{{Short description|British rapper and songwriter (born 1986)}} {{About|the British rapper and songwriter|the Australian politician|Dan Bull (politician)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Dan Bull | image = Dan Bull 2012 (cropped).jpg | alt = | caption = Bull in a YouTube video in 2012 | birth_name = Daniel George L. Bull | alias = Douglby | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|03|27}} | birth_place = Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England | genre = Hip hop<!--Do not add subgenres to this Infobox. Subgenres may be found in album infoboxes.--> | occupation = {{Hlist | Rapper | songwriter | gamer }} | instrument = {{Hlist | Vocals | guitar | keyboards }} | years_active = <!-- correct format according to MOS:OTHERDATE. do not change this -->2006–present | website = {{Official URL}} | module = {{Infobox youtuber | child = yes | youtube_handle = danbull | youtube_display_name = | youtube_years_active = 2006–present | youtube_genre = Music | youtube_subscribers = 3.34 million<!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE WITHOUT UPDATING stats_update BELOW --> | youtube_views = 1.24 billion<!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE WITHOUT UPDATING stats_update BELOW --> | stats_update = 9 March 2026 }} }} '''Daniel George L. Bull''' (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.
==Biography== Daniel George L. Bull<ref name="Name">{{Cite tweet |number=781442813275803648 |user=itsDanBull |title=Three generations of George Bull. Richard G Bull, 1946 Daniel G L Bull, 1986 George R Bull, 2016 Photography by @yoohoophotos |access-date=2023-01-23 |language=en}}</ref> was born on 27 March<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1110694966400032769 |user=itsDanBull |title=I've spent the day talking about how I think small creators are threatened by copyright laws such as Article 13.<br>However, I'm also making some serious plans to help bring more real world opportunities to upcoming creators. Announcement vid coming soon!<br>PS it's my birthday! |access-date=2025-06-24 |language=en}}</ref> 1986,<ref name="Name" /> in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England.<ref>{{cite web |title=laut.de biography Dan Bull |url=https://laut.de/Dan-Bull |website=laut.de |access-date=26 July 2025}}</ref>
Bull has released songs on subjects such as YouTube issues, digital rights, the music industry, and gaming.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://music.excite.co.uk/dan-bull-pens-letter-to-lily-allen-N7892.html |title=Dan Bull pens letter to Lily Allen |website=Excite UK |date=28 September 2009 |accessdate=20 December 2011 |archive-date=20 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420230111/http://music.excite.co.uk/dan-bull-pens-letter-to-lily-allen-N7892.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Tom |last=Ivan |url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=274479 |title=News: Want a new Elder Scrolls? So does this UK rapper |publisher=ComputerAndVideoGames.com |date=8 November 2010 |accessdate=20 December 2011 |archive-date=10 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101110031605/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=274479 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Gonz">{{cite web|url=https://gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2010/07/04/thecraftygamer-dan-bull-history.aspx|title=The[Crafty]Gamer: Dan Bull (Generation Gaming Rap)|last=Gonzalez|first=Annette|date=4 July 2010|publisher=Gameinformer|access-date=8 December 2010|archive-date=7 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807232659/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2010/07/04/thecraftygamer-dan-bull-history.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> Bull's actions have gained attention, specifically from the TalkTalk Group, who requested to team up with him against the Digital Economy Bill.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cable.co.uk/news/talktalk-gets-musical-with-digital-economy-bill-opposition-19669149/|title=TalkTalk gets musical with digital economy bill opposition|date=15 March 2010|accessdate=8 December 2010|archive-date=22 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722195947/http://www.cable.co.uk/news/talktalk-gets-musical-with-digital-economy-bill-opposition-19669149/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Bull's music was featured in the British press as part of attempts to save BBC Radio 6,<ref name="GuardianBBC6">{{cite news |last=Taylor |first=Matthew |date=3 March 2010 |title=BBC 6 Music: fans and stars join growing protest |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/mar/03/bbc-6-music-protest |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327222026/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/mar/03/bbc-6-music-protest |archive-date=27 March 2019 |accessdate=8 December 2010 |work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref name="Ridiculant">{{cite news |title=Dan Bull adds a musical touch to the Save 6Music & the Asian Network campaign |url=http://theridiculant.metro.co.uk/2010/03/dan-bull-adds-a-musical-touch-to-the-save-6music-the-asian-network-campaign.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724082141/http://theridiculant.metro.co.uk/2010/03/dan-bull-adds-a-musical-touch-to-the-save-6music-the-asian-network-campaign.html |archive-date=24 July 2018 |accessdate=8 December 2010 |work=Metro |location=London}}</ref> campaign against the Digital Economy Bill,<ref>{{cite news |last=Garlick |first=Hattie |date=26 November 2009 |title=Peter Mandelson and the Digital Economy Bill: the musical |url=http://timesonline.typepad.com/comment/2009/11/peter-mandelson-and-the-digital-economy-bill-the-musical.html |accessdate=8 December 2010 |work=The Times}}{{Dead link|date=July 2011}}</ref> and protest in favour of filesharing.<ref>{{cite web |last=Phillips |first=Tom |date=28 September 2009 |title=A letter to Lily |url=http://theridiculant.metro.co.uk/2009/09/a-letter-to-lily.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161106034828/http://theridiculant.metro.co.uk/2009/09/a-letter-to-lily.html |archive-date=6 November 2016 |accessdate=20 December 2011 |website=The Ridiculant}}</ref> He was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome,<ref>{{Citation |title=A PORTRAIT OF THE AUTIST {{!}} Dan Bull |date=23 April 2013 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lxi8ZU1sJ8 |access-date=2023-03-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318205409/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lxi8ZU1sJ8 |archive-date=18 March 2023 |url-status=live |language=en}}</ref> which is referenced in some of his songs, such as "A Portrait of the Autist".
