Ronald Jenkees; Hello YouTubes, have you heard my SICK beats?

Boing Boing reader HallieDeCatherine says,

Ronald Jenkees is a video blogger who started a YouTube channel over a year ago.
He is a musical genius, coming correct with some bad-ass keyboarding skills on his Korg Triton and producing sick hip-hop beats on FL Studio. He has almost 6000 YouTube subscribers.
Funny thing is..... you can't really figure this guy out! He's a super geek who squints constantly and wears coke bottle glasses. He has a really soft voice and chuckles at himself as he spouts off self-defeating, lame-o, uber-geek comments.
Apparently he just released a new CD, but I have not listened.

Boing Boing editor/partner and tech culture journalist Xeni Jardin hosts and produces Boing Boing's in-flight TV channel on Virgin America airlines (#10 on the dial), and writes about living with breast cancer. Diagnosed in 2011. @xeni on Twitter. email: xeni@boingboing.net.

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McGrude

Wow! Thank you Xeni. I learned about Ronald from here, went to his YouTube channel and watched a few things. After 20 minutes I ordered 2 CDs. After doing so I sent Ronald an email. He replied, personally, within 20 minutes thanking me for the support. This is the music distribution model of the future — connecting directly with the fans without the corporate B.S. His is the first (physical) CD I’ve bought in over 5 years (physical that is. I’ve bought tune via iTunes in that time).
Anonymous

i wouldn’t say he’s a genius, but he’s not bad at all.
Kirth Gerson

Character or not, I thought his tracks were very enjoyable, and I got quite a chuckle form his videos. A *lot* better than any leaked Britney by a long shot…
Anonymous

This guy is off the chain!
Anonymous

His CD is pretty sweet.
He’s got more talent than looks that’s for sure.
nitsogar

I’ve got his CD it pretty sweet. Defiantly worth it.
He’s got way more talent than looks, that’s for sure.
Anonymous

I just LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE him :)
Great music and personality!!!!

Greetings from ESTONIA, Europe :)

Love!
Anonymous

#18 hinted at it, but it should be said that Ronald Jenkees wrote and performs the theme song for the Sports Guy’s podcast. Jenkees has a pretty sweet version of the Rocky theme which Simmons loves.
JC

This guy rules the road. Love his squinty eyes.
Kevitivity

I’ve been checking out this dudes licks for a while now – he’s definetly a natural musician who’s got more that just technical (musically) prowess. It’s one thing to play Pachelbel’s Canon on an electric guitar – it’s quite another to lay down some nice original riffs (with soul) like Ronald does…

This beatboxing Flutist is great too…
http://www.youtube.com/user/freedomworksfilms
Anonymous

The character isn’t a bad way to go for him. Lacking showbiz looks even out of character (like so many people) would probably lock him into semi-anonymous backing band status and/or obscurity.

The character basically lets him use his natural looks as an advantage by building a caricature on them and cranking it to 11. He gets more front-man exposure that way, and the music stands out even more in contrast to his nebbishy character. Plus, humor is always good.
Anonymous

He is ok, kinda blending some jazz improvisations with a hip-hop beat. Maybe if he keeps at it his improvisational skills will improve
Darran Edmundson

His act is very similar to the Bubbles character from Canada’s “Trailer Park Boys” TV series. You can see and hear Bubbles in the trailer for the movie, http://www.trailerparkboys.com/. (Disclaimer: no affiliation with TPB, just a Canadian fan, eh.)
Anonymous

Asperger’s?
raybot

hh tht fct th bngbng cnt vn tll f ts jk r nt… s jk! GG BB
Anonymous

Here’s another one he did as BC that I liked.
http://www.archive.org/details/BigCheezCoolCollegeKid
Honad

Pretty much awesome…
Anonymous

I hope that this doesn’t spoil it for people, but this is a character! For me, it just makes it all the better really – knowing that someone can create such a genuine, lovable character like that.

The guy’s name is Benjamin Feltes, and he went to Murray State. He originally had an alt named “Big Cheez” but after disappearing has come back with a vengance as “Ronald Jenkees”. Got to say, YouTube is the perfect venue for ol’ Ronald.

In case people think this is just a rumor, you can independently confirm this in the following way:

1) Go to BigCheez’s site. Find picture of him on poster here:

http://www.madbeats.com/archives/2005/12/07/video-preview/

2) Go to Ronald’s site. Find picture of him on CD cover here:

http://ronaldjenkees.com/music-store/

3) See that pictures are same.

4) Go to http://www.dnsstuff.com, do a WHOIS for ‘madbeats.com’ (BigCheez’s website), see registrant – Benjamin Feltes. (Ronald’s domain info is hidden, so no good there).

