TIA: On April 30,1999 the first episode of
'SpongeBob Squarepants' aired on Nickelodeon.
And with the beginning of the show also came
the beginning of SpongeBob’s rap career.
PATRICK: Who’s ready?
SPONGEBOB: I’m ready!
PATRICK: Who’s ready?
SPONGEBOB: I’m ready!
PATRICK: Who’s ready?
SPONGEBOB: I’M READY!
TIA: According to Genius data, the cast of
'SpongeBob' have made hundreds of appearances
in hip-hop lyrics since the series premiere.
TIA: So, we decided to revisit a few of our
favorites.
SPONGEBOB: Quick Patrick without thinking,
if you could have anything in the world right now,
what would it be?”
PATRICK: Uh, more time for thinking!
TIA: The main character in the show is SpongeBob
Squarepants, the energetic fry-cook and jellyfishing
enthusiast.
TIA: The earliest hip-hop reference to SpongeBob
was in 2004 on D12’s “Keep Talkin’.”
TIA: Since then, SpongeBob alone has been
referenced over 100 times,
in songs ranging from Smokepurpp to Wu-Tang.
TIA: Producer Izak even sampled SpongeBob’s
voice directly as his producer tag, most famously
in YBN Nahmir’s “Rubbin Off The Paint.”
YBN NAHMIR: That’s what I thought you
said, now let me offer this as a rebuttal.
SPONGEBOB: That’s what I thought you
said, now let me offer this as a rebuttal.
IZAK: Like, every time I, like, see reaction videos on
YouTube people be like, is that SpongeBob?
And then the beat comes and then they’ll
be like, Oh!
Okay, cool.
TIA: But SpongeBob isn’t the only person
in Bikini Bottom who’s made it in the rap game.
TIA: SpongeBob’s best friend Patrick also
has a few cameos in hip-hop lyrics.
TIA: SpongeBob’s neighbor and coworker Squidward
has a number of hip-hop mentions himself,
even though he probably wouldn’t be too
happy to hear them.
SQUIDWARD: Oh no.
PATRICK: E minor, alright! Yeah!
TIA: Other character references include Mr.
Krabs and his daughter, Pearl.
TIA: Sandy Cheeks
TIA: And even Plankton.
PLANKTON: You may win this time.
Shi-a-kazeem!
TIA: In late 2017, the 'SpongeBob Squarepants'
Musical premiered on Broadway.
The play featured musical credits from T.I.
and was nominated for a Tony Award for
Best Original Score.
TIA: And it’s safe to say hip-hop’s love for
'SpongeBob' is definitely mutual.
TIA: I’m Tia with Genius News, bringing you
the meaning and the knowledge behind the music.
