KSI registered his main YouTube account in 2009 and built a following posting gaming-commentary videos of the FIFA video game series. As his fan base has grown, his YouTube content has diversified to include vlog and comedy style videos. As of March 2021, he has over 34 million subscribers and over 8 billion video views across his two YouTube channels.
KSI's 2020 debut studio album, Dissimulation, debuted at number 2 on the UK Albums Chart. He has achieved eleven top 40 singles on the UK Singles Chart, six of them ending up in the Top 10 and four of them ending up in the Top 5. 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 against British YouTuber Joe Weller. He was involved in two further boxing events against American YouTuber Logan Paul, the second of which was a professional bout.
2015–2016: Early releases
Having written and produced comedy–rap songs for his YouTube channel in 2011, KSI released his debut single, "Lamborghini", featuring British grime MC P Money, on 23 March 2015, with Dcypha Productions. The song charted at number 30 on the UK Singles Chart.
"Keep Up", the title song for KSI's debut extended play of the same name, featuring Jme, was released on 13 November 2015, reaching number 45 on the UK Singles Chart.The full EP was released on 8 January 2016, through Island Records, debuting at number 13 on the UK Albums Chart and number one on the UK R&B Albums Chart.
On 29 April 2016, KSI released "Goes Off", featuring Mista Silva, as the first single from his second EP titled Jump Around. The EP's second single, "Friends with Benefits", featuring MNDM, was released on 29 July 2016, reaching number 69 on the UK Singles Chart.[56] The full EP was released on 28 October 2016 through Island Records. One of the EP's songs, "Touch Down", featuring rapper and singer Stefflon Don, appeared on the soundtrack of the 2017 film Baywatch.
2017–2019: Independent releases
KSI performing in 2019 on his New Age tour
On 23 June 2017, KSI independently released "Creature", which reached number 100 on the UK Singles Chart. "Creature" was the first single from KSI's third EP, Space, which was released independently on 30 June 2017. On 6 October that year, KSI released his fourth EP, Disstracktions, which includes diss tracks against fellow Sidemen members W2S and Behzinga. The EP reached number 31 on the UK Albums Chart and number one on the UK R&B Albums Chart. One week before its release, KSI announced that the EP would be his "final release" with Island Records and that he would be releasing music independently.
On 2 February 2018, KSI released "Uncontrollable", featuring Big Zuu. The song played during KSI's ring walk for his boxing fight against Joe Weller and charted at number 89 on the UK Singles Chart. KSI released "On Point" on 17 August 2018, which was played during his ring walk for his second boxing bout.
On 12 April 2019, KSI released a collaborative album with Randolph titled New Age. It debuted at number 17 on the UK Albums Chart and at number one on the UK R&B Albums Chart.
2019–2020: New record label signing and Dissimulation
On 4 November 2019, it was announced that KSI had signed with RBC Records and BMG to "take [his] music to the next level" and "further develop his music career in the US and internationally". In addition to managing KSI's future releases, it was confirmed that the label would be administering and reissuing KSI's independent catalogue recordings. That day, it was confirmed that KSI had already started recording his debut studio album. On 8 November 2019, "Down Like That", featuring Rick Ross, Lil Baby and S-X, was released as the album's lead single. It was performed live by the three featured artists as KSI's entrance music for his boxing rematch against Logan Paul. The song peaked at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart and it has been certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for sales of 200,000 units in the country. A further three singles preceded the album: "Wake Up Call", featuring Trippie Redd, which debuted at number 11 on the UK Singles Chart; "Poppin", featuring Lil Pump and Smokepurpp, which charted at number 43 in the UK; and "Houdini", featuring Swarmz and Tion Wayne, which debuted at number six on the UK Singles Chart and received a silver certification from the BPI.
KSI's debut studio album, titled Dissimulation, was released on 22 May 2020. The album debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart and further charted in 15 other countries. It was the UK's best-selling debut album by a British artist in 2020 and it has been certified silver by the BPI for sales of 60,000 units in the country. The album spawned two further UK top 40 singles, "Cap", featuring Offset, and "Killa Killa", featuring Aiyana-Lee. KSI was scheduled to perform at Parklife, Longitude and Reading and Leeds music festivals in 2020 to promote Dissimulation, but these were later cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
KSI featured on "Lighter" by British DJ and record producer Nathan Dawe. The song peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart and became one of the UK's best-selling songs of 2020. It has been certified platinum by the BPI for sales of 600,000 units in the UK and it was nominated for Best British Single at the 2021 BRIT Awards. KSI also featured on "Loose" by Zimbabwean-British artist S1mba, which peaked at number 14 on the UK Singles Chart.
