The Jonathan Ross Show had an exciting episode recently featuring KSI, the popular YouTuber and rapper. In this extended interview, KSI opened up about his journey from making gaming videos to becoming a successful content creator and musician. Joined by his parents, Casa and Craig, the conversation touched upon KSI‘s collaboration with Craig David and how his parents initially had reservations about his career choice.
The collaboration between KSI and Craig David came about when JJ (KSI) sent over a tune and Craig instantly loved it. The chorus was already written by M.E.K., and digital farm animals worked on the track. It was one of those songs that sounded like a hit from the very beginning, and Craig appreciated the fact that KSI reached out to work with him. He acknowledged KSI‘s massive fan base and embraced the opportunity to be a part of the record.
KSI, also known as JJ, shared that his friends and fans commonly refer to him as JJ. When asked about the meaning behind his stage name, KSI revealed that it stands for “knowledge, strength, integrity.” However, he admitted that people often assume JJ stands for his full name, which is a source of humor for him. JJ’s rise to fame started with recording videos at home, initially focusing on gaming content. Over time, he progressed to including his voice and face in the videos, which led to a loss in subscribers who realized he wasn’t what they expected him to look like. Nevertheless, he persevered, worked hard, and eventually found himself being invited to appear on The Jonathan Ross Show.
KSI shared that he realized he could make a career out of YouTube when he saw other people making money from it. He was initially unaware that his hobby could be monetized. After doing his research, he worked hard and started earning more money than his teachers, which was a turning point for him. However, he had to overcome the hurdle of convincing his African parents, who had more traditional career expectations for him. Eventually, they saw the potential and supported his decision when they realized the financial rewards YouTube could offer.
In a lighthearted moment, KSI mentioned that his parents have actually made appearances in some of his videos, including twerking videos. Though he had to teach his mom about twerking, he credited artists like Nicki Minaj for popularizing the dance move. The transparency of his early content, including his rap career and YouTube videos, allowed viewers to witness his progression and growth over the years. And of course, KSI humorously mentioned his foray into boxing and his match against Logan Paul, admitting that he didn’t anticipate his career taking such an unconventional turn.
During the interview, KSI also addressed the infamous Twitter exchange in which he jokingly called out Mike Tyson for a fight. He clarified that it was a drunken tweet and truthfully didn’t believe he could beat someone like Tyson. It was nothing more than a bit of banter online.
In another unexpected twist, KSI shared a heartwarming story about rescuing an injured bird during the lockdown period. He recalled hearing a bang and discovering a baby chick that had flown into the glass of his gym. Instinctively, he nurtured the bird back to health, feeding it seeds and documenting the experience on video. This act of kindness showcased another side to KSI‘s personality and endeared him to viewers even more.
Overall, this extended interview on The Jonathan Ross Show provided an insightful and entertaining look into KSI‘s journey as a YouTuber and musician. From collaborating with Craig David to overcoming his parents’ initial reservations, KSI‘s story is one of persistence, passion, and the pursuit of a career outside the expected norm.