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, he now uploads videos independently.<ref name="Dan Bull mini-self biography">{{cite web|last=Bull|first=Daniel|title=About Dan Bull|url=http://itsdanbull.com/about/|work=itsdanbull.com|publisher=Daniel Bull|accessdate=22 January 2024|archive-date=21 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170321004713/https://itsdanbull.com/about|url-status=live}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://itsdanbull.com/faq |title=FAQ |publisher=itsdanbull.com |accessdate=20 December 2011 |archive-date=30 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230232853/http://itsdanbull.com/faq/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
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".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bull |first1=Dan |url=http://itsdanbull.com/discography/bullmatic-2015/ |title=Bullmatic (2015) |publisher=Itsdanbull.com |accessdate=2016-09-25 |archive-date=30 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150330195141/http://itsdanbull.com/discography/bullmatic-2015/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Bull released the song "Robocopyright" in March 2019, which criticises Article 13 of the proposed Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market.<ref name="boing">{{Cite web|url=https://boingboing.net/2019/03/23/all-hail-robocopyright.html|title=Robocopyright: Dan Bull's rap anthem for the defeat of #Article13|website=Boing Boing|date=23 March 2019|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-23|archive-date=23 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323144437/https://boingboing.net/2019/03/23/all-hail-robocopyright.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Discography ==
=== Singles === {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ Dan Bull singles<ref name="OCC">{{cite web |title=DAN BULL songs and albums |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/23523/dan-bull/ |website=Official Charts Company |access-date=26 July 2025}}</ref> |- ! Title !! Artist !! Year !! Peak <br>UK R&B !! Peak <br>UK Ind. |- | "Generation of Gaming"<ref name="Gonz"/> || Dan Bull ||2010|| || |- | "Minecraft Epic Rap"<ref>{{cite web |last1=Helgeson |first1=Matt |title=Dan Bull Follows Up Skyrim Rap With New Minecraft-Inspired Jam |url=https://gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2011/11/17/dan-bull-follows-up-skyrim-rap-with-new-minecraft-inspired-jam.aspx |website=Game Informer |access-date=26 July 2025 |date=17 November 2011}}</ref> || Dan Bull ||2011|| || |- | "Sharing is Caring" || Dan Bull ||2012|| style="text-align:center;"|35 || style="text-align:center;"|9 |- | "Kicky Kicky Flow" || Dan Bull ft The Yogscast||2013|| || style="text-align:center;"|22 |- | "Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom" || Dan Bull ||2014|| || |- | "Robocopyright"<ref name="boing"/> || Dan Bull ||2019|| || |}
=== Studio albums === * ''Safe'' (Freshnut, 2009)<ref>{{cite web |title=Dan Bull - Safe CD [Freshnut] |url=https://www.britishhiphop.co.uk/reviews/album_reviews/dan-bull-safe-cd-freshnut.html |website=Britishhiphop.co.uk |date=18 January 2009}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category}} * {{Official website|http://itsdanbull.com/}} * {{Discogs artist}} * {{Allmusic}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bull, Dan}} Category:1986 births Category:People with Asperger syndrome Category:English male rappers Category:21st-century British male rappers Category:Living people Category:Musicians from Worcestershire Category:Nerdcore artists Category:People from Bromsgrove Category:British political music artists Category:21st-century British rappers Category:21st-century English male musicians Category:English autistic people Category:Autistic musicians Category:English YouTubers Category:Mass media people from Worcestershire