Ali B

Born on October 16, 1981, as Ali Bouali, the Moroccan-descended Dutch rapper known as Ali B. came up short in the hip-hop and R&B competition at the Grote Prijs von Nederland, yet his abilities secured a recording contract with Warner regardless. The major label released his first single, "Waar Gaat Dit Heen?," which climbed to the number two position, while his concert appearances maintained his visibility among audiences. Collaborations with prominent U.S. hip-hop figures followed, among them RZA from the Wu-Tang Clan. Charitable causes also received substantial support from him, notably relief for the Tsunami disaster and work with Amnesty International. In 2007, he achieved another success with the top twenty single "Groupie Love."