Olajide Olayinka Williams "JJ" Olatunji[9] (/ɒləˈdʒiːdeɪ ɒləˈtundʒiː/, oh-lah-JEE-day oh-lah-TUHN-

jee; born 19 June 1993), better known as KSI,[nb 1] is an English YouTuber, internet personality,
rapper, actor, and boxer.[4][11] He is also a member and co-founder of the British YouTube group
known as the Sidemen.[4][12][13]
In 2009, KSI registered his YouTube account under the name KSIOlajideBT.[nb 2] KSI built his
following from posting gaming-commentary videos of the FIFA video game series,[14] although as his
following has grown, his YouTube content has diversified to include more vlog and comedy style
videos. As of July 2020, the channel has received over 21 million subscribers and over 5 billion
video views.[15] In 2019, he was ranked as the second most influential online creator in the United
Kingdom by The Times.[14][16]
Having written and produced comedy rap songs in his early YouTube career, KSI has since
recorded more serious releases, achieving six top 40 singles on the UK Singles Chart—two of which
reached the top 10.[17] His debut studio album Dissimulation, which was released on 22 May 2020,
debuted at number 2 on the UK Albums Chart.[17] As an actor, KSI featured in the British comedy
film Laid in America (2016), and was the subject of KSI: Can't Lose (2018), a documentary film
following the build-up to his first amateur boxing fight.
KSI has been involved in three high-profile boxing bouts; the first two were amateur white-
collar events, and the third was a professional bout. The first, against British YouTuber Joe Weller,
was won by KSI via technical knockout, and drew a live online audience of over 1.6 million.
The second fight, versus American YouTuber Logan Paul, ended in a majority draw; the
subsequent rematch was KSI's professional boxing debut, which he won via split decision.

Early life
Olajide Olayinka Williams Olatunji[1][2] was born on 19 June 1993 to Nigerian parents Jide Olatunji and
Yinka Olatunji.[18] He was born and raised in Watford, Hertfordshire.[3][18] He was educated
at Berkhamsted School in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, where he met future Sidemen member
Simon Minter.[19] Olatunji registered his first account on YouTube under the name "JideJunior" in
2008 while in his early teens, before opening his current channel in 2009.[20] Olatunji dropped out
of sixth form college to pursue his YouTube career once he was earning steady monthly revenue
from his uploads. In an interview in 2014, he recounted, "I asked the teacher, 'Should I leave?' He
asked, 'How much are you making from YouTube?' and I said, 'Around £1,500 a month.' He told me
he was getting less than that." His parents initially disapproved, but have since become supportive
and have featured in a number of his videos.[3]

YouTube career
2008–2013: Beginnings, FIFA videos and controversy

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][14] After sharing his videos with friends and on online forums, KSI grew a
small following of around 20,000 after two years.[citation needed] 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.[21][3] By the end of 2013, KSI's
subscriber count surpassed 3 million, making him the then twenty-fifth-most subscribed user on
YouTube.[18] The same year, KSI visited Las Vegas,[22] where he discussed YouTube's launching of a
paid-channel subscription project.[23]
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.[24][25] 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.[26] 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."[27]

2013–2017: Sidemen and expanding content

In October 2013, KSI signed with Maker Studios' sub-network, Polaris.[28] 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.[29] The group produces online
videos, most often consisting of challenges, sketches and video-game commentary, as well as
selling exclusive Sidemen merchandise.[30][31]
Having written and produced comedy–rap songs for his YouTube channel in 2011,[14] 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.[18][32] 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.
[32]
 KSI further exapanded his content later that year, releasing a biography titled KSI: I Am a Bellend.
[33][34]
 The book was released on 24 September 2015 in the UK and five days later in the United
States,[34] and KSI toured to support the book from its release until 4 October 2015.[34] In 2016, KSI
and the Sidemen published Sidemen: The Book,[35] which sold 26,436 copies within three days and
topped the hardback nonfiction charts.[36]
On 4 August 2017, KSI tweeted that he would be leaving the Sidemen, citing conflicts with fellow
member, Ethan Payne.[37][38] 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.
[38]
 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.[39] 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."[38]

