EpicLLOYD
{{short description|American musician, rapper and YouTuber (born 1977)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Lloyd Ahlquist
| birth_name = Lloyd Leonard Ahlquist
| alias = EpicLLOYD
| image = EpicLLOYD (cropped).jpg
| caption = Ahlquist in 2016
| size =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1977|1|18}}
| birth_place = Staten Island, New York City, U.S.
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- Internet personality
- comedian
- singer
- rapper
- songwriter
- producer
}}
| genre = {{hlist|Comedy hip hop|nerdcore}}
| origin =
| years_active = 1999–present
| spouse = {{marriage|Josie Hutchinson|2009}}
| website = {{URL|erbofhistory.com}}
}}
Lloyd Leonard Ahlquist (born January 18, 1977), better known by his online alias EpicLLOYD, is an American internet personality and rapper best known for the YouTube video series Epic Rap Battles of History,{{cite web|url=http://ussrocknroll.com/?p=7478|title=COACH LLOYD ALQHUIST DOING IT WELL...|publisher=USS Rock N Roll|date=July 30, 2012|accessdate=October 4, 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130205080922/http://ussrocknroll.com/?p=7478|archivedate=February 5, 2013}} along with Peter "Nice Peter" Shukoff.{{cite web|author=Trevor Gould|url=http://northernarizonanews.com/blog/2012/01/05/ready-to-be-published-qa-with-epic-rap-battles-of-history-co-creator-epic-lloyd/|title=Q&A with Epic Rap Battles of History co-creator Epic Lloyd|publisher=Northern Arizona News|date=January 5, 2012|accessdate=May 24, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711113240/http://northernarizonanews.com/blog/2012/01/05/ready-to-be-published-qa-with-epic-rap-battles-of-history-co-creator-epic-lloyd/|archive-date=July 11, 2012|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.starpulse.com/news/Wiredset/2012/11/27/epic_rap_battles_of_history_sherlock_v|title=Epic Rap Battles of History: Sherlock vs. Batman|date=November 27, 2012|website=|publisher=Starpulse|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201225321/http://www.starpulse.com/news/Wiredset/2012/11/27/epic_rap_battles_of_history_sherlock_v|archive-date=February 1, 2014|accessdate=November 30, 2012}} Ahlquist has performed as an MC, actor, improviser and writer.{{cite web|url=http://epicrapbattlesofhistory.com/about/|title=About Epic Rap Battles|publisher=Epic Rap Battles of History|accessdate=May 24, 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510213056/http://epicrapbattlesofhistory.com/about/|archivedate=May 10, 2012}} In addition to the rap battles, Ahlquist, along with Shukoff, appeared in a cameo in The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water.
Comedy and theater
Ahlquist was formerly the general manager and artistic director of M.I.'s Westside Comedy Theater.{{cite web|url=http://westsidecomedy.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68:lloyd-ahlquist&catid=36&Itemid=53|title=Ahlquist, Lloyd|publisher=Westside Comedy|accessdate=May 24, 2012}} Ahlquist also studied at UMass Amherst and later trained in Chicago (where he met his frequent collaborator Peter Shukoff){{cite web | url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/science-technology/meet-the-two-youtubers-behind-epic-rap-battles-of-history/317706 | title=Meet the Two YouTubers Behind Epic Rap Battles of History, Which Has Racked up More Than 2.9 Billion Views | date=August 2018 }} at The Second City, Improv Olympic and Annoyance Theatre. Ahlquist was one of the founding members of Mission IMPROVable, and continues to perform with the group weekly in their show "The Grind"{{cite web|url=http://westsidecomedy.com/show.cfm?id=165429/|title=The Grind}} {{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} while serving on the Board of Directors of M.i. Productions.{{cite web|url=http://www.missionimprovable.com/cast/past/lloyd-ahlquist/|title=LLoyd Ahlquist|publisher=Mission Improvable|accessdate=May 24, 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124012007/http://www.missionimprovable.com/cast/past/lloyd-ahlquist/|archivedate=January 24, 2012}} He founded the comedy troupe after dropping out of the University of Massachusetts with five classmates.{{cite magazine|last=Hart|first=Hugh|url=http://www.fastcocreate.com/3032137/make-every-second-count-8-rules-for-youtube-success-from-the-creators-of-epic-rap-battles|title=Make Every Second Count: 8 Rules for YouTube Success From the Creators of Epic Rap Battles|magazine=Fast Company|date=June 29, 2014|accessdate=July 16, 2014}}
