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| Meta Title | Memes in 2016: Here are the Most Notable | Highsnobiety |
| Meta Description | As the year draws to a close, we take a look back at the best memes of 2016, from Drake's 'Views' to Evil Kermit and Dat Boi. |
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| Boilerpipe Text | As this year winds down weâve recapped its highlights to bring you
the best of 2016
in fashion, sneakers, music, movies and, of course, everyone's favorite internet pastime: memes.
We all have tough days but, when real life gets too much, the internet can always be counted on to provide light relief.
2016 has been arguably the best year on record for meme culture â the U.S. election in particular sparked a wave of online creativity resulting in the hilarious "Prankster Joe Biden" series, whereas Drake once again reprised his role as King of the Memes (remember the "Hotline Bling" memes from last year?) by releasing his
Views
cover which was subsequently photoshopped onto everything from BeyoncĂ©âs cornrows to the awning of a Parisian bistro.
Elsewhere Pepe the Frog became a hate symbol (WTF?), garlic bread memes became transphobic and a small 2D dog engulfed in flames became one of the yearâs most relatable characters.
We may be headed into a future of political uncertainty and a long-dreaded Trump presidency, but the following memes should provide solace, plus an overview of the year that was. No matter how tough the world gets, weâll always have the internet to calm us down.
Damn Daniel
On February 14th, Daniel Lara was just a regular student at a Californian high school. Just a day later, he was a viral sensation due to a video posted by his classmate which spawned the now-iconic phrase: "Damn, Daniel!"
The original tweet currently has over 300,000 retweets, whereas a Damn Daniel starter pack meme was quickly created, containing a pair of white Vans. Unsurprisingly, just over a week later, Lara was contacted by Vans to star in a commercial.
Drake âViewsâ Meme
Just last year, Drakeâs inimitable "Hotline Bling" dancing sparked the creativity of Twitter users worldwide,
launching a series of memes and gifs
. This year, on April 24th, the rapper topped himself by releasing the cover art of latest album
Views
and, once again, the internet began frantically photoshopping.
Within days, the seated rapper popped up atop BeyoncĂ©âs cornrows, on E.T.âs bicycle and even perched on Nicki Minajâs famous rear. Never one to take himself too seriously, Drakeâs official website was soon updated with a link for users to create their own album art.
Pepe the Frog
Despite originating back in 2005 as a character in artist
Matt Furieâs
Boyâs Club
comic series
, 2016 was the year that Pepe the Frog gained mainstream notoriety â first as a mainstream meme, then as an apparent hate symbol.
It started in May, when
The Daily Beast
published an interview
with a Twitter user, self-identified as an "anonymous white nationalist," who expressed desire to "reclaim" Pepe by featuring him in anti-Semitic memes.
The situation escalated to the point that the artist had to defend himself, stating that he had no involvement in the "weird racist memes" and launched the #SavePepe hashtag to restore the poor frogâs reputation.
Garlic Bread Memes
This year, meme culture honed in like never before on the Italian delicacy. Although established a few years ago, in January this year, articles were published dedicated to the rapid growth of the
Garlic Bread Memes Facebook page
.
New entries came in thick and fast, but one in particular stood out for the wrong reasons â the image depicts two slices of garlic bread captioned with âif I had a slice of garlic bread for every existing gender,â and was taken to be a slight towards non-
cisgendered
 individuals.
The meme went viral and spawned articles and online commentary on its offensiveness, proving that, when memes go political, the consequences arenât always great.
DJ Khaled
Itâs difficult to pinpoint the excellence of DJ Khaled. This is, after all, a man that this year gained icon status for his hilarious Snapchats â most notably the time he got stranded at sea on a jet ski and documented the whole thing.
He has predictably become a meme on various occasions due to his inspirational quotes. This year, an image of him next to Obama became an ISIS hoax, whereas a screenshot of the jet ski incident, subtitled âride wit me through the journey of successâ was posted with the caption âWhen you get more than 10 likes on your selfieâ.
DJ Khaled â heâs the gift that wonât stop giving.
Bernie and Hillary
Bernie Sanders developed a reputation as an online hero this year, spawning iconic Facebook groups such as Bernie Sandersâ Dank Meme Stash.
It was a campaign poster depicting him next to Hillary Clinton, however, which went viral due to its layout being extremely easy to Photoshop â users began pasting various "issues" into the box and comparing the two candidates with the general implication being that Bernie is a radical badass whereas Hillary is a conservative robot.
Harambe
When Nicki Minaj references you in a freestyle, you know youâve made it. âIâm dragging these hoes like Harambe did the kid,â she rapped in "
The Pinkprint Freestyle
"; she was, of course, referring to the silverback gorilla shot dead at Cincinatti zoo when a child fell into his enclosure.
The tragic incident resulted in the #JusticeforHarambe hashtag which, in turn, sparked a series of initially heartfelt memes. However, things did get weird fairly quickly when Harambe appeared Photoshopped into memes mourning the legends claimed by 2016 â next to Prince, Muhammad Ali and David Bowie.
Arthurâs Fist
One of the most ubiquitous memes of the year, Arthurâs Fist was originated in a now-deleted tweet on Twitter and then by user axedowg on Reddit back on July 28th.
Captioned, âWhen people say Harambe was just a gorillaâ, the meme quickly gained notoriety and resulted in the inauguration of a Twitter feed entitled "Arthurâs Hands," which spawned viral memes on everything from Spongebob and PokĂ©mon to racism and even North Korea.
Mr. Krabs Spinning
Few animated shows have spawned more memes than Spongebob Squarepants. From relatable statements about
the first day of school
to the disappointment of
parents refusing that all-important night out
, the iconic sponge and his underwater pals have resulted in a meme for every occasion.
