Rucka Rucka Ali

Rucka Rucka Ali was born in Jerusalem, Israel, on January 27, 1987, into an Orthodox Jewish environment, though he has stated that he moved away from that lifestyle as he grew up.[1]

Rucka Rucka Ali's music career started on Myspace Music in 2006, with the release of his debut single entitled "I Heart Crack". On the website, he frequently left intentionally provocative comments on featured videos in order to draw attention to his page and music until his account was deleted by Myspace in February 2008.[5] In September 2008, he posted his first viral video on YouTube, entitled "I Can Do Whatever I'm White", which featured the abrasive lyrics and slideshow-style video that Rucka Rucka Ali became known for. Later that same month, he released his debut album, entitled Straight Outta West B.[6]

Rucka Rucka Ali has released eight total albums, four of which have charted in the Billboard Top Comedy Albums: I'm Black, You're White & These Are Clearly Parodies peaked at 6th,[7] Probably Racist peaked at 11th,[8] Rucka's World peaked at 8th,[9] and Black Man of Steal peaked at 7th. During the weeks of July 31, 2010, through August 7, 2010, Rucka Rucka Ali held 5 of the top 10 spots on the Billboard Comedy Digital Tracks chart.[10][11]

In June 2010, three British students were reprimanded after publicly showing Rucka Rucka Ali's music video for his hit parody, "Ima Korean" to their class while studying different countries' musical traditions. One South Korean student was "devastated, upset, very offended, and feeling very lonely", being the only East-Asian child in the class. An assistant headteacher said the song was "probably racist". Rucka Rucka Ali subsequently picked the quote as the title of his next album, Probably Racist.[12]

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 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.[13] The song, along with an accompanying music video released several days later, angered One Direction fans and others.[14] Business Standard called the song "offensive" and a "racist attack" on Malik.[15]

In the end of November 2013, he 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 McDonald's company in Wales.[16][17] Subsequently, McDonald's issued an apology to the offended customers.[18] That same week, Rucka Rucka Ali responded to the controversy on his YouTube channel by jokingly demanding a personal apology from the restaurant.[19]

Rucka Rucka Ali has stated that he is an Objectivist, as in his interview with Dave Rubin on The Rubin Report.[20]

At the end of the music video for his parody song "Life Is Over" (a parody of "Closer"), released in October 2016, Rucka Rucka Ali admitted that he had a suicide attempt in the summer of 2006. Noting that his death would have prevented the success of his later music career, he wished to send others "a message of hope".[21]

In February 2021, Rucka Rucka Ali tested positive for Coronavirus disease 2019

• Official website