Ali B
Ali B in 2018
Born	Ali Bouali (1981-10-16) 16 October 1981 (age 42) Zaanstad, Netherlands
Occupation(s)	Rapper, singer, songwriter
Years active	1999–present
Website	alib.nl (in Dutch)

Ali Bouali, known professionally as Ali B (born 16 October 1981), is a Dutch-Moroccan rapper.^[1] He is one of the most well known rappers in the Netherlands^[2][3] and has collaborated with popular musicians such as Senegalese-American artist Akon and Dutch singer Marco Borsato. He is seen as a prominent figure in Dutch inter-ethnic relations.^[4]

He has released three albums and a slew of popular singles, including the 2004 Dutch number-one hit "Wat zou je doen" with Marco Borsato. He has performed at several national events, including the 2005 Koninginnedag (Queen's Day) celebration and the 2013 Inauguration of Willem-Alexander.^[4][5] He also held many television roles as a judge of the talent shows The Voice of Holland, The Voice Kids, X Factor, Holland's Got Talent and Ali B op volle toeren.

Following sexual assault allegations including rape in 2022, which resulted in three charges, Ali B lost many of his endorsement deals and positions.

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.^[6] 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.^[4]

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.^[7] 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."^[8]

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.^[9]

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."^[4]

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."^[10] He eventually apologised to the Central Jewish Organisation.^[11]

In 2020, Ali B started "Ik Wil Groeien" (I Want to Grow), an online coaching and self-help platform.^[12] In 2021, he published the book De Ali B-Methode (The Ali B Method), featuring 12 life lessons shared by him.^[13]

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.^[14] 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.^[14]

Telvision 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

He is married to Breghje Kommers, the half-sister of professional footballer Abel Tamata.^[15]

Sexual assault charges

In January 2022, the Dutch Public Prosecution Service received reports against Ali B for sexual misconduct, including one rape.^[16] 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 has 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.^[17] Singer Ellen ten Damme accused Ali B of raping her in Morocco during the recording of the show Ali B en de Muziekkaravaan.^[18][19] In another incident, Ali B was accused of raping an 18-year-old The Voice of Holland contestant in his studio.^[20][21] The most recent incident reportedly took place in Heiloo in 2018. The trial is scheduled to begin in June 2024.^[17]

Discography

Albums

Singles

Featured in

Awards and nominations