Alpharad

Not to be confused with Alphard.
Alpharad
Rabon in 2020
Personal information
Born
Jacob Rabon IV

(1995-12-19) December 19, 1995 (age 28)
Norman, Oklahoma, U.S.
Occupations
YouTube information
Channel
Years active2014–present
Genres
Subscribers3.41 million[1]
Total views1.75 billion[1]
Associated acts
100,000 subscribers2015
1,000,000 subscribers2018
Last updated: January 23, 2024

Jacob Rabon IV (born December 19, 1995), better known by his[a] online name Alpharad, is an American YouTuber, Twitch streamer, Esports personality, and musician. He is known for his gaming videos, especially on the Super Smash Bros. series along with his participation in the fighting game community as an announcer/commentator. He is also known for his "Nuzlocke" content, a variation on the game Pokémon to make it more difficult. Currently, he focuses on creating variety content, commonly with his friends.

Early life

Rabon was born on December 19, 1995, in Norman, Oklahoma. He gained an interest in filmmaking around the fifth grade, uploading comedic videos for his friends, one of his first videos being Major O's.[3] Later, he would take video editing and cinematography classes in high school.[4] His original goal was to be an editor of some kind, but pursued being a creator once his channel had begun to take off, dropping out of his community college to do so.[5] Rabon has also admitted that him not becoming an editor was not because of lack of creative freedom, which is a reason he often uses.[5]

Career

YouTube

Alpharad

An audio extract of Alpharad's YouTube video 'RIDLEY CONFIRMED?!'

Rabon created his main YouTube channel on January 13, 2014. Since its creation, he has made various gaming videos on his channel, Alpharad, including the Super Smash Bros. series, Pokémon, Splatoon, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Among Us, as well as other Nintendo titles.[6][7][8] He has also dabbled in speedrunning, specifically in a video of him playing through a Super Mario 64 first-person shooter fan game, as well as being a Super Mario Odyssey speedrunner.[9]

Other videos of his include video game related challenges and streams.[10][8] In 2021, Rabon collaborated with YouTuber Jaiden Animations on a charity stream for Red Nose Day which involved removing Pokémon from their team after reaching various donation incentives.[10] In 2022, he played Pokémon Go in the Warner Grand theater located in Los Angeles during a Halloween event.[11] Following a series of Nuzlocke challenges as provoked by his friend, fellow YouTuber, and self-proclaimed rival[12] Pokémon Challenges, on April 10, 2023, YouTube Gaming officially dubbed him the "Nuzlocke King".[13]

While a majority of his channel has gaming content, Rabon's channel also includes recounts or videos of fun challenges or experiences he has had, such as him talking about his experiences at Universal Studios, Japan,[14] or an edited video of an Awards Show he hosted for his friends.[15]

In 2020, Rabon signed with the Creative Artists Agency.[16] Rabon's main YouTube channel has reached over 3 million subscribers as of April 2023. [citation needed]

Alpharad Platinum

In 2015, Rabon created his secondary YouTube channel, Alpharad Plus,[17] in which he created generally unedited gaming videos with JoSniffy, which on September 23, 2020, was rebranded to Alpharad Deluxe.[18] At the beginning of 2023, this was once again rebranded to Alpharad Gold,[19] which had the goal of having a video posted everyday of 2023, each featuring a different video game, which he accomplished. After a nine month hiatus from January 1, 2024, the channel has since been rebranded Alpharad Platinum, and posting has resumed as of October 2, 2024.[20]

Alpharad Replay

On February 6, 2016, Rabon created a tertiary YouTube channel called "Alpharad Replay,"[21] which posts archives of his past YouTube and current Twitch streams.

Friends Without Benefits

On June 24, 2016, Rabon co-founded the collaborative YouTube channel Friends Without Benefits.[22] On December 23, 2018, Rabon announced he was leaving the group to focus on his solo projects.

Alpharad Live

On September 21, 2020, Rabon created a fourth YouTube channel, Not Alpharad,[23] which posted extremely short videos as well as clips of him or his experiences. Due to clips being replaced by YouTube Shorts which would just be posted onto his main channel, he rebranded it to Alpharad Live,[24] which currently posts highlights of his Twitch streams.