In 2016, it was Mr. Krabsâ time to shine â a wavy image of the famous crustacean originally captioned âwhen you just wake up from a nap and your parents already yelling at youâ this year attracted thousands upon thousands of replicas and retweets.
Dat Boi
Some memes gain notoriety for no apparent reason. One example is this yearâs "dat boi" meme which has appeared in various incarnations.
Arguably the most popular and recognizable iteration depicts an animated frog on a unicycle, but later in the year the caption reappeared underneath a weird Pac-Man creature dressed in red sneakers and gloves; Tumblr user casualchriss even
multiplied the original unicycle-riding amphibian
, creating a frog crew alongside the caption âwe dem bois!!!!!â
Get You a Man That Can Do Both
Once again proving the internetâs obsession with Drake, the Canadian star went viral back in February when Twitter user @MikeShotya_ tweeted an image of the musician wearing a suit and tie next to another of him dressed in a tracksuit, captioned âget you a man who can do bothâ.
This sparked a series of hilarious selfies accompanied by the same caption; later came the dogs dressed in jumpers, followed by politician parodies and guys with their heads replaced by sandwiches. Well done, internet.
This Is Fine
One meme that truly encapsulates the overall mood of 2016 comes courtesy of the
webcomic series Gunshow
. The image, depicting a dog sat saying âthis is fine⊠Iâm okay with the events that are unfolding currentlyâ whilst engulfed by flames has become the go-to reaction for staying composed amidst social and political chaos â or seeming to, anyway.
The Republican National Committee posted the meme back in July as a reaction to scenes of extreme disarray at Philadelphiaâs Democratic National Convention, but even as recently as a week ago French musician HĂ©loĂŻse Letissier (of Christine & The Queens) tweeted the image to sum up this year.
Classical Art Memes
It was just eight weeks ago that an
Instagram account entitled "Classical Art Memes"
popped up and quickly went viral.
The account tapped into a trend growing all year; from Botticelli to monsters and Muppets Photoshopped into oil portraits, this year has provided art historians with a wealth of memes touching on topics ranging from hideous selfies to drunk negotiations in the line at the club.
Skai Williams Sitting
On April 4th year, actress and Disney star Skai Jackson tweeted a photo of herself in the green room before appearing on Good Morning New York. Within days the image had been tweeted by Twitter user @JonnnFinest accompanied by a caption of an imagined petty conversation between a boyfriend and girlfriend.
The tweet racked up thousands of retweets and Jackson quickly went viral; she even retweeted one herself, cementing her own status as one of this yearâs greatest meme stars.
If Metro Donât Trust You
Producer Metro Boominâ has had a huge year, working with musical behemoths like Drake on "Jumpman" and Kanye West on
The Life of Pablo
album.
With visibility, however, comes online notoriety: his DJ tag âif young Metro donât trust you Imma shoot youâ quickly took on a life of its own in February this year when
Drake tweeted
âAnd on the off chance that Metro Boominâ doesnât trust you⊠wellâŠâ
The tweet quickly gained over 100,000 retweets and resulted in countless viral parodies.
Name a More Iconic Duo
When Twitter user @negansvoid tweeted a picture of Kylie and Kendall Jenner captioned with âName a more iconic duo⊠Iâll waitâ,
the internet quickly rose to the challenge
.
A selection of the finest examples include Destinyâs Childâs
Survivor
album cover with a sticker over Michelleâs face (
poor Michelle!
), a screen cap of Paula Abdul and her animated sidekick in the "Opposites Attract" video and even an image of American rock and roll duo Hall & Oates.
Evil Kermit
The history of Kermit memes spans several years, but this yearâs most notable example came in the form of the extremely relatable Evil Kermit. Originating from an image of Kermit talking to his evil nemesis, the meme has been used to represent the inner voice we all resist on the daily.
The first Evil Kermit to go viral explained the inner desire most of us feel to kidnap cuddly dogs; other examples make reference to guilty pleasures like skipping class and spending irresponsibly as well as irrational desires like starting arguments in relationships.
Joe Biden and Obama
On November 9th, the news was announced that Donald Trump â known for his open racism and claims that his power allowed him to "grab women by the pussy" â was elected Americaâs President-elect. One day later, Twitter began responding with hilarious memes depicting imagined jokes between President Obama and Joe Biden.
They ranged from Biden threatening to steal all the White House towels to â better still â changing the wifi password to "ILoveMexicans." Now known as "Prankster Joe Biden" memes, theyâre still a fairly regular feature on feeds worldwide.
Honey Bun Baby
Itâs not unusual for kids and babies to become memes â remember Vine star Gavin who, a few years ago, racked up a considerable following as well as a wealth of memes to his name?
This year it was the turn of 22-month-old Ashton J, now better known as Honey Bun Baby, to go viral. The exact origin of the image is unknown but the image blew up when actor and singer Tyrese tweeted the photo captioned with âWhen she keeps calling after you up in her face⊠Cause she wants to keep arguing about the same bullshitâŠâ
The tweet racked up over 30,000 retweets and, within days, a new viral star was born.
Me in 2006 vs. Me Now
Twitter is often a breeding ground for great memes due to various "challenges" â usually in the form of hashtags â which often crop up. One recent example is the "me in 2006 vs. me in 2016" series, designed to encourage users to post side-by-side selfies to demonstrate that #glowup (or, usually, the opposite).
The earliest example dates back to October this year, but more recent examples have juxtaposed images of Shiba Inus, PokĂ©mon and â in an example particularly relevant to 2016 â a dumpster on fire.
Now check out
the 10 biggest trends of 2016, including our predictions for how they'll fare next year
. |
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- Share
## The 20 Biggest Memes of 2016
Written by [Jake Hall](https://www.highsnobiety.com/author/jacobhall/ "Link to author page https://www.highsnobiety.com/author/jacobhall/")
9 years ago
in [Lifestyle](https://www.highsnobiety.com/category/lifestyle/)


