Dan Bull

Dan Bull
Bull in a YouTube video in 2012
Background information
Birth nameDaniel George L. Bull
Also known asDouglby
Born (1986-03-27) 27 March 1986 (age 38)
Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England
GenresHip hop
Occupations
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • keyboards
Years active2006–present
Websiteitsdanbull.com

Daniel George L. Bull[1] (born 27 March 1986) is a British rapper and songwriter known best for his songs about video games, which he publishes on his YouTube channel.

He used to collaborate with fellow artist Dave Brown ("Boyinaband").[2][3] However, he now collaborates with another fellow artist, Greg Holgate ("The Stupendium") on music instead.[4] He has also collaborated with fellow YouTube personalities such as Dan "Nerdcubed" Hardcastle, Michelle 'The RPG Minx', Markiplier, and Adam Montoya. Bull's music was featured in the British press as part of attempts to save BBC Radio 6,[5][6] campaign against the Digital Economy Bill,[7] and protest in favour of filesharing.[8] He was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome,[9] which is referenced in some of his songs, such as "A Portrait of the Autist".

Career

Bull has released songs on subjects such as YouTube issues, digital rights, the music industry, and gaming.[10][11][12] Bull's actions have gained attention, specifically from the TalkTalk Group, who requested to team up with him against the Digital Economy Bill.[13]

Bull creates gaming raps, ranging with the subgenres nerdcore, political and comedy hip hop. He was briefly partnered with Machinima; however, due to a dispute,[14] he now uploads videos independently. He also recorded the theme song for popular YouTuber Nerd³, as well as making an appearance with British gaming group, The Yogscast, with the song "Kicky Kicky Flow" (a rap about Simon Lane and Lewis Brindley), and InTheLittleWood rap (a rap about Martyn Littlewood, another Yogscast member).

Bull's album Face was released in December 2011. The 12-track album includes ten brand new songs as well as the 2010 tracks "America" and "John Lennon". The album focuses on topics such as medical recovery, war, love, Autism, alcoholism, and pride.[15]

In 2013, Bull was featured on KSI's Football Rap Battles episode along with his friend and fellow rapper Randolph. Bull's third studio album, The Garden, was released on 31 August 2014. The album features guest appearances from Joey Gzus and long-time collaborator Beit Nun.

In 2014, Bull portrayed a depiction of unidentified Victorian serial killer Jack the Ripper in an episode of the fourth season of YouTube series Epic Rap Battles of History where he rapped against fictional serial killer Hannibal Lecter (portrayed by EpicLLOYD). Bull later returned to the series for the fifth season in 2016 portraying a depiction of former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Winston Churchill where he rapped against 26th President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt (also portrayed by EpicLLOYD).

On 27 March 2015, he released his fourth album, Bullmatic. It is Bull's re-imagining of Nas' classic 1994 album Illmatic: for example, Nas' "N.Y. State of Mind" is re-imagined as "U.K. State of Mind".[16] Bull also voiced Minstrel in the 2015 indie game, Volume.

On 29 June 2015, Bull teamed up with Beit Nun, to release their long-awaited collaborative EP, Brandy Night.

On 6 December 2016, Bull collaborated with Deji (ComedyShortsGamer) and released the song "Put on Your Comedy Shorts". The music video was uploaded to Deji's channel titled "COMEDYSHORTSGAMER RAP !!!"[17] and the song was released on Dan Bull's iTunes and Spotify.

On 13 January 2017, Bull released his fifth album, Hip Hop Hooray. It features comedy songs, such as "Rugbuggery" and "Wiggly Willy" as well as serious life stories such as "I Hurt Myself" and "I'm Going to be a Daddy."

On 6 January 2018, Bull sang H2ODelirious' "10 MILLION SUBSCRIBER MUSIC VIDEO", which was animated by VyronixLiam. It is uploaded on H2ODelirious' channel and Dan Bull's Spotify.

On 23 March 2019, Bull released Robocopyright, a song criticizing Article 13 of the proposed Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market. This song also featured other YouTubers such as PewDiePie, Jacksepticeye and Roomie. The main video was released on Grandayy's YouTube channel.[18]

Dan has collabed with Dan 'Nerdcubed' Hardcastle on a number of occasions and has performed both of Hardcastle's YouTube channel intros and outros. He also wrote and performed the theme for Demma series featuring Emma Blackery.

