That’s Why He’s The GOAT: The Story Behind the Viral Hype Meme

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“That’s Why He’s The GOAT”, sometimes seen as “That’s Why He’s The MVP,” is a wildly enthusiastic declaration from a viral video featuring a Black man energetically proclaiming someone as the “MVP” and “the GOAT,” signifying “Greatest Of All Time.” This outburst of hype, captured in a short clip, first appeared on YouTube in 2018 and has since exploded across the internet. Its infectious energy made it a perfect piece of reaction content, especially gaining traction on TikTok throughout the 2020s. You’ll find “That’s Why He’s The GOAT” meme sprinkled across edits and used as a reaction in numerous trends, prominently featuring in the City Boy trend and the Ranking Every X trend, solidifying its place in internet culture.

Origin of the GOAT Yell

The origin of this iconic phrase can be traced back to December 4th, 2018, when YouTuber T M uploaded the now-famous video.[^1] The raw energy of the clip is undeniable. Filmed seemingly in a bedroom, it captures a Black man in a state of pure excitement, yelling about an unseen individual. His words are simple but powerful: “That’s what I’m talking about! That’s why he’s the MVP! That’s why he’s the GOAT; the GOAT!” The intensity is palpable; as he emphasizes “the GOAT,” his entire body vibrates with enthusiasm. Adding to the impromptu feel, a Snapchat banner across the top asks, “Is this man okay??💀💀💀,” suggesting the video’s original source and adding a touch of humor to the fervent declaration. Over the ensuing four years, this short burst of hype amassed over a million views, marking the unassuming beginning of a viral phenomenon.

Spread and Rise to Meme Stardom

While the original video laid the groundwork, the “That’s Why He’s The GOAT” meme truly began its ascent as reaction content in the early 2020s. Re-uploads of the video proliferated across YouTube, increasing its visibility. One early example of its meme potential came on November 29th, 2020, when Twitter[^2] user @Torment, a Rocket League player, tweeted the clip with the caption, “me watching @Turbopolsa play rn.” This tweet garnered over 890 likes in two years, demonstrating its relatability in expressing excitement and admiration.

The meme’s true viral explosion happened in June 2022 with the rise of the City Boy trend on TikTok. This trend, celebrating men who prioritize personal success and freedom, often at the expense of romantic relationships, utilized reaction videos to amplify the “city boy” archetype. “That’s Why He’s The GOAT” became a staple reaction, perfectly capturing the over-the-top praise for perceived “alpha male” behavior within the trend. A compilation video posted by YouTuber Tok Plugg on June 26th, 2022,[^3] showcased the meme multiple times within the City Boy context, quickly racking up over 300,000 views in just three months and cementing its place in the trend.

The momentum continued to build throughout the following months. “That’s Why He’s The GOAT” became increasingly ubiquitous on TikTok as a general reaction to hype up individuals or actions deemed exceptional, worthy of the “GOAT” title. On July 4th, 2022, TikToker @trixx_f1[^4] cleverly combined the original clip with footage of Formula 1 racer Lewis Hamilton, generating over 135,000 views in two months. This showcased the meme’s versatility in celebrating real-world achievements. Then, in August 2022, the meme found new life within the “Ranking Every X” trend. This trend involved ranking items within a franchise using a series of reaction videos, and “That’s Why He’s The GOAT” became a popular choice to represent peak performance or the “best” item in a ranking.

Further demonstrating the meme’s adaptability, on August 22nd, 2022, YouTuber v1ncent 𒉭[^5] created an AMV that mashed up the video with “The Grinch” by Trippie Redd. This creative remix garnered over 9,000 views in a month, highlighting the meme’s resonance even in unexpected contexts.

Related Meme Trends

City Boy Trend Explained

The City Boy trend centers around a specific type of masculinity, often described using the slang term “city boy.” These are men who are portrayed as prioritizing their goals – financial success, personal freedom, and a particular lifestyle – above traditional relationship expectations. Emerging from the “City Boy Summer” trend of 2019, it exploded on TikTok in June 2022. The trend utilizes compilation videos showcasing men rejecting female advances, boasting about infidelity, or generally exhibiting self-serving behaviors towards women. Crucially, these actions are then met with positive reaction videos, celebrating and hyping up the “city boy” persona. “That’s Why He’s the GOAT” became a go-to reaction within this trend, perfectly encapsulating the exaggerated praise for these often “toxic” behaviors, ironically or unironically.

Ranking Every X Trend Breakdown

The Ranking Every X trend is a multi-reaction format used for ranking items within a set, like seasons of a TV show, albums by an artist, or games in a series. Typically employing around five distinct reaction videos, each video corresponds to a different ranking level or sentiment. Popular reaction sources for this trend include EDP445 (known for angry reactions), The Rock (for positive, charismatic reactions), clips from The Boys (for humorous or dramatic reactions), Cr1tikal (for dry, comedic reactions), and, of course, the energetic “That’s Why He’s the GOAT” video. This last one is usually reserved for the top ranking, signifying the “best” item in the list with maximum hype. The trend gained significant popularity in August and September 2022, demonstrating the enduring appeal of reaction-based meme formats.

Examples of “That’s Why He’s The GOAT” in Action

Here are some further examples showcasing the versatile application of the “That’s Why He’s The GOAT” meme across TikTok:

https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7145071722398616837

https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7131753306346507563

https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7137981006640041262

https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7128691642449677573

Conclusion

From its humble beginnings as a short, enthusiastic outburst on YouTube, “That’s Why He’s The GOAT” has transcended its origin to become a ubiquitous reaction meme. Its raw energy and simple message of ultimate praise have resonated across platforms, particularly on TikTok. Whether used ironically or sincerely, in trends like “City Boy” and “Ranking Every X,” or as a standalone expression of hype, “That’s Why He’s The GOAT” has firmly cemented its place in the internet meme lexicon as the ultimate declaration of greatness.

External References

[^1]: YouTube – T M
[^2]: Twitter – torment
[^3]: YouTube – Tok Plugg
[^4]: TikTok – thaboyzbible
[^5]: YouTube – the grinch guitar version – THAT’S WHY HE’S THE GOAT

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