Rucka Rucka Ali
| Rucka Rucka Ali | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Also known as | "Itsrucka", DJ Not Nice, Seymour Schwartz, Toby Queef, TR-8R, Boris Anatasha |
| Born | January 27, 1987 (age 29) |
| Origin | Detroit, Michigan |
| Genres | Parody, comedy, satire, comedy hip hop |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper, satirist, parodist, comedian, Singer |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Labels | Straightsavage Records (current) Serchlite Records (former) |
| Associated acts | MC Serch, EdWords |
| Website | Official website |
Rucka Rucka Ali (born January 27, 1987) is an American rapper, radio personality, singer, comedian, satirist and internet celebrity most noted for his song parodies on YouTube. He has been labeled one of the most successful artists to come out of social media, where he has received over 100 million hits on YouTube.[1] with parodies such as "Ching Chang Chong", "Ima Korean", "Justin the Beaver" and "Ebola (La La)". He has released six independent studio albums, three of which charted in the Billboard Top Comedy Albums.[2]
Musical career
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 and Kim Jong-il (also his son, Kim Jong-un). He often auto-tunes his vocals. He also makes use of satirical alter egos, like fellow Detroit rapper Eminem, but more satirical. He has multiple alter egos, such as DJ Not Nice (Asian), Seymour Schwartz (Jewish) and Toby Queef (white American redneck).
Some of his songs include "Ching Chang Chong", a parody of The Black Eyed Peas' "Boom Boom Pow" full of Asian stereotypes, and "Justin's Beaver", a parody of B.o.B's "Magic" ridiculing Justin Bieber.[3] 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" 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 Nelly, 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.[4][5] 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[6] and Probably Racist which peaked at No. 11.[7] In September 2012, he released his sixth studio album, Rucka's World, which peaked at #8 on the Billboard Top Comedy Albums.[8]
Rucka Rucka Ali used to have a podcast named "Ruckas 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.[9]
Controversy
Some critics have labeled Ali as a racist as a reaction to his songs, although his humor seems heavily influenced by mainstream comedy television shows such as South Park, Family Guy, and Chappelle's Show.[1] His videos and YouTube channels are frequently removed (since he started creating music videos he has had 17 YouTube channels deleted for terms of service violations), but are reuploaded by his fans, who call themselves "Rucka's Nuckas".
In 2010, three British students were suspended from school when a Korean child was offended as they showed one of Rucka's videos "Ima Korean" to their class while studying culture. The school's headmaster said the song was "probably racist", which was used as the title for Rucka Rucka Ali's next album.[10]
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.[11] The song, along with an accompanying music video released several days later, angered One Direction fans and others.[12] Business Standard called the song "offensive" and a "racist attack" on Malik.[13]
In late 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 McDonalds in Wales.[14][15] Subsequently, McDonalds issued an apology to the offended customers.[16] That same week, Rucka Rucka Ali responded to the controversy on his YouTube channel by jokingly demanding a personal apology from the restaurant.[17]
Discography
Studio Albums[18]
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Comedy[19] | |||
| Straight Outta West B | 2009 | — | |
| 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 | |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||
Charted Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Comedy[19] | |||
| "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[20] |
| "Go Cops" | 7 | |
| "Ching Chang Chong" | 12 | |
| "Don't Be a Playa, Haiti" | 15 | |
| "Go Cops" | 16 | 2011[21] |
| "Justin's Beaver" | 18 |
- 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)
- Yo Perry! (2012)
- My Name's Obama (2012)
- Eff Germany (2014)
- Kim Jong Un Song (2015)
- Rucka & Friends (2012)
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" | Unknown |
References
- 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.
- ↑ "Rucka Rucka Ali : Rhapesody". rhapsody.com. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
- ↑ "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. External link in
|publisher=(help) - ↑ 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.
- ↑ James Robertson (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.
- ↑ "Rucka Rucka Ali : Albums : Rhapsody". rhapsody.com. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
- 1 2 "Comedy Album 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.
External links
- Official website
- Rucka Rucka Ali Reddit Questionnaire (January 1, 2013)