2020–present: Second studio album and The Online Takeover
On 23 October 2020, KSI released the first single for his second studio album, "Really Love", featuring Craig David and Digital Farm Animals, which peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart and has been certified silver by the BPI.
On 15 January 2021, KSI featured on "Don't Play" by Anne-Marie and Digital Farm Animals. The song debuted at number two on the UK Singles Chart, becoming KSI's highest-charting single in the UK to date, and was also certified silver by the BPI.
On 16 February 2021, KSI announced on Twitter the creation of his own record label named "The Online Takeover" in partnership with his music manager Mams Taylor. Shortly after, he announced the first signee of his label, which was American-British singer "Aiyana-Lee", who featured on the track "Killa Killa" on KSI's debut album "Dissimulation".
On 12 March 2021, KSI released the album's second single, "Patience", featuring YUNGBLUD and Polo G, which debuted at number 3 on the UK Singles Chart.
Gang Gang
ksi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Back of them jeans, lookin' mad, mad
Open the Jeep, let me grab, grab
Roll with the G's, that's the gang
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Someone told me she's a liar
Never gonna cap, man need a rider
Told you don't play with fire
Come every year like Mariah (hmm)
Five-figure drip when I show the attire
No stress, I'm in control like I'm Isco
Won't be no dancin' if man let the diss flow
Trust me, it's long when they aim at me (jeez)
Same chain, but it ain't the same as me (nah)
Thinkin' you're king, I'll dismantle the throne that you're on
Leave you there lookin' like Kong (hahaha)
But I ain't on a funny man ting
I just stack mills, kick back, money man ting
Half a billi' when they stream my ting
Lights blindin' when they pree my ring (oh-oh-oh)
Bad, bad
Back of them jeans, lookin' mad, mad
Open the Jeep, let me grab, grab
Roll with the G's, that's the gang
Oh, oh, oh, oh (brrt)
Someone told me she's a liar
Never gonna cap, man need a rider
Told you don't play with fire
Gang-gang, stop playin' with the gang-gang
Big jacket, my G savage, he been active
JAY poppin' I stay guappin', there's no slackin' (nope)
Stay rappin', I live lavish, I got fashion (fashion)
That girl's got a big back of the cheeks clappin'
The way she's throwin' it back
All the baddies wanna lick me now
I'm clockin' the cash (clockin' the cash)
I just pulled up in a mazza, now she's flashin' her racks
And I've just got a couple hookers, might pull up with the gang
We get turnt up (turnt up)
Told the baddie in a room to come twerk up (twerk up)
Told my nigga come, he bill it and burn up (burn up)
Big money in the bank, 'cah I'm a earner
Waves, I'ma surfer
Bang
Bad, bad
Back of them jeans, lookin' mad, mad
Open the Jeep, let me grab, grab
Roll with the G's, that's the gang
Oh, oh, oh, oh (brrt)
Someone told me she's a liar
Never gonna cap, man need a rider
Told you don't play with fire
Gang-gang, stop playin' with the gang-gang
Stop playin' with the gang-gang, yeah
Stop playin' with the gang-gang, yeah
Stop playin' with the gang
Stop playin' with the gang
Stop playin' with the gang-gang, yeah
Bap, bap, bap with the gang-gang, yeah
Might roll with the gang-gang, yeah
Stop playin' with the gang
Stop playin' with the gang
Stop playin' with the gang-gang, yeah
In the song "Gang Gang" by KSI, he uses his signature style of rap and his reputation leading the Sidemen to discuss his success, his luxurious lifestyle, and his gang. The opening lyric "Bad, bad, back of them jeans, lookin' mad, mad," refers to the back pockets of his jeans, implying they're loaded with cash. He is saying that he has money and can afford anything he wants. In the next verse, KSI talks about his popularity, using Mariah Carey as a reference to her recurring holiday songs. "Five-figure drip when I show the attire" means that he wears expensive outfits and looks good while doing it. KSI later references his success in his rap career, as he says that he has half a billion streams on his songs. The chorus repeats throughout the song, saying "roll with the G's, that's the gang," referring to the Sidemen, his closest friends, and closest allies.