2017–present: YouTube boxing

Amateur fight versus Joe Weller
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.[38] 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.[38] 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.[38] 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;[40] KSI was awarded the YouTube Boxing Championship Belt.[41] On YouTube,
the fight drew 1.6 million live viewers, 21 million views within a day,[42] and over 25 million over the
next several days, making it the biggest white-collar boxing fight in history.[43] 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.[44]
Amateur fight versus Logan Paul
Main article: KSI vs. Logan Paul
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.[45] 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.[46] The fight, labelled "the largest event in YouTube
history"[47] and "the largest ever amateur boxing fight",[48] sold-out 21,000 tickets for Manchester
Arena,[49] generating an estimated live gate revenue of over £2.7 million ($3.5 million).[50] It was
watched by over 2.25 million viewers live, including over 1.05 million watching pay-per-view[51] and
1.2 million watching illegal streams on Twitch.[52][53][54] 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,
[55]
 in addition to over 5 million viewers who watched illegal streams on Twitch as of 28 August 2018.
[56]

Professional rematch versus Logan Paul

Main article: KSI vs. Logan Paul II
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.[57][58] 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.[59] KSI
was trained by up-and-coming professional boxer, Viddal Riley, and Jeff Mayweather, uncle of Floyd
Mayweather Jr.[60]
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.[60] 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.[61]
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.[62] 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.[63][64] 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".[65][66]

Music career
2015–2016: Major record label signing
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.[67] The song's music video
has 110 million views, making it KSI's most-viewed music video on YouTube.[68] The song charted at
number 30 on the UK Singles Chart.[17] 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.[69] The song charted at number
45 on the UK Singles Chart.[17] 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.[70][17][71]
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.[72] 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.[73] 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.[74][75][76] The song charted at number 69 on the UK Singles Chart.[17] 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.[77] One of the EP's songs, "Touch Down",
featuring rapper and singer Stefflon Don, appeared on the soundtrack of the 2017 film Baywatch.[78]

2017–2019: Departure from record label and independent releases

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.[79][80] The song charted at number 100
on the UK Singles Chart.[17] "Creature" was the first single from KSI's third EP, Space, which was
released independently on 30 June 2017.[81]
KSI released his fourth EP, Disstracktions, on 29 September 2017 through Island Records.[82] 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.[17][83] 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.[84]
On 31 January 2018, KSI independently released "Uncontrollable", featuring British grime MC Big
Zuu, alongside a music video which has 29 million views.[85][86] The song was used as KSI's ring
walk entrance music for KSI vs. Joe Weller on 3 February 2018.[87] The song charted at number 89
on the UK Singles Chart.[17] KSI independently released "On Point" on 17 August 2018, alongside a
music video which has 38 million views.[88][89] The song was used as KSI's ring walk entrance music
for KSI vs. Logan Paul on 25 August 2018.[90]
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.[91] The
album debuted at number 17 on the UK Albums Chart and at number one on the UK R&B Albums
Chart.[92][93]
2019–present: New record label signing and Dissimulation
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".[94] On the same day, it was confirmed that KSI had started working on his debut
album.[94] 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.[95][96] The song was
KSI's ring walk entrance music for KSI vs. Logan Paul II.[97] "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.[17][98] KSI released the album's second single, "Wake Up
Call", featuring American rapper and singer Trippie Redd, on 31 January 2020.[99][100] The song
charted at number 11 on the UK Singles Chart, making it KSI's third highest-charting single in the UK
to date.[17] 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.[101][102]
[17]
 "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.[103][104] The song charted at number 6 on
the UK Singles Chart, making it KSI's highest-charting single in the UK to date.[17] KSI's debut album,
titled Dissimulation, was released on 22 May 2020, followed by a deluxe edition three days later.[105]
[106][107]
 Dissimulation debuted at number 2 on the UK Albums Chart and it also reached the charts of
13 other countries.[17] The album's fifth single, "Cap", featuring American rapper Offset, was released
alongside the album, and it charted at number 24 on the UK Singles Chart.[108][17] "Killa Killa", featuring
American singer Aiyana-Lee, was released as the album's sixth single on 17 July 2020, having
previously debuted at number 27 on the UK Singles Chart.[17] 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 cancelled due to the global outbreak of COVID-19.
[109][110][111][112]

