuws.nl. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
19. "Ali B's neef Yes-R is ook beroofd". jeugdjournaal.nl (in Dutch). 5 December 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
20. "Rape accusation filed against The Voice judge Ali B.; Another allegedly groped minors". NL Times. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
21. ^ "Rapper Ali B could face 3 years in prison for raping, sexually assaulting three women".
22. "Singer Ellen ten Damme accuses Ali B of sexual misconduct | NL Times". nltimes.nl. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
23. "Ali B ook vervolgd voor seksueel ontoelaatbaar gedrag bij Ellen ten Damme, al deed zij geen aangifte". Retrieved 25 December 2023.
24. "Ali B volhardt in zijn onschuld, maar zijn slachtoffers voelen zich verminkt: 'Nee is nee, Ali'". de Gelderlander. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
25. "Ali B gaat in hoger beroep tegen celstraf". ad.nl (in Dutch). 12 July 2024. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
26. "OM gaat ook in hoger beroep in zaak tegen Ali B". nos.nl (in Dutch). 24 July 2024. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
27. "Discografie Ali B". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
28. "Top 40 week 16 van 2020".

External links

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

• 1981 births
• Living people
• Dutch cabaret performers
• Dutch people of Moroccan descent
• Dutch male comedians
• Dutch male rappers
• Dutch stand-up comedians
• Dutch television presenters
• Moroccan comedians
• Moroccan male rappers
• Moroccan television presenters
• People from Zaanstad