Know Your Meme
[Want to stay in the loop?We've got you coveredDownload the Highsnobiety App now](https://app.adjust.com/1druskwd)
*As this year winds down weâve recapped its highlights to bring you* [*the best of 2016*](https://www.highsnobiety.com/tag/best-of-2016/) *in fashion, sneakers, music, movies and, of course, everyone's favorite internet pastime: memes.*
We all have tough days but, when real life gets too much, the internet can always be counted on to provide light relief.
2016 has been arguably the best year on record for meme culture â the U.S. election in particular sparked a wave of online creativity resulting in the hilarious "Prankster Joe Biden" series, whereas Drake once again reprised his role as King of the Memes (remember the "Hotline Bling" memes from last year?) by releasing his *Views* cover which was subsequently photoshopped onto everything from BeyoncĂ©âs cornrows to the awning of a Parisian bistro.
Elsewhere Pepe the Frog became a hate symbol (WTF?), garlic bread memes became transphobic and a small 2D dog engulfed in flames became one of the yearâs most relatable characters.
[Want to stay in the loop?We've got you coveredDownload the Highsnobiety App now](https://app.adjust.com/1druskwd)
We may be headed into a future of political uncertainty and a long-dreaded Trump presidency, but the following memes should provide solace, plus an overview of the year that was. No matter how tough the world gets, weâll always have the internet to calm us down.
### Damn Daniel


