History Creator / KSI

Olajide Olayinka Williams "JJ"[[note]]short for "Jide Junior", as his father's name is Jide[[/note]] Olatunji (born 19 June 1993), [[StageNames better known as]] [[https://www.youtube.com/user/KSIOlajidebt KSI]][[note]]short for [=KSIOlajideBT=], a combination of "KSI" (initially the name of the ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'' clan he was in when he made the name, but retroactively changed to "Knowledge, Strength, Integrity"), his first name Olajide, and "BT" for British Telecom[[/note]], is an English Website/{{YouTube}} personality, musician, boxer, comedian and actor, as well as a founding member of the WebVideo/{{Sidemen}}, a group of British [=YouTube=] entertainers.

While KSI mainly uploaded videos to his primary channel for a long while, using [[https://www.youtube.com/user/KSIOlajidebtHD his second channel]] "JJ Olatunji"[[note]]initially ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty''-only, and formerly named "[=KSIOlajidebtHD=]" before [=YouTube=] verification issues inspired the change[[/note]] to post content from a wider variety of games (often played with the Sidemen), his pursuit of a music career turned the main KSI channel into a professional hub of official music videos, singles and miscellaneous high-production-value content. His second channel, now updated more frequently, hosts fun and informal content; think of it as JJ the regular person, as opposed to KSI the superstar. Recurring content on this channel includes ''Try Not to Laugh'' (where he reacts and [[RunningGag almost always fails]] to avoid laughing at funny videos), ''Well...That Was Weird'' (where he reacts to simply [[SurrealHumor bizarre]] videos), and a regular series of him reacting to fanmade content on his [[Website/{{Reddit}} subreddit]] (available [[https://www.reddit.com/r/ksi here]]). In March 2021, he (alongside many other Sidemen) also started [[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMiY4t431lhXY4QtPZtzftQ another channel]] dedicated to short highlights of videos he's been in.

As far as music goes, KSI's career began early in his [=YouTube=] days with a series of comedic ''FIFA''-based songs made with his rapper-producer friend Randolph before doing guest verses on several songs by British rapper Sway. He released [=EPs=] between 2016 and 2017, and transitioned to full-length albums around the end of the 2010s, one of them a fully collaborative work with Randolph (''New Age''). As his discography has progressed, he has gotten more serious with his craft, expanding his hip-hop sound to work with influences from R&B, pop, and dance music, racking up collaborations with established UK and US artists, and [[GrowingTheBeard seeing a considerable increase in public support of him as a professional artist]] as opposed to making "[=YouTuber=] music".

While KSI predominantly uploaded videos to his main channel for a long while, using [[https://www.youtube.com/user/KSIOlajidebtHD his second channel]] "JJ Olatunji"[[note]]initially ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty''-only, and formerly named "[=KSIOlajidebtHD=]" before [=YouTube=] verification issues inspired the change[[/note]] to post content from a wider variety of games (often played with the Sidemen), his pursuit of a music career turned the main KSI channel into a professional hub of official music videos, singles and miscellaneous high-production-value content. His second channel, now updated far more frequently, currently hosts more fun and informal content; think of it as JJ the regular person, as opposed to KSI the big-name superstar. Recurring content on this channel includes ''Try Not to Laugh'' (where he reacts and [[RunningGag almost always fails]] to avoid laughing at funny videos), ''Well...That Was Weird'' (where he reacts to simply [[SurrealHumor bizarre]] videos), and a regular series of him reacting to fanmade content on his [[Website/{{Reddit}} subreddit]] (available [[https://www.reddit.com/r/ksi here]]). In March 2021, he (alongside many other Sidemen) also started [[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMiY4t431lhXY4QtPZtzftQ another channel]] dedicated to short highlights of videos he's been in.

Another prominent career path KSI has taken is into the world of boxing. His first fight was an amateur fight on 3 February 2018, when he settled a months-long beef with fellow British [=YouTuber=] [[https://www.youtube.com/c/JoeWeller Joe Weller]] in the ring at Copper Box Arena, ultimately winning in what was one of the most-watched white-collar matches in boxing history. In the years since, he has fought six more opponents -- Creator/LoganPaul (who he fought twice[[note]]The first time was on 25 August 2018 in the Manchester Arena as an amateur fight, with Logan and KSI coming to a controversial majority draw. The rematch (which was already planned alongside the first match) was on 9 November 2019 at the Staples Center, and was distinctly held as a ''professional'' boxing match, with no headgear and lighter gloves[[/note]]), rapper Swarmz, pro boxer Luis Alcaraz Pineda[[note]]KSI fought both Swarmz and Pineda on the same night, 27 August 2022. The fight was originally planned to be against one opponent, [=YouTuber=] [[https://www.youtube.com/c/Wassabi Alex Wassabi]], but he withdrew from the fight due to a concussion and was replaced with Swarmz on 6 August. On 16 August, the "2 fights, 1 night" stipulation was announced, with KSI's pro boxer opponent originally being the Bulgarian Ivan Nikolov before he was replaced with Pineda on 20 August due to having white supremacist and neo-Nazi tattoos[[/note]], [=YouTuber=] [=FaZe=] Temperrr[[note]]KSI's original opponent for the fight, which took place on 14 January 2023, was mixed martial artist Dillon Danis, but he withdrew on 4 January due to lack of preparation and coaching, as well as issues with the contracted weight[[/note]], pro boxer Joe Fournier, and pro boxer Tommy Fury. His current professsional record[[note]]meaning that the Weller match (which KSI won as a TKO) and the first Logan Paul match (which was a majority draw in KSI's favour) don't count[[/note]] is 4-1-0-1, consisting of one split decision victory, three KO victories, a "no decision"[[note]]In his fight with Joe Fournier. The fight originally ended in a KO victory for KSI, but this was overturned six days later after the fight was reviewed in light of replays showing that KSI had knocked Fournier out after missing a right hook and accidentally hitting him with his elbow[[/note]], and a loss by unanimous decision.[[note]]In his fight with Tommy Fury. The fight originally ended in a loss for KSI by ''majority'' decision, but this was changed a day later due to one of the judges having incorrectly counted their points.[[/note]] KSI is additionally the CEO of the boxing promotional company Misfits Boxing.

KSI also released an autobiography in 2015 titled ''I Am a Bellend'' (or ''I Am a Tool'' [[MarketBasedTitle in the United States]]), co-starred in the 2016 direct-to-video comedy film ''Laid in America'' alongside [=YouTube=] star [[https://www.youtube.com/user/dicasp Caspar Lee]], served as the focus of two documentaries titled ''KSI: Can't Lose''[[note]]released in 2019 ahead of his rematch with Logan Paul[[/note]] and ''KSI: In Real Life''[[note]]released in 2023 and centering around his professional and personal life from June 2021 to October 2022[[/note]], and announced co-ownership of a hydration brand called Prime in 2022 alongside Logan Paul, following the two squashing their beef and becoming friends.