KSI

Get the album Dissimulation here

Born Olajide Olatunji in Watford in 1993, KSI started his career on YouTube as KSIOlajideBT, posting game commentary videos of the FIFA series before progressing to comedy videos and eventually rapping. By summer 2020, he had amassed 30 million subscribers and seven billion views across his YouTube channels.

A keen boxer, KSI has also taken part in three high-profile bouts against other prominent online personalities. He defeated fellow British YouTuber Joe Wells in a fight watched by an online audience of 1.6 million before taking on Logan Paul twice, drawing the first and beating Paul in the second, which also marked KSI's first professional bout. 

KSI’s first foray into rap was inspired by football, taking aim at ex-Liverpool and England striker Emile Heskey with his rap Heskey Time. By 2015, he had progressed to a more refined style of songwriting with his breakthrough single Lamborghini, which has 115 million views on YouTube. This was followed by Keep Up and his 2016 debut EP of the same name.

A book (self-deprecatingly titled KSI: I Am A Bellend) was published in 2016, followed by another EP, Jump Around. KSI continued to mix music with his online persona and highly publicised grudge matches over the following years, with a third EP Disstracktions coming in 2018.

Following a deal with RBC Records, KSI released the single Down Like That, featuring Rick Ross, S-X and Lil Baby, landing in the UK Top 10. He started off 2020 with another single Wake Up Call featuring Trippie Redd, followed in May of that year with his debut album Dissimulation.

KSI announced a UK tour for May 2021, promising an exciting roster of special guests across five shows in Birmingham, London, Manchester, Newcastle and Glasgow. Due to phenomenal demand, on 27 October 2020 five new dates were added in Bournemouth, Bristol, Norwich, Cambridge and Hull plus the venue in Birmingham was upgraded to the O2 Institute.

“Finally fam. Ya boy cannot wait to finally perform for you guys. There are so many new songs that I have never performed before so I’m excited to have the chance to do so,” said KSI. “Trust me, the shows are gonna be insane from the production to the special guests plus all the new music that I’ll be dropping will improve the experience even more. I am too ready. You better be too!”

KSI's 2021 UK tour dates

• 13 May – O2 Institute, Birmingham (upgraded venue)
• 16 May – Old Fire Station, Bournemouth (new date)
• 17 May – SWX, Bristol (new date)
• 19 May – O2 Forum Kentish Town, London
• 20 May – Waterfront, Norwich (new date)
• 21 May – Manchester Academy 2
• 24 May – Junction, Cambridge (new date)
• 25 May – Asylum, Hull (new date)
• 27 May – Riverside, Newcastle
• 28 May – The Garage, Glasgow