Know Your Meme
On February 14th, Daniel Lara was just a regular student at a Californian high school. Just a day later, he was a viral sensation due to a video posted by his classmate which spawned the now-iconic phrase: "Damn, Daniel!"
The original tweet currently has over 300,000 retweets, whereas a Damn Daniel starter pack meme was quickly created, containing a pair of white Vans. Unsurprisingly, just over a week later, Lara was contacted by Vans to star in a commercial.
### Drake âViewsâ Meme


Blurry green placeholder
comoli
[Want to stay in the loop?We've got you coveredDownload the Highsnobiety App now](https://app.adjust.com/1druskwd)
Just last year, Drakeâs inimitable "Hotline Bling" dancing sparked the creativity of Twitter users worldwide, [launching a series of memes and gifs](http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/hotline-bling). This year, on April 24th, the rapper topped himself by releasing the cover art of latest album *Views* and, once again, the internet began frantically photoshopping.
Within days, the seated rapper popped up atop BeyoncĂ©âs cornrows, on E.T.âs bicycle and even perched on Nicki Minajâs famous rear. Never one to take himself too seriously, Drakeâs official website was soon updated with a link for users to create their own album art.
### Pepe the Frog


Know Your Meme
Despite originating back in 2005 as a character in artist [Matt Furieâs *Boyâs Club* comic series](https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/feels-good-man-728), 2016 was the year that Pepe the Frog gained mainstream notoriety â first as a mainstream meme, then as an apparent hate symbol.
[Want to stay in the loop?We've got you coveredDownload the Highsnobiety App now](https://app.adjust.com/1druskwd)
It started in May, when *The Daily Beast* [published an interview](http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/05/26/how-pepe-the-frog-became-a-nazi-trump-supporter-and-alt-right-symbol.html) with a Twitter user, self-identified as an "anonymous white nationalist," who expressed desire to "reclaim" Pepe by featuring him in anti-Semitic memes.
The situation escalated to the point that the artist had to defend himself, stating that he had no involvement in the "weird racist memes" and launched the \#SavePepe hashtag to restore the poor frogâs reputation.
### Garlic Bread Memes


Know Your Meme
This year, meme culture honed in like never before on the Italian delicacy. Although established a few years ago, in January this year, articles were published dedicated to the rapid growth of the [Garlic Bread Memes Facebook page](https://www.facebook.com/Garlicbreadmemes/).
New entries came in thick and fast, but one in particular stood out for the wrong reasons â the image depicts two slices of garlic bread captioned with âif I had a slice of garlic bread for every existing gender,â and was taken to be a slight towards non-[cisgendered](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cisgender) individuals.
[Want to stay in the loop?We've got you coveredDownload the Highsnobiety App now](https://app.adjust.com/1druskwd)
The meme went viral and spawned articles and online commentary on its offensiveness, proving that, when memes go political, the consequences arenât always great.
### DJ Khaled