Discography

Studio albums

  • Safe (2009)
  • Face (2011)
  • Generation Gaming (2012)
  • Generation Gaming II (2014)
  • The Garden (2014)
  • Generation Gaming III (2014)
  • Generation Gaming IV (2015)
  • Generation Gaming V (2015)
  • To Pimp A Butterfly (2015)
  • Generation Gaming VI (2015)
  • Generation Gaming VII (2015)
  • Bullmatic (2015)
  • Generation Gaming VIII (2015)
  • Brandy Night [alongside Beit Nun] (2015)
  • Generation Gaming IX (2015)
  • The Life of Pablo (2016)
  • Generation Gaming X (2016)
  • Generation Gaming XI (2016)
  • Hip Hop Hooray (2017)
  • Generation Gaming XII (2017)
  • Generation Gaming XIII (2017)
  • Generation Gaming XIV (2018)
  • Generation Gaming XV (2018)
  • Generation Gaming XVI (2018)
  • Generation Gaming XVII (2019)
  • Generation Gaming XVIII (2019)
  • Generation Gaming XIX (2019)
  • Generation Gaming XX: The Next Generation (Gaming) (2020)
  • Generation Gaming XXI: Rage Quit the Machine (2020)
  • Generation Gaming XXII: She Wants the D-Pad (2021)
  • Generation Gaming XXIII: Breakfast at Limmy's (2021)
  • Generation Gaming XXIV: 24 Hour LAN Party People (2021)
  • Generation Gaming XXV: Achievement Unlocked (2022)
  • Generation Gaming XXVI: 25 (2022)
  • Generation Gaming XXVII Straight Outta Computation (2023)

Videos

  • Destiny (2013)
  • Dear Lily (2009)
  • Doorways (2009)
  • Free Gary (2009)
  • Four Tigers(2010)
  • Dear Andy (2010)
  • Dear Mandy (2010)
  • Death of ACTA (2010)
  • Dear Auntie (2010)
  • Wikileaks and the Need for Free Speech (2010)
  • SOPA Cabana (2011)
  • Dear Microsoft (2011)
  • Bye Bye BPI (2012)
  • A Portrait of the Autist (2013)
  • Kicky Kicky Flow ft. The Yogscast (2013)
  • Hey There NSA ! (2014)
  • Dungeon keeper (2014)
  • endermen rap 2017
  • The NSA Hate This Song :)* (2014)
  • Tony Benn (2014)
  • Avengers Infinity Wars (Dan Bull as Doctor Strange) by NerdOut ft.Various Artists
  • Robocopyright (2019)

References

  1. ^ @itsDanBull (29 September 2016). "Three generations of George Bull. Richard G Bull, 1946 Daniel G L Bull, 1986 George R Bull, 2016 Photography by @yoohoophotos" (Tweet). Retrieved 23 January 2023 – via Twitter.
  2. ^ VIOLENT BIBLE RAP | Dan Bull & Boyinaband feat. God, 10 June 2014, archived from the original on 18 March 2023, retrieved 18 March 2023
  3. ^ "Dan Bull on Twitter: "@StewartWFanning grew apart"". Twitter. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  4. ^ CHOO CHOO CHARLES SONG "The End of The Line" | Dan Bull & The Stupendium, 17 March 2023, archived from the original on 18 March 2023, retrieved 18 March 2023
  5. ^ Taylor, Matthew (3 March 2010). "BBC 6 Music: fans and stars join growing protest". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
  6. ^ "Dan Bull adds a musical touch to the Save 6Music & the Asian Network campaign". Metro. London. Archived from the original on 24 July 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
  7. ^ Garlick, Hattie (26 November 2009). "Peter Mandelson and the Digital Economy Bill: the musical". The Times. Retrieved 8 December 2010.[dead link‍]
  8. ^ Phillips, Tom (28 September 2009). "A letter to Lily". The Ridiculant. Archived from the original on 6 November 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
  9. ^ A PORTRAIT OF THE AUTIST | Dan Bull, 23 April 2013, archived from the original on 18 March 2023, retrieved 18 March 2023
  10. ^ "Dan Bull pens letter to Lily Allen". Excite UK. 28 September 2009. Archived from the original on 20 April 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
  11. ^ Ivan, Tom (8 November 2010). "News: Want a new Elder Scrolls? So does this UK rapper". ComputerAndVideoGames.com. Archived from the original on 10 November 2010. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
  12. ^ Gonzalez, Annette (4 July 2010). "The[Crafty]Gamer: Dan Bull (Generation Gaming Rap)". Gameinformer. Archived from the original on 7 August 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
  13. ^ "TalkTalk gets musical with digital economy bill opposition". 15 March 2010. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
  14. ^ Bull, Daniel. "About Dan Bull". itsdanbull.com. Daniel Bull. Archived from the original on 21 March 2017. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
  15. ^ "FAQ". itsdanbull.com. Archived from the original on 30 December 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
  16. ^ Bull, Dan. "Bullmatic (2015)". Itsdanbull.com. Archived from the original on 30 March 2015. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  17. ^ COMEDYSHORTSGAMER RAP !!!, 6 December 2016, archived from the original on 27 August 2021, retrieved 27 August 2021
  18. ^ "Robocopyright: Dan Bull's rap anthem for the defeat of #Article13". Boing Boing. 23 March 2019. Archived from the original on 23 March 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
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