REZA ARAP OKTOVIAN - DRAW MY LIFE INDONESIA

Summary

Reza Arap, born in Jakarta on October 15, 1987, faced immense challenges from a young age, including being born prematurely and growing up without his father. Despite health struggles and financial difficulties, he became a successful YouTuber, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Known for his gaming content and creative projects, Reza built a large following before stepping away from YouTube to focus on business ventures, including a clothing line, music group, and esports. His journey is a testament to resilience, hard work, and helping others, inspiring millions with his story of overcoming adversity and achieving success.

Takeaways

• 😀 Reza Arap, born Muhammad Reza Oktovian on October 15, 1987, in Jakarta, faced numerous struggles from an early age, including being born prematurely and having a weak heart.
• 😀 Reza survived a near-death experience at the age of 9 when his heart condition worsened, leading to him being clinically dead for 12 hours before he revived.
• 😀 Raised by his mother after his parents separated, Reza's childhood was marked by hardships, but his mother supported him, especially by encouraging his passion for gaming.
• 😀 Despite his health issues, Reza excelled academically and was a top student, often receiving gaming consoles from his mother to support his hobby.
• 😀 Reza worked various jobs in Jakarta, including as a cashier at an internet cafe and even as a motorcycle taxi driver, to support himself financially.
• 😀 He started his YouTube channel *rapyourbae* in 2011, where he posted gaming content, inspired by YouTuber *view dipay*, and eventually grew his subscriber base significantly.
• 😀 Reza’s channel gained over 400,000 subscribers by 2014 and he earned a spot in YouTube Rewind Indonesia, cementing his fame in the YouTube community.
• 😀 In 2018, Reza decided to step away from his YouTube career despite having over 2 million subscribers and substantial earnings, and he donated his channel to a non-profit organization supporting children with cancer.
• 😀 After leaving YouTube, Reza launched a new channel *yb* in 2018, which gained more than 1.2 million subscribers.
• 😀 Apart from YouTube, Reza expanded into music in 2017, joining an IDM and electronic dance music group called Wedjes, and they performed internationally, including in Bangkok, Thailand.
• 😀 Reza also launched a clothing brand, *Your Baby Apparel*, and founded the *Time Sport* esports team, showcasing his entrepreneurial spirit beyond the digital space.

Q & A

What is Reza Arap's real name, and why did he choose to remove it?

Reza Arap's real name is Muhammad Reza Oktovian. He chose to remove the name 'Muhammad' in 2019 because he felt it was too sacred for him and not representative of his personality, especially considering his imperfections and his body covered in tattoos.

What challenges did Reza Arap face as a child?

Reza Arap faced numerous challenges in his childhood, including being born prematurely with a weight of only 0.8 kg. He also grew up without his father, as his parents separated shortly after his birth, and was raised solely by his mother.

How did Reza Arap's health condition affect his childhood?

Reza Arap suffered from a weak heart and had limited physical activity as a child. He spent most of his time indoors, playing video games, and his mother supported him by purchasing various gaming consoles for him. Despite these challenges, he performed well in school.

What happened when Reza Arap experienced a health crisis at the age of nine?

At the age of nine, Reza Arap fell seriously ill, and his condition worsened, with symptoms such as high fever, chills, and weakness. He was diagnosed with heart problems, a ruptured stomach, low blood pressure, and dengue fever. He was declared dead after 12 hours, but miraculously came back to life when his mother heard him speaking and saw him open his eyes.

What was Reza Arap's experience during his brief 'death'?

During his 'death,' Reza Arap described being in a bright desert that suddenly turned dark before he was revived. He described feeling a sense of being in a different realm, which he later reflected on after coming back to life.

Why did Reza Arap choose to stay in Jakarta instead of moving to the village with his mother?

Despite financial struggles, Reza Arap chose to stay in Jakarta rather than move to the village with his mother. He wanted to pursue a life on his own, working various jobs to survive, including as a cashier at an internet cafe, selling DVDs, and working as a motorcycle taxi driver.

What led to Reza Arap's initial rise to fame on YouTube?

Reza Arap initially gained fame on YouTube by creating a channel called 'rapyourbae' in 2011, where he uploaded gaming content inspired by YouTuber PewDiePie. He continued to work various jobs while pursuing his passion for gaming and eventually grew his channel to over 1 million subscribers.

What significant decision did Reza Arap make in 2018 regarding his YouTube career?

In September 2018, Reza Arap made the surprising decision to step away from his YouTube career despite having over 2 million subscribers. He donated his channel 'rapyourbae' to a non-profit organization called Rumah Anyo, which supports children with cancer.

What other ventures did Reza Arap pursue after leaving YouTube?

After leaving YouTube, Reza Arap focused on entrepreneurship. He became a successful businessman, co-founded a music group called Wedjes, launched a clothing brand called Your Baby Apparel, and even founded a gaming team named Time Sport. He also ventured into café ownership with Triangle Café in Malang.

How did Reza Arap continue his involvement with the gaming community after leaving YouTube?

Reza Arap continued his involvement with gaming by establishing Time Sport, a professional gaming team, and becoming a professional gamer. In 2019, he was signed by Kaos Club, an entertainment company focused on Southeast Asia, further solidifying his presence in the gaming world.