Know Your Meme
Itâs difficult to pinpoint the excellence of DJ Khaled. This is, after all, a man that this year gained icon status for his hilarious Snapchats â most notably the time he got stranded at sea on a jet ski and documented the whole thing.
He has predictably become a meme on various occasions due to his inspirational quotes. This year, an image of him next to Obama became an ISIS hoax, whereas a screenshot of the jet ski incident, subtitled âride wit me through the journey of successâ was posted with the caption âWhen you get more than 10 likes on your selfieâ.
DJ Khaled â heâs the gift that wonât stop giving.
### Bernie and Hillary


Know Your Meme
[Want to stay in the loop?We've got you coveredDownload the Highsnobiety App now](https://app.adjust.com/1druskwd)
Bernie Sanders developed a reputation as an online hero this year, spawning iconic Facebook groups such as Bernie Sandersâ Dank Meme Stash.
It was a campaign poster depicting him next to Hillary Clinton, however, which went viral due to its layout being extremely easy to Photoshop â users began pasting various "issues" into the box and comparing the two candidates with the general implication being that Bernie is a radical badass whereas Hillary is a conservative robot.
### Harambe


Know Your Meme
When Nicki Minaj references you in a freestyle, you know youâve made it. âIâm dragging these hoes like Harambe did the kid,â she rapped in "[The Pinkprint Freestyle](https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/nicki-minaj-the-pinkprint-freestyle/)"; she was, of course, referring to the silverback gorilla shot dead at Cincinatti zoo when a child fell into his enclosure.
The tragic incident resulted in the \#JusticeforHarambe hashtag which, in turn, sparked a series of initially heartfelt memes. However, things did get weird fairly quickly when Harambe appeared Photoshopped into memes mourning the legends claimed by 2016 â next to Prince, Muhammad Ali and David Bowie.
[Want to stay in the loop?We've got you coveredDownload the Highsnobiety App now](https://app.adjust.com/1druskwd)
### Arthurâs Fist


Know Your Meme
One of the most ubiquitous memes of the year, Arthurâs Fist was originated in a now-deleted tweet on Twitter and then by user axedowg on Reddit back on July 28th.
Captioned, âWhen people say Harambe was just a gorillaâ, the meme quickly gained notoriety and resulted in the inauguration of a Twitter feed entitled "Arthurâs Hands," which spawned viral memes on everything from Spongebob and PokĂ©mon to racism and even North Korea.
### Mr. Krabs Spinning


Know Your Meme
Few animated shows have spawned more memes than Spongebob Squarepants. From relatable statements about [the first day of school](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2016-06/29/15/asset/buzzfeed-prod-fastlane02/sub-buzz-21282-1467228815-3.png?no-auto) to the disappointment of [parents refusing that all-important night out](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2016-06/29/13/asset/buzzfeed-prod-fastlane01/sub-buzz-2981-1467221205-7.png?no-auto), the iconic sponge and his underwater pals have resulted in a meme for every occasion.
[Want to stay in the loop?We've got you coveredDownload the Highsnobiety App now](https://app.adjust.com/1druskwd)
In 2016, it was Mr. Krabsâ time to shine â a wavy image of the famous crustacean originally captioned âwhen you just wake up from a nap and your parents already yelling at youâ this year attracted thousands upon thousands of replicas and retweets.
### Dat Boi


Know Your Meme
Some memes gain notoriety for no apparent reason. One example is this yearâs "dat boi" meme which has appeared in various incarnations.
Arguably the most popular and recognizable iteration depicts an animated frog on a unicycle, but later in the year the caption reappeared underneath a weird Pac-Man creature dressed in red sneakers and gloves; Tumblr user casualchriss even [multiplied the original unicycle-riding amphibian](http://casualchriss.tumblr.com/post/143593966561), creating a frog crew alongside the caption âwe dem bois!!!!!â
### Get You a Man That Can Do Both


