Boef

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Boef is the stage name of Sofiane Boussaadia, a Dutch-language rapper and vlogger with French nationality, born on 28 February 1993. He was born near Paris to Algerian parents. At four he lived with an uncle in Eindhoven, later for two years in Houston, Texas, and at thirteen he moved to Alkmaar. The word boef means villain in Dutch. After a period in detention he focused on rap. Through his friend Otie he came to Zonamo Underground, which invited him for a session in February 2015. That session was viewed more than a million times on YouTube within a short time.

Music and breakthrough

After the Zonamo session he signed with Zonamo Underground and within a year became one of the most popular rappers in the Netherlands, after Lil' Kleine and Ronnie Flex. His first EP, Gewoon Boef, came out in February 2016 and reached number four in the Album Top 100. In April 2016 followed the breakthrough hit Lauw, with a video shot in Dubai with the producer Harun B. His first album Slaaptekort appeared in March 2017 and was the album with the most streams on its day of release in the Netherlands, a record previously held by Ed Sheeran's ÷. Later followed Allemaal Een Droom in 2020 and Luxeprobleem in 2023. He also has a vlog channel with videos about his daily life.

Influence

Boef belongs to the generation of Dutch rappers who broke through via YouTube and streaming, with a mixture of street stories and melodic, almost sung rap. In 2024 he also started the fast-food chain Chick and Cheez.

Listening

Discography

Studio albums

• 2017Slaaptekort
• 2020Allemaal Een Droom
• 2023Luxeprobleem