KSI will feature on a single by British DJ and producer Nathan Dawe titled "Lighter", which will be
released on 24 July 2020.[113]

Income and wealth

KSI's income for 2014 was reported to be $1.12 million.[114] In 2015, KSI's earnings were estimated
by Forbes as over $4.5 million, ranking him as the fifth-highest paid YouTuber in the world.[115] Within
two years, his wealth had more than doubled as his net worth reached $11 million by 2017.[114] In
2018, Esquire magazine reported that, according to Social Blade, KSI can make up to £250,000 in
advertising revenue from one video and that product endorsements on his social media cost around
£75,000.[116] Heavy reported in the same year that KSI was the director of three UK companies with
equity totalling $2.2 million (£1.7 million).[32] In an interview with Men's Health, KSI confirmed that he
also owns over ten properties "all around England" with a combined worth of over £10 million.[117][118] In
late 2019, the Mirror estimated KSI's net worth to be around $20 million.[114] In 2020, The
Times estimated KSI's earnings to be £12 million a year.[119][120]
Business Insider reported that KSI's first fight against Logan Paul that year generated around
$11 million (£8.5 million) from just pay-per-view revenue alone, and a further live gate revenue of
over £2.7 million ($3.5 million) from ticket sales.[50] Some estimates calculated the potential earnings
from the fight at £30 million to £40 million each,[121] but KSI dismissed these claims, stating that his
earnings were "a high amount", but "nowhere near £40 million or £20 million".[51][122] According to
the Mirror, KSI earned a minimum guaranteed amount of $900,000 from his second fight against
Logan Paul, although his final cheque from the fight was reported to be in millions.[123][124]

Charitable causes
KSI has used his wealth and influence to support a number of charitable causes in his career.[32] In
2015, KSI donated $10,000 to an online charity stream done by YouTuber Castro1021, and
participated in the Race Against Slime event, raising money for SpecialEffect, a foundation
developing technology to aid people with physical disabilities to play video games.[32]
KSI co-organised and participated in the three Sidemen charity football match events. The first
match, played in 2016 at St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, raised £110,000 for the Saints
Foundation.[125] The second match, played in 2017 at The Valley Stadium, London, raised £210,000
for the NSPCC's Childline and Charlton Athletic Community Trust.[126] The third and final match,
played in 2018, again at The Valley Stadium, raised £65,747 through the JustGiving donation page
alone (the total amount raised is unconfirmed) for Young Minds and Charlton Athletic Community
Trust.[127]
In 2019, KSI uploaded a video titled "Ending it all", from which all ad-revenue would be donated to
various suicide-prevention charities.[128]

Personal life
In 2014, KSI and three other members of the Sidemen – Simon Minter, Josh Bradley and Vikram
Barn, respectively known on YouTube as Miniminter, Zerkaa and Vikkstar123 – moved into a house
in London, before moving into a new house in London in 2016.[129] In 2019, they moved out of the
house, with KSI and Minter moving into an apartment in central London.[130][5]
His younger brother, Deji Olatunji, is also a YouTuber. The brothers ranked first and second
respectively as the "UK's Most Influential YouTube Creators" by Tubular Labs in 2015.[131][132] In late
November 2018, Deji revealed KSI's personal bank records in a video; KSI later condemned Deji's
actions and expressed his disappointment towards his parents for allowing the publication of his
financial records.[133] In January 2019, Deji apologised to his brother for his "impulsive" and "rash"
behaviour and made the video private.[134] In May 2019, Deji made the video public again, prompting
KSI to state on Twitter that he is "done" with his brother.[135] In November 2019, KSI revealed that
their feud was settled, stating that "brothers fight and there's always gonna be a situation where,
because we're in the public eye, everything gets blown out of proportion".[136]
KSI is a keen football fan and a supporter of Arsenal F.C.[137]