Know Your Meme
[Want to stay in the loop?We've got you coveredDownload the Highsnobiety App now](https://app.adjust.com/1druskwd)
Once again proving the internetâs obsession with Drake, the Canadian star went viral back in February when Twitter user @MikeShotya\_ tweeted an image of the musician wearing a suit and tie next to another of him dressed in a tracksuit, captioned âget you a man who can do bothâ.
This sparked a series of hilarious selfies accompanied by the same caption; later came the dogs dressed in jumpers, followed by politician parodies and guys with their heads replaced by sandwiches. Well done, internet.
### This Is Fine


Know Your Meme
One meme that truly encapsulates the overall mood of 2016 comes courtesy of the [webcomic series Gunshow](http://www.gunshowcomic.com/). The image, depicting a dog sat saying âthis is fine⊠Iâm okay with the events that are unfolding currentlyâ whilst engulfed by flames has become the go-to reaction for staying composed amidst social and political chaos â or seeming to, anyway.
[Want to stay in the loop?We've got you coveredDownload the Highsnobiety App now](https://app.adjust.com/1druskwd)
The Republican National Committee posted the meme back in July as a reaction to scenes of extreme disarray at Philadelphiaâs Democratic National Convention, but even as recently as a week ago French musician HĂ©loĂŻse Letissier (of Christine & The Queens) tweeted the image to sum up this year.
### Classical Art Memes


Know Your Meme
It was just eight weeks ago that an [Instagram account entitled "Classical Art Memes"](https://www.instagram.com/classical_art_memes/?hl=en) popped up and quickly went viral.
The account tapped into a trend growing all year; from Botticelli to monsters and Muppets Photoshopped into oil portraits, this year has provided art historians with a wealth of memes touching on topics ranging from hideous selfies to drunk negotiations in the line at the club.
### Skai Williams Sitting


Know Your Meme
[Want to stay in the loop?We've got you coveredDownload the Highsnobiety App now](https://app.adjust.com/1druskwd)
On April 4th year, actress and Disney star Skai Jackson tweeted a photo of herself in the green room before appearing on Good Morning New York. Within days the image had been tweeted by Twitter user @JonnnFinest accompanied by a caption of an imagined petty conversation between a boyfriend and girlfriend.
The tweet racked up thousands of retweets and Jackson quickly went viral; she even retweeted one herself, cementing her own status as one of this yearâs greatest meme stars.
### If Metro Donât Trust You


Know Your Meme
Producer Metro Boominâ has had a huge year, working with musical behemoths like Drake on "Jumpman" and Kanye West on *The Life of Pablo* album.
With visibility, however, comes online notoriety: his DJ tag âif young Metro donât trust you Imma shoot youâ quickly took on a life of its own in February this year when [Drake tweeted](https://twitter.com/drake/status/699696503674302465?lang=en) âAnd on the off chance that Metro Boominâ doesnât trust you⊠wellâŠâ
[Want to stay in the loop?We've got you coveredDownload the Highsnobiety App now](https://app.adjust.com/1druskwd)
The tweet quickly gained over 100,000 retweets and resulted in countless viral parodies.
### Name a More Iconic Duo


Know Your Meme
When Twitter user @negansvoid tweeted a picture of Kylie and Kendall Jenner captioned with âName a more iconic duo⊠Iâll waitâ, [the internet quickly rose to the challenge](http://www.papermag.com/never-challenge-the-internet-to-name-a-more-iconic-duo-than-kylie-and--2020868535.html).
A selection of the finest examples include Destinyâs Childâs *Survivor* album cover with a sticker over Michelleâs face ([poor Michelle\!](http://poormichelle.com/)), a screen cap of Paula Abdul and her animated sidekick in the "Opposites Attract" video and even an image of American rock and roll duo Hall & Oates.
### Evil Kermit


