From the depths of Bikini Bottom, we’ve seen SpongeBob SquarePants in various avatars: a Krusty Krab employee, a best friend, a jellyfish enthusiast, and many more. But there’s an avatar of SpongeBob that has gained significant traction on the internet, particularly amongst meme enthusiasts: Gangster SpongeBob.
RELATED: Elon Musk Net Worth: Evaluating the Wealth of a Space and Tech Tycoon
Table of Contents
What’s the Deal with Gangster SpongeBob?
‘Gangster SpongeBob’ or ‘Gangsta SpongeBob’, as it’s colloquially known, is a spin-off character originating from fan art that pictures the beloved sea sponge as a gangster. While SpongeBob SquarePants has always been recognized for its wholesome content, the fan arts offer a humorous, alternative reality. This deviation from the character’s original personality has found a niche audience online, especially after becoming meme material.
The Birth of a Gangster
Though the origins are not crystal clear, the first traces of ‘Gangster SpongeBob’ artworks date back to at least 2007. One of the earliest documented compilations was posted by YouTube user littleviper3 in November 2007. Subsequent search results indicate that by early 2008, these artworks were floating around on Photobucket, an image hosting website.
RELATED: Khloe Kardashian Net Worth: From TV Screen to Business Queen
Myspace, the dominant social platform of the mid-2000s, became a popular platform for these images, especially as custom wallpapers. Not long after, in 2008, videos titled “spongebob rap” started to pop up on YouTube, incorporating the fan arts and pushing this alternative SpongeBob persona into the limelight.
Evolution and Spread
Over time, the Gangster SpongeBob phenomenon expanded with more fan arts emerging, portraying characters like SpongeBob and Patrick as gang members. Facebook even saw the creation of a dedicated ‘Gangsta spongebob’ page in 2011.
While the character enjoyed occasional meme popularity prior to 2019, it started gaining major traction in the latter half of the 2010s. Platforms like Twitter and subreddits such as /r/okbuddyretard became breeding grounds for hilarious memes featuring our gangster sea sponge.
The meme’s traction exploded in 2020, primarily fueled by Spanish-speaking Facebook users and the aforementioned subreddit. A tweet in August 2020 by user @_YoungCR7 further propelled the meme’s popularity, amassing significant retweets and likes.
RELATED: Cardi B Net Worth: From Stripper to Chart-Topping Rapper
Wrapping Up
The Gangster SpongeBob phenomenon is an excellent example of how fan art can breathe new life into well-known characters, offering an alternative narrative. While SpongeBob SquarePants continues to entertain audiences with his quirky antics in Bikini Bottom, ‘Gangsta SpongeBob’ has carved a niche for himself in the vast meme-ocean of the internet.
RELATED: Justin Bieber Net Worth: From Street Performer to Millionaire
Whether you’re a fan or not, one thing’s for sure: Gangster SpongeBob has left an indelible mark on internet culture. So, the next time you come across SpongeBob flaunting his ‘gangster’ persona, remember, there’s more to him than meets the eye!