In August 2014, Ahqluist hosted YouTube's first live-streamed improv comedy event, "Off the Top."{{cite magazine|last=Spangler|first=Todd|url=https://variety.com/2014/digital/news/youtube-to-stage-worldwide-live-improv-comedy-event-hosted-by-epic-rap-battles-lloyd-ahlquist-1201273240/|title=YouTube Worldwide Live Improv Comedy Event to Be Hosted by Epic Rap Battles' Lloyd Ahlquist|magazine=Variety|date=July 31, 2014|accessdate=October 7, 2014}} A trailer for "Epic Studios", a show starring Ahlquist, was released in 2015 and the first episodes were posted to his personal YouTube channel in April 2017.{{cite news|last1=Gutelle|first1=Sam|title='Epic Rap Battles' Star Lloyd Ahlquist Plans 'Epic Studios' Web Series|url=http://www.tubefilter.com/2015/03/09/epic-studios-lloyd-ahlquist-web-series-ithentic/|accessdate=January 29, 2018|work=Tubefilter|date=March 9, 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Gutelle|first1=Sam|title='Epic Rap Battles Of History' Co-Star Lloyd Ahlquist Premieres New Web Series 'Epic Studios'|url=http://www.tubefilter.com/2017/04/26/epic-studios-lloyd-ahlquist/|accessdate=January 29, 2018|work=Tubefilter|date=April 27, 2017}}
YouTube
=Solo channel=
Lloyd runs his own YouTube channel that launched on April 20, 2011. Ahlquist has a staple series on his own channel, titled "Dis Raps for Hire", which features Ahlquist taking a user-submitted comment asking Ahlquist to lyrically "destroy" or insult another person that is bullying or harassing the user.{{cite web|url=http://mimiclives.com/other-artists/epic-lloyd-will-destroy-you.html|title=Epic Lloyd will destroy you|publisher=Mimic Lives|date=May 11, 2012|accessdate=May 24, 2012|archive-date=February 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216114224/http://mimiclives.com/other-artists/epic-lloyd-will-destroy-you.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dontparty.co.za/2012/05/epic-lloyd-dis-raps-hire/|title=Don't Party|accessdate=May 24, 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120518153038/http://www.dontparty.co.za/2012/05/epic-lloyd-dis-raps-hire/|archivedate=May 18, 2012}} To date, 20 "Dis Raps for Hire" have been produced. Season 2 of "Dis Raps for Hire" started on March 11, 2013.
On July 17, 2012, Lloyd's channel hit 200,000 subscribers. As a "thank you" gesture, he produced a parody of the Cinnamon challenge.{{cite AV media |date=August 2, 2012 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqG0V3YyEsk |title=A Cinnamon Challenge Thank You |publisher=EpicLLOYD |via=YouTube |access-date=December 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417213926/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqG0V3YyEsk |archive-date=April 17, 2021 |url-status=live}} In 2016, Lloyd hit 400,000 subscribers. By 2021, he had 495,000 subscribers.
Starting in 2017, EpicLLOYD has also run the series Epic Studios, where he portrays a fictional version of himself as he struggles to keep the Canadian music studio he inherited from his father from being turned into condos.
=''Epic Rap Battles of History''=
{{Main|Epic Rap Battles of History}}
In 2010, Ahlquist partnered with singer and rapper Peter Shukoff to create Epic Rap Battles of History under Maker Studios{{cite web|url=http://www.reverbnation.com/epiclloyd|title=EpicLLOYD|publisher=ReverbNation|accessdate=May 24, 2012}} sometime after Ahlquist, Shukoff and Zach Sherwin (a guest in the rap battles), were playing Check OneTwo, a freestyle rap improv game where they took suggestions from the audience of famous people to battle rap off the top of their heads.{{cite magazine|author=Michael Humphrey|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelhumphrey/2011/10/26/epic-rap-battles-of-history-talking-brash-wit-with-a-youtube-hit/2/|title=Epic Rap Battles of History: Talking Brash Wit With A YouTube Hit|magazine=Forbes|date=October 26, 2011|accessdate=May 24, 2012}} Ahlquist has played several characters in the successful{{cite magazine|author=Angela Watercutter|url=https://www.wired.com/underwire/2012/02/master-chief-leonidas-epic-rap-battle/|title=Video: Master Chief Faces Off Against Leonidas in Epic Rap Battle|magazine=Wired|date=February 1, 2012|accessdate=May 24, 2012}} rap battles, and has specialized in playing villains such as Bill O'Reilly and Adolf Hitler.