HOW BIG SHAQ CHANGED THE WORLD

Written by: Jax Willis (@TrafficWillis)

  Michael Dapaah, the mastermind behind Big Shaq AKA Roadman Shaq AKA "THE TING GOES SKRRRAHH, PAP, PAP, KA-KA-KA" is here on our universal feeds to stay. The twenty-six-year-old London native has been grinding out a campaign of original characters (one of them being Big Shaq), in a Youtube mockumentary series known as #SWIL. After the first season gained traction on the UK airwaves, Dapaah linked up with Charlie Sloth, the mainstay British- radio host best known for executing the well-known “Fire In The Booth” freestyles.

  Michael Dapaah first saw a consistent uptick with the release of his SWIL mockumentary series, which follows six original characters around London. The London comedian proves his versatility in improvisation and acting, somehow remaining entirely in style as he trolls the public. The reception that came from these videos is in fact what led him to the likes of Charlie Sloth and global dominance.

  The picky presences fused together to create the recipe for the meme of 2017, exposing a new light in TwitterGram domination. Laugh outlets and meme banks across our social feeds have been milking out content for the second month in a row. Dapaah's comical style is a testament to the current times where appealing content spreads like wildfire. Thanks to Sloth’s platform via BBC Radio, Big Shaq propelled across the pond to make a pivotal North-American run. DJ Khaled and Lil Yachty were two among many other relevant artists to praise him on the Green Carpet at the BET Hip-Hop Awards. 

  Dapaah gifted the world with the “Man’s Not Hot” visual last week (Oct. 25th, when he racked up three million views within twenty-four hours. It shocked no one except Taylor Swift who dropped a new music video in the deep shadows of Michael Dapaah’s character. A viral meme is one thing, but nineteen million views to top Taylor Swift is the bow and the wrapping paper.

  So...
  
  Why does any of this matter?
  
  Take Taylor as a metaphor for the “mainstream.” First off, “mainstream” is not mainstream anymore. Dapaah is defining the new age of digital relevance where industry promo sits behind the influencers of TwitterGram. The “Roadman” infiltrated the culture to defy the dimensions of fame and relevancy. Homemade content and real-life scenarios have strong appeal in this phenomenon. Every demographic of Social media widely embraced Shaq and some still even believe the character to be a real person. Whether you love it or hate it, memes are the art of relevance and Dapaah is Van Gogh. In other words... MAN IS HOT.