WILD/CARD

In 2023, Rabon, alongside Jaiden Animations, created a fourth channel, WILD/CARD, with the purpose of introducing their large collective audience to several of the smaller content creators the two of them considered friends. This collaboration began with Sunflowersmith,[25] Weegee Plays,[26] gsmVoiD,[27] Giwi,[28] Fyrus,[29] Captain Kidd,[30][31] and has since additionally included Vulpixie since October 2024[32].

Twitch

On the 19th of November, 2014, Rabon created his current Twitch channel, which was originally named "AlpharadTV", but has since been renamed to just, "Alpharad".[33] Many of Rabon's current YouTube videos were first streamed on Twitch, and edited and scripted into a video.

Esports

Rabon has been involved in esports as a tournament organizer and affiliate with other prominent esports personalities. In January 2020, he participated in a Pokémon VGC tournament hosted by Wolfe Glick with fellow competitive Super Smash Bros. players Ludwig Ahgren, ESAM, and Mew2King amongst other content creators.[34]

Two months later, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rabon co-hosted five online tournaments for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate called the "Quarantine Series" with fellow YouTuber Cr1TiKaL,[35] which consisted of two events, Minors and Majors, offering $5,000 and $10,000 in prizes, respectively.[36] The major invitationals featured top Super Smash Bros. players such as MkLeo, Samsora, Nairo and Marss,[36] and was streamed on both Cr1TiKaL's Twitch channel and Rabon's YouTube channel.[35]

In 2018, Rabon purchased a monthly stake for the esports organization, Panda Global, becoming their content director and a minority shareholder.[37][38] He had previously expressed his desire to hold more weight in the organization.[4]

In 2021, Rabon hosted another tournament in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, dubbed a "Portal Smash" tournament, that involved competitive players fighting on recreated stages with added obstacles and hazards.[39] Later in October, Rabon hosted a Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl charity tournament with Panda Global member Coney for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The tournament featured content creators such as Cr1TiKaL, Ludwig Ahgren, Jaiden Animations and Trihex, and ultimately raised over $100,000.[40][41]

Other ventures

Music

Rabon is also a musician, and he formed a band named Ace of Hearts.[7][42][43] Their first single was "Fool for You", which was released on April 1, 2020. The band's first EP, Monophobia, was released on June 5, 2020.[7] This was then followed by another single, "Silver Lining", which was released nearly a month later on July 1, 2020. The band's second EP, Scorpion Queen, was released on December 13, 2020.[42] The band's single "Lights Off" was released on March 31, 2021. Ace of Hearts' most recent single, "Deadbeat Boulevard", released on November 11, 2021. Their newest album, "Frozen in Time", was released on December 10, 2021.[44]

Monophobia
No.TitleLength
1."Fool for You"3:09
2."Manic Daydream"2:36
3."Lighter Than Air"5:35
4."Monophobia"3:26
Total length:14:47
Scorpion Queen
No.TitleLength
1."Scorpion Queen"5:50
2."Your Name"5:20
3."All the Rain"4:17
Total length:15:27
Frozen in Time
No.TitleLength
1."Lights Off"3:12
2."Deep Space"2:46
3."Find Me in Your Dreams"4:35
4."Silver Lining"4:30
5."Monophobia II"3:56
6."Your Name"5:21
7."Queen of Everything"3:41
8."Deadbeat Boulevard"3:38
9."Waiting for Your Call"4:34
10."A Life Frozen in Time"7:24
Total length:43:41

Theatre

Copypasta Theatre

On June 27, 2021, Rabon announced a one-time pop-up show to be held the very same day, named the Copypasta Theatre. He and thirteen other creators dramatically read copypastas to a live audience at the Black Box theatre in Los Angeles. Stage guests included Daniel Thrasher, Adriana Figueroa, Drumsy, Mari Norwood, Jules Conroy, Phil Visu, Cristina Vee Valenzuela, Ross O'Donovan, Dan Fulling, cjya,[45] Johnny Rico (who impersonated Bruno Mars), and Rabon's project manager Deanna Gowland. The viral video of the performance involved a segment where several of gaming streamer Ninja's Twitter posts were read aloud; Ninja later shared the video on his Twitter page.[46][47]

Romeo and Juliet

On September 12, 2021, Rabon announced a rendition of the play Romeo and Juliet, which was held on the same day.[48] He performed with thirteen other creators, including Jaiden Animations, cjya, Adrisaurus, and many more. In this performance, the actors had no rehearsals and instead performed on cue-cards which outlined the general actions of the characters in each scene.[49]