{{cite web|url=http://geekout.blogs.cnn.com/2011/12/22/vader-takes-on-hitler-in-historical-rap-battle/|title=Vader takes on 'Hitler' in historical rap battle|publisher=CNN Geek Out|date=December 22, 2011|accessdate=May 24, 2012|archive-date=January 31, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180131081228/http://geekout.blogs.cnn.com/2011/12/22/vader-takes-on-hitler-in-historical-rap-battle/|url-status=dead}} Epic Rap Battles of History received four wins at the 3rd Streamy Awards, with Ahlquist receiving one of the four awards.{{cite news|author=Bryce J. Renninger|url=http://www.indiewire.com/article/halo-burning-love-and-epic-rap-battles-lead-3rd-streamy-award-winners|title='Halo,' 'Burning Love,' and 'Epic Rap Battles' Lead 3rd Streamy Award Winners|work=IndieWire|date=February 20, 2013|accessdate=March 5, 2013}} By October 2014, the rap battles accumulated a total view count of over 1 billion, excluding the hundreds of millions of views earned by the season 1 episodes.{{cite web|url=http://www.tubefilter.com/2014/10/01/epic-rap-battles-of-history-season-four/|title='Epic Rap Battles of History' To Begin Weekly Battles On November 10th|last=Gutelle|first=Sam|date=October 1, 2014|website=|publisher=Tubefilter|archive-url=|archive-date=|accessdate=October 7, 2014}} As of early 2020, the Epic Rap Battle channel had over 3.4 billion views.{{cite web|url=https://socialblade.com/youtube/user/erb |title=ERB SocialBlade profile |accessdate=February 15, 2020}}
File:Epic Lloyd4.jpg, 2014]]
Personal life
Ahlquist grew up in Exeter, New Hampshire, and graduated from Exeter High School.{{Cite web|url=https://x.com/theepiclloyd/status/578858202474754050?s=46|title=x.com|website=X (formerly Twitter)}}{{Cite book |url=https://www.classmates.com/siteui/yearbooks/203471 |title=1995 Exeter Area High School Yearbook |publisher=Exeter High School |year=1995 |location=Exeter |pages=21 |language=en}} He married Josie Hutchinson, a student affairs educator, on 18 October 2009 in Malibu.{{Cite web |date=2009-08-02 |title=Hutchinson-Ahlquist |url=https://trib.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/hutchinson-ahlquist/article_38ccea0c-d7f6-592b-90f8-62f323537a84.html |access-date=2023-05-28 |website=Casper Star-Tribune |language=en}} They live in Los Angeles.{{cite web | url=https://styluspub.presswarehouse.com/browse/author/7baebb05-d26d-45f0-97ad-da5c6236ab93/Ahlquist-Josie | title=Josie Ahlquist }}{{cite tweet |author=EpicLLOYD |author-link=EpicLLOYD |user=TheEpicLLOYD |number=578858202474754050 |date=March 20, 2015 |title=@wilfroumy yep. Go blue Hawks. |language=en |access-date=December 25, 2022}}
Discography
=Albums=
- Dis Raps for Hire – Season 1 (2013)
- Here EP (2016)
- Dis Raps for Hire – Season 2 (2018)
- A Bad Name for Rappers (2019)
=Songs=
- Dis Raps For Hire – Charles
- Dis Raps For Hire – Southwest High School
- Dis Raps For Hire – Christian
- Dis Raps For Hire – Jennifer
- Dis Raps For Hire – Justin
- Dis Raps For Hire – James
- Dis Raps For Hire – William, Reshad, and Tyrance
- Dis Raps For Hire – Daniel
- Dis Raps For Hire – Joan
- Gift Raps For Hire – Momma Metcalf
- Dis Raps For Hire – Glasscock
- Dis Raps For Hire – Jason and Ramone
- Dis Raps For Hire – Steven, Lucas, Mark, and Nelson
- Dis Raps For Hire – EthanAlways
- Dis Raps For Hire – Diamond
- Dis Raps For Hire – Jerome
- Dis Raps For Hire – Katrina & Cheyenne
- Dis Raps For Hire – This Guy
- Dis Raps for Hire – Cory
- Gift Raps for Hire – Brandon
- The L-Verse
- Coming Up Short
- Pawn
- Ninja
- Mr. Nothing
- I Aint Got No Watch (I Aint Got No Bling)
- New Things
- Holding The Seams Together
- Scars
- Cheap Beer
- Space
- Pops Over the Falls
- Goodbye
Filmography
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable" | ||||
| | Year
!| Award Show !| Category !| Result !| Recipient(s) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="2"|2013 | rowspan="2"|3rd Streamy Awards | Best Writing: Comedy | {{nom}} | Peter Shukoff, Lloyd Ahlquist |
| Best Original Song | {{won}} | Peter Shukoff, Lloyd Ahlquist (Steve Jobs vs. Bill Gates) |
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Commons category-inline|EpicLLOYD}}
- {{IMDb name|4535835}}
{{Portal bar|Biography|Internet|Music}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ahlquist, Lloyd}}
Category:American comedy rappers
Category:American male comedians
Category:American music YouTubers
Category:Comedians from New Hampshire
Category:Epic Rap Battles of History
Category:YouTube channels launched in 2011