5) Scroll halfway down on this page:

http://htmlgear.tripod.com/guest/control.guest?u=LSDCaltan&a=view&i=1003&r=http://www.google.com/search%3fhl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%253Aen-US%253Aofficial&hs=KxK&q=%2522benjamin+feltes%2522+cheez&btnG=Search

See post by Benjamin Feltes a.k.a. BigCheez. Murray State e-mail address.

6) Now that we’re satisfied they’re one and the same, read BigCheez’s old blog posts and understand that it is a character, as mentioned in this post:

http://www.madbeats.com/archives/2006/05/11/money-mike/

Q.E.D.
Anonymous

So is he a savant or just playing one?
Anonymous

Regarding creation of a Wiki article- I just went ahead and did it. Apparently it had been started before and then removed.

If you were compelled to find more information about this artist, please contribute to the article located at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Jenkees
Anonymous

Start the countdown clock until there is a Ronald Jenkees/Tay Zonday remix.
Jesse Raub

It might be an act. He seems well aware of his saying things like “Timbaland is my boy” sounds ridiculous coming from him. I mean, he sure is a nerd, but I think he’s playing it up as an act. It works.
Dr.Arthur

This bloke used to release all his songs for free under the handle “Big Cheez.” I’ve had almost every song from back then.
doggo

Whatever he is, he’s an Internet Superstarâ„¢. And he rocks.
dr_leviathan

He reminds me a little bit of Torley Wong who also makes little video performances and piano tutorials for youtube and has a wide collection of music available online.

My favorite of his piano tutorials is this one on ostinatos:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=c-dqdM_xUpA
Nat King Coleslaw

Anonymous internet punter provides predictably cynical reaction. People sigh.
ernie

Totally an act, and a clever one that works!
Fuzzy

@ 8 & 9 — no, just goofy. But it’s a question that’s come up often enough that he’s addressed it on his site.
Xeni Jardin

Nooooooo say it isn’t so! Well, even if this isn’t really who he is, so to speak — gotta give the guy props for pronouncing it “TIM-BER-LAND.” That alone is jeanyus!
Anonymous

reminds me of a grown up, more skilled, better styled local joke rapper from Murray, KY named the Big Cheez in appearance. I’m having a hard time finding a picture but the song 56k is hillarious.

http://www.madbeats.com/archives/2006/06/13/digg-big-cheez/
Anonymous

When talking about Ronald Jenkees you have to mention fellow blogger Bill “The Sports Guy” Simmons. You have to, it’s the law.
nitsogar

Ronald Jenkees-Big Cheez-Benjamin Feltes
Who cares what ya call him… The guy is entertaining.

Lot’s of people have later egos his is just a lot funnier than yours.
jburris

oh wow. i work with this guy in murray, ky.
he used to rap as big cheez.
http://www.madbeats.com/archives/2006/06/13/digg-big-cheez/
56k is an amazing early song of his.
this is totally an act he’s done for years.
he used to make videos in this character selling fake christian retirement investments.
i wont reveal his real name till i ask him if he cares.
he’s super talented out of character too.
Anonymous

Here is the New Ronald Jenkees Music Video “Loui”

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcMIf70fAHU)

Enjoy
nitsogar

Alter egos*
Anonymous

http://web.archive.org/web/20070609033835/www.madbeats.com/music
Ronald jenkees doesnt make the music
Anonymous

This description of this video is awful. “Lame-o”???
If you actually watch his videos, Ronald is full of really great insights on life, music making, and the love of the beat..the free-verse jam. I have coorisponded with Ronald, he is a real person with a big heart. He’s not “self defeating” he is modest. Something you dont see much anymore. That and he has actual tanet, another thing missing from most pop music. I would’nt call Jenkee’s original. He’s not dirivitve, he brings something new with his JAM style. Its a fresh new thing, an update for those retro things we all love so much.

JPB
Anonymous

I found big cheez picture http://web.archive.org/web/20060712122015/www.madbeats.com/contact/
There
Anonymous

Guy comes up with funny character to get attention. Guy gets attention.
macisaguy

it’s refreshing to see someone so genuinely appreciative of the support form web viewers and cd buyers. even if it’s an act, i can’t help but believe that he truly does feel that way.

ronald jenkees is the new weird al. someone needs to start a wikipedia article on this kid.
Nat King Coleslaw

I just bought the album. A huge groan preceded the opening of my wallet and now there are moths all over the place.

This one blew me away: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3f7vs7it3w
Anonymous

Ronald Jenkees is a Boss. No doubt. I have his 2 cd’s. NO ONE on earth can beat him in music in any way. Period.