Cup-Pong

On April 13, 2022, Rabon announced a Cup-Pong tournament in order to raise money for Extra Life, to be held on July 1 of that year.[citation needed] This involved thirty-two others which were split into sixteen teams, with thirty-one being creators (including Ovilee May,[50] Altrive,[51] Ted Nivison[52]), plus Alpharad's father, under the nickname "Alphadad". This event ended up raising $30,253.19 USD for the charity, with Ted Nivison and Ethan Nestor[53] being the winners.[54]

Personal life

During an episode of Rabon and Coney's podcast, How Did We Get Here?, Rabon opened up about his experience being diagnosed with ADHD. In the same podcast, he also revealed that he is somewhere in the asexual and aromantic spectrum.[55] Rabon has also confirmed he is bisexual.[56]

Rabon and fellow YouTuber Jaiden Dittfach purchased a house together in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles in 2022.[citation needed] At the end of February 2024, Rabon and Dittfach moved to a different home together.[citation needed]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Rabon uses he/him and they/them pronouns, as indicated on his Instagram page.[2] This article uses he/him pronouns for consistency.

References

  1. ^ a b "About Alpharad". YouTube.
  2. ^ "jacob alpharad 🌙 [Alpharad]". Retrieved February 27, 2024 – via Instagram.
  3. ^ Rabon, Jacob (December 22, 2008). Major O's (video). JRabonProductions. Archived from the original on July 1, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021 – via YouTube.
  4. ^ a b Groot, Justin (October 11, 2016). "How to Play Anything: An Interview with Alpharad". The Meta. Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  5. ^ a b Alpharad, Jacob (January 17, 2024). "It's been a long 10 years making videos..." YouTube. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  6. ^ Bonnet, Siandhara (February 4, 2019). "Oklahoma City band collaborates with former OU student, YouTuber". OUDaily. Archived from the original on February 6, 2019. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  7. ^ a b c Weiss, Geoff (September 1, 2020). "CAA Signs Prominent Gamers Alpharad And The Completionist (Exclusive)". Tubefilter. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  8. ^ a b Hernandez, Patricia (June 12, 2015). "Guy Spends Entire Splatoon Match Drawing Dicks, Still Wins". Kotaku. Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  9. ^ Hernandez, Patricia (March 1, 2021). "The latest Super Mario 64 speedrun trend gives Mario a gun". Polygon. Archived from the original on March 1, 2021. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  10. ^ a b Parker, Lewis (January 19, 2022). "8 Most Bizarre Pokemon Challenges". TheGamer. Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  11. ^ Morrow, Emily (October 27, 2022). "Streamer Alpharad goes IRL ghost-hunting to celebrate Pokémon Go's Halloween event". Dot Esports. GAMURS Group. Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  12. ^ Rabon, Jacob (October 16, 2023). "I Attempted a 2 Person Nuzlocke with my Rival" (video). Alpharad. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024 – via YouTube.
  13. ^ Rabon, Jacob [@alpharad] (April 10, 2023). "jacob alpharad 🌙✨" (Tweet). Retrieved January 18, 2024 – via Twitter.
  14. ^ Alpharad, Jacob (January 3, 2024). "I visited Japan's Best ANIME Theme Park". YouTube. Archived from the original on January 23, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  15. ^ Alpharad, Jacob (April 28, 2023). "I Hosted an Awards Show for Friends who don't deserve any". YouTube. Archived from the original on January 23, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  16. ^ "CAA Signs Prominent Gamers Alpharad And The Completionist (Exclusive)". Tubefilter. September 1, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  17. ^ "Alpharad Gold - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on January 22, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  18. ^ Alpharad, Jacob (September 22, 2020). "Alpharad Plus is Ending". YouTube. Archived from the original on October 12, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  19. ^ Alpharad, Jacob (January 1, 2023). "Alpharad Deluxe is Ending". YouTube. Archived from the original on January 1, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  20. ^ Alpharad Platinum (October 1, 2024). We're Back. Retrieved October 4, 2024 – via YouTube.
  21. ^ "Alpharad Replay - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on January 23, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  22. ^ "Friends Without Benefits - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on December 16, 2023. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  23. ^ "Not Alpharad - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on January 7, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  24. ^ Alpharad, Jacob (February 27, 2024). "Not Alpharad (Face Reveal)". YouTube. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  25. ^ "sunflowersmith - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on January 13, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  26. ^ "Weegee Plays - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on January 13, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  27. ^ "gsmVoiD - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  28. ^ "Giwi - YouTube". YouTube. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  29. ^ "Fyrus - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on January 13, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  30. ^ "Captain Kidd - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on January 13, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  31. ^ Alpharad and Jaiden play Prop Hunt, December 2023, archived from the original on January 1, 2024, retrieved January 22, 2024
  32. ^ "We Finally played Prop Hunt again, but…". YouTube. October 1, 2024. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  33. ^ "alpharad - Twitch". Archived from the original on January 21, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024 – via www.twitch.tv.
  34. ^ Bartlett, Eric (January 14, 2020). "Eight Professional Super Smash Bros. Players and Personalities Give Pokemon VGC a Try in Wolfe Glick's Invitational Tournament". The Game Haus. Archived from the original on November 28, 2020. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  35. ^ a b Michael, Cale (March 24, 2020). "Alpharad, Cr1TiKaL launch Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Quarantine Series". Dot Esports. GAMURS Group. Archived from the original on March 25, 2020. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  36. ^ a b Tate, Dylan (March 25, 2020). "Quarantine Series to feature online Smash Bros. tournaments". Upcomer. Archived from the original on April 23, 2021. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  37. ^ Observer, The Esports (June 28, 2018). "Panda Global Adds YouTuber Alpharad as First Equity Partner". The Esports Observer. Archived from the original on September 18, 2018. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  38. ^ Khan, Imad (January 26, 2019). "Panda Global, the Esports Team That's Saying No to VC's". The Esports Observer. Archived from the original on August 12, 2020. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  39. ^ Price, Renata (September 8, 2021). "Smash Bros.' Most Ridiculous Tournament Is Glorious Chaos". Kotaku. Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  40. ^ Michael, Cale (September 28, 2021). "Panda to host Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl charity event featuring Ludwig, Cr1TiKaL, and more". Dot Esports. GAMURS Group. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  41. ^ Michael, Cale (October 6, 2021). "ConnorEatsPants wins Panda All-Star Nickvitational, event raises $100,000 for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation". Dot Esports. GAMURS Group. Archived from the original on October 8, 2021. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  42. ^ a b Rabon, Jacob (February 2, 2020). "Alpharad in 2020 ❤️". TwitLonger. Archived from the original on March 20, 2020. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  43. ^ Rabon, Jacob [@Alpharad] (February 2, 2020). "tl;dr - Making less content in 2020 (going from 5-7 weekly uploads to like 2-3) - Will probably never ever stop making content, I love it too much - Focusing on music / mystery project - My band (Ace of Hearts) is releasing an album (Scorpion Queen) in May of 2020 - #LTP" (Tweet). Retrieved August 16, 2021 – via Twitter.
  44. ^ Sloman, Christine (December 11, 2021). "Ace of Hearts gets vulnerable on debut album 'Frozen in Time'". Melodic Magazine. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  45. ^ "cjya - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on December 22, 2023. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  46. ^ McGuire, Keegan (July 15, 2021). "Ninja's Tweets Have Never Seemed So Dramatic". SVG. Archived from the original on July 20, 2021. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  47. ^ Rabon, Jacob (July 12, 2021). "Copypasta Theatre" (video). Alpharad. Archived from the original on July 20, 2021. Retrieved July 20, 2021 – via YouTube.
  48. ^ Alpharad, Jacob (September 13, 2021). "🚨 YOU KNOW THE DRILL 🚨". Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  49. ^ Alpharad, Jacob (October 27, 2021). "Romeo and Juliet, but without any rehearsals". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 24, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  50. ^ "Ovilee May - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on April 1, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  51. ^ "Altrive - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on November 28, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  52. ^ "Ted Nivison - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on July 24, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  53. ^ "Ethan Nestor - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on January 22, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  54. ^ Alpharad, Jacob (July 13, 2022). "$25,000 Cup Pong Tournament". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 24, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  55. ^ Rabon, Jacob (December 2021). The Sacred Geometry of McDonald's Nuggets (podcast). How Did We Get Here?. Archived from the original on May 23, 2022. Retrieved May 23, 2022 – via Spotify.
  56. ^ Rabon, Jacob (January 16, 2024). It's been a long 10 years making videos... (video). Alpharad. Retrieved January 18, 2024 – via YouTube.
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