In the second verse, KSI raps about his friend with whom he has a partnership, JAY, and uses adjectives like "savage" and "active" to describe him. He then talks about how other girls want him after a former girlfriend, and how he brushes them away because he is obsessed with his income. He says that he gets "turnt up" and has a good time, but he is still focused on making money. The rap continues talking about his luxurious lifestyle, looking at the rapper Industry and how he built his fortune. In the last verse, KSI repeats the chorus before finishing the song with, "Bap, bap, bap with the gang-gang, stop playing with the gang-gang, yeah." It reinforces that they are united and powerful, with no one daring to mess with their group.
Line by Line Meaning
Bad, bad
This is a straightforward repetition to emphasize that the gang is bad.
Back of them jeans, lookin' mad, mad
Refers to the way different gang members dress.
Open the Jeep, let me grab, grab
Come ride in the Jeep with the gang.
Roll with the G's, that's the gang
Be part of the gang and roll with them always.
Oh, oh, oh, oh
An exclamation that refers to the fun times they have.
Someone told me she's a liar
A warning against trusting outsiders who might deceive the gang.
Never gonna cap, man need a rider
Always keep it real and stick together as a gang.
Told you don't play with fire
Being a gang member means not getting into dangerous situations.
Gang-gang, stop playin' with the gang-gang
Don't mess with the gang, or they will back each other up.
Come every year like Mariah (hmm)
Like Mariah, he is making a comeback every year.
Five-figure drip when I show the attire
He shows off his expensive clothes and style.
No stress, I'm in control like I'm Isco
He is always cool and in control.
Won't be no dancin' if man let the diss flow
If someone begins to insult him, it won't end pleasantly.
Trust me, it's long when they aim at me (jeez)
It's dangerous when people try to come after him.
Same chain, but it ain't the same as me (nah)
Others might try to copy him, but they're nothing like him.
Thinkin' you're king, I'll dismantle the throne that you're on
If someone thinks they're better than him, he will quickly put them in their place.
Leave you there lookin' like Kong (hahaha)
He'll beat anyone who tries to mess with him, to the point where they'll be destroyed.
But I ain't on a funny man ting
But he is not someone to joke with.
I just stack mills, kick back, money man ting
He relaxes after making money.
Half a billi' when they stream my ting
He is making a lot of money from his music.
Lights blindin' when they pree my ring (oh-oh-oh)
He wears expensive jewelry that shines brightly when others look at it.
Big jacket, my G savage, he been active
He describes his gang members who are always engaging in activities.
JAY poppin' I stay guappin', there's no slackin' (nope)
Together, they stay successful with no time to rest.
Stay rappin', I live lavish, I got fashion (fashion)
He raps while also leading a luxurious life with great fashion sense.
That girl's got a big back of the cheeks clappin'
He is bragging about a girl who's showing off her assets.
The way she's throwin' it back
The girl is dancing sensually.
All the baddies wanna lick me now
Other attractive women now want to be around him.
I'm clockin' the cash (clockin' the cash)
He's focused on making money.
I just pulled up in a mazza, now she's flashin' her racks
He arrives in a fancy car and impresses the girl.
And I've just got a couple hookers, might pull up with the gang
He has more than one woman and is considering taking them along with the gang.
We get turnt up (turnt up)
The group goes wild and has a good time.
Told the baddie in a room to come twerk up (twerk up)
He encouraged the attractive girl to dance sensually.
Told my nigga come, he bill it and burn up (burn up)
He wants another member of his gang with him to make money fast.
Big money in the bank, 'cah I'm a earner
He always has a lot of money because he's a hard worker.
Waves, I'ma surfer
He'll ride any wave that comes his way.
Bang
An interjection of excitement and enthusiasm.
Stop playin' with the gang-gang, yeah
Warning to outsiders to stay away from messing with the gang.
Bap, bap, bap with the gang-gang, yeah
The gang is ready to fight and protect their name.
Might roll with the gang-gang, yeah
People are considering joining the gang.
Stop playin' with the gang
Reminder to outsiders that the gang is not to be messed with.
Stop playin' with the gang
Do not try to mess with the gang.
Stop playin' with the gang-gang, yeah
A strong warning to anyone who attempts to cross the gang.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Deno Michael Mebrahitu, Ehijie Ohiomoba, Emmanuel Isong, Jacob Oliver Manson, Jason Juami, Olajide Olatunji, Sam Andrew Gumbley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind