RDCWorld (or alternatively spelled RDC World), short for Real Dreamers Change the World[1] or Real Dreams Change the World,[2] is an American collective of online video creators based in Texas.[3] The group was founded by Mark Phillips and Affiong Harris. Also made up of members Leland Manigo, Desmond Johnson, Ben Skinner, Dylan Patel, and John Newton, the group is best known for its YouTube comedy videos relating to anime, sports, video games, Internet memes, and popular culture.

RDCWorld
OriginWaco, Texas
YouTube information
ChannelsRDCworld1
RDCWorldGaming
Created byMark Phillips & Affiong Harris
Years active
  • RDCworld1: 2012–present
  • RDCWorldGaming: 2017–present
Genre(s)Comedy, sketch, gaming
Subscribers
  • RDCworld1: 7.03 million
  • RDCWorldGaming: 1.4 million
Total views
  • RDCworld1: 1.65 billion
  • RDCWorldGaming: 257 million
100,000 subscribers
1,000,000 subscribers

Last updated: October 29, 2024

The group's flagship RDCworld1 channel was registered on YouTube in 2012; as of October 2024, it has amassed over 1.6 billion video views and 7 million subscribers.[4]

History

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The group was founded in Waco, Texas by Mark Phillips and Affiong Harris.[5][6] Phillips is described by both RDC and media outlets as the face of the collective.[5][7] He graduated from the University of North Texas.[8] Harris meanwhile is an alum of North Central Texas College.[6] The group would be joined by members Leland Manigo, Desmond Johnson, Ben Skinner, Dylan Patel, and John Newton.[9]

Originally the YouTube channel served as a means to promote the group's manga, The Resistance.[10] The group's videos are primarily comedy sketches revolving around anime and sports.[10][11]

With several of their videos pertaining to sports, the group has also been involved in sports events. In 2021, the group was part of House of Highlights' $250K Dodgeball Showdown tournament event.[12] Additionally, the group has been involved with various flag football events, as part of a partnership with the National Football League (NFL).[3][13][14] Phillips also appeared in a commercial for the 2022 NBA playoffs.[15]

In 2017, the RDCworld1 channel reached one million subscribers.[10] In 2018, the group also launched the Dream Convention, or Dream Con in Waco, Texas.[16] A multi-genre convention, Dream Con mainly focuses on anime and video gaming culture.[1][16][17]

Reception

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The group has received the attention from public figures referenced in their videos such as J. Cole and LeBron James.[6] The group met the former in 2021; previously, in 2017, Phillips created a meme revolving around an overzealous J.Cole fan. Phillips and Manigo would have cameo appearances in the music video for "The Jackie", a song by Bas featuring J. Cole and Lil Tjay, where they recreated the meme.[18][19]

The group won the Streamy Award for the "Comedy" category in consecutive years: 2022 and 2023.[20][21] In 2023, the group was also nominated for Streamy Awards in the "Show of the Year" and "Scripted Series" categories.[21]

In 2024, Complex magazine ranked the group number 3 on its list of "The Funniest People on the Internet".[22]

Awards and nominations

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Year Ceremony Category Result Ref.
2022 Streamy Awards Show of the Year Nominated [23]
Scripted Series Nominated
Comedy Won
2023 Streamy Awards Show of the Year Nominated [24]
Scripted Series Nominated
Comedy Won
Feb 2024 The Streamer Awards Best Shared Channel Nominated [25]
Dec 2024 Best Streamed Event

(Creator League Basketball @ Dream Con)

Pending [26]
Best Variety Streamer Pending
League of their Own Pending

References

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  1. ^ a b Garrett, Kaila (August 21, 2023). "The gaming and anime convention Dream Con is returning to Austin". Spectrum News. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  2. ^ Pandya, Hershal (October 23, 2023). "Comedy's Scrappiest All-Stars". Vulture. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Hartle, Sam (April 25, 2023). "Michael Vick, Robert Griffin III to headline flag football game at Kansas City NFL Draft". KSHB. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  4. ^ "RDCworld1 - YouTube about page". Retrieved September 12, 2023 – via YouTube.
  5. ^ a b "Meet the Team". rdcuniverse.com. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c Krum, Marcus (February 9, 2021). "Meet RDCworld1: The NBA's Favorite Content Creators". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  7. ^ Gutelle, Sam (July 7, 2022). "House of Highlights tripled its branded content revenue by working directly with creators". Tubefilter. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  8. ^ Hirsh, Sophie (May 3, 2017). "College Student Mark Phillips Re-created Iconic Hip-Hop Album Covers in His Graduation Photos". Teen Vogue. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  9. ^ Milner, Iman (August 11, 2023). "Popular YouTube Gaming Channel 'RDC World' Brought 20K Gamers To DreamCon In Texas, Here's Why". Black Enterprise. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  10. ^ a b c Gutelle, Sam (April 26, 2018). "YouTube Millionaires: RDCWorld1 Has "Paved The Way" For Viewers To Embrace Passion For Anime". Tubefilter. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  11. ^ Jurado, Joe (February 16, 2021). "28 Days of Joy: Shoutout to the Black YouTubers Who Stay Bringing the Joy". The Root. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  12. ^ Hale, James (June 11, 2021). "House Of Highlights' $250K Dodgeball Showdown Will Feature FaZe Clan, 2HYPE". Tubefilter. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  13. ^ Gutelle, Sam (April 27, 2023). "With Sunday Ticket on the horizon, YouTube is going deep at the NFL Draft". Tubefilter. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  14. ^ Young, Lindsey (August 7, 2023). "Justin Jefferson Helps Kick Off 'Let's Play' Youth Flag Football Campaign". vikings.com. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  15. ^ Bustard, Andy (March 31, 2022). "Vince Staples, Ludacris, Steph Curry, Issa Rae + More Star In NBA Playoffs Commercial". HipHopDX. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  16. ^ a b Ortega, Hannah (July 19, 2023). "Black-owned Dream Con coming to Austin for the first time. Here's what to expect". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  17. ^ Dream Con founders look to create inclusive space in world of gaming, anime and comic conventions. WFAA. July 16, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  18. ^ Berry, Peter A. (July 10, 2021). "J. Cole and Mark Phillips finally meet, recreate hilarious meme". Revolt.tv. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  19. ^ Rose, Jordan (July 9, 2021). "J. Cole Meets RDCWorld's Mark Phillips and Recreates Viral Meme". Complex. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  20. ^ Hale, James (December 5, 2022). "Here are your 2022 Streamy Award winners". Tubefilter. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  21. ^ a b Madarang, Charisma (August 27, 2023). "Streamy Awards 2023: The Complete Winners List". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  22. ^ "The Funniest People on the Internet Right Now, Ranked". Complex. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  23. ^ Grein, Paul (December 5, 2022). "Mark Rober, MrBeast Win Big at 2022 YouTube Streamy Awards (Full Winners List)". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 6, 2022. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  24. ^ Lasimone, Ashley (July 24, 2023). "2023 Streamy Awards Nominations Announced: Full List". Billboard. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  25. ^ Michael, Nicholas Taifalos, Cale (February 18, 2024). "Streamer Awards 2024: All results and winners for every category". Dot Esports. Retrieved February 18, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  26. ^ "The 2024 Streamer Awards: All Nominations". Esports Illustrated On SI. 2024-11-12. Retrieved 2024-11-12.