Know Your Meme
The history of Kermit memes spans several years, but this yearâs most notable example came in the form of the extremely relatable Evil Kermit. Originating from an image of Kermit talking to his evil nemesis, the meme has been used to represent the inner voice we all resist on the daily.
[Want to stay in the loop?We've got you coveredDownload the Highsnobiety App now](https://app.adjust.com/1druskwd)
The first Evil Kermit to go viral explained the inner desire most of us feel to kidnap cuddly dogs; other examples make reference to guilty pleasures like skipping class and spending irresponsibly as well as irrational desires like starting arguments in relationships.
### Joe Biden and Obama


Know Your Meme
On November 9th, the news was announced that Donald Trump â known for his open racism and claims that his power allowed him to "grab women by the pussy" â was elected Americaâs President-elect. One day later, Twitter began responding with hilarious memes depicting imagined jokes between President Obama and Joe Biden.
They ranged from Biden threatening to steal all the White House towels to â better still â changing the wifi password to "ILoveMexicans." Now known as "Prankster Joe Biden" memes, theyâre still a fairly regular feature on feeds worldwide.
[Want to stay in the loop?We've got you coveredDownload the Highsnobiety App now](https://app.adjust.com/1druskwd)
### Honey Bun Baby


Know Your Meme
Itâs not unusual for kids and babies to become memes â remember Vine star Gavin who, a few years ago, racked up a considerable following as well as a wealth of memes to his name?
This year it was the turn of 22-month-old Ashton J, now better known as Honey Bun Baby, to go viral. The exact origin of the image is unknown but the image blew up when actor and singer Tyrese tweeted the photo captioned with âWhen she keeps calling after you up in her face⊠Cause she wants to keep arguing about the same bullshitâŠâ
The tweet racked up over 30,000 retweets and, within days, a new viral star was born.
### Me in 2006 vs. Me Now


Know Your Meme
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Twitter is often a breeding ground for great memes due to various "challenges" â usually in the form of hashtags â which often crop up. One recent example is the "me in 2006 vs. me in 2016" series, designed to encourage users to post side-by-side selfies to demonstrate that \#glowup (or, usually, the opposite).
The earliest example dates back to October this year, but more recent examples have juxtaposed images of Shiba Inus, PokĂ©mon and â in an example particularly relevant to 2016 â a dumpster on fire.
*Now check out* [*the 10 biggest trends of 2016, including our predictions for how they'll fare next year*](https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/biggest-fashion-trends-2016/)*.*
[Jake Hall](https://www.highsnobiety.com/author/jacobhall/ "Link to author page /author/jacobhall/")
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| Readable Markdown | *As this year winds down weâve recapped its highlights to bring you* [*the best of 2016*](https://www.highsnobiety.com/tag/best-of-2016/) *in fashion, sneakers, music, movies and, of course, everyone's favorite internet pastime: memes.*
We all have tough days but, when real life gets too much, the internet can always be counted on to provide light relief.
2016 has been arguably the best year on record for meme culture â the U.S. election in particular sparked a wave of online creativity resulting in the hilarious "Prankster Joe Biden" series, whereas Drake once again reprised his role as King of the Memes (remember the "Hotline Bling" memes from last year?) by releasing his *Views* cover which was subsequently photoshopped onto everything from BeyoncĂ©âs cornrows to the awning of a Parisian bistro.
Elsewhere Pepe the Frog became a hate symbol (WTF?), garlic bread memes became transphobic and a small 2D dog engulfed in flames became one of the yearâs most relatable characters.
We may be headed into a future of political uncertainty and a long-dreaded Trump presidency, but the following memes should provide solace, plus an overview of the year that was. No matter how tough the world gets, weâll always have the internet to calm us down.
### Damn Daniel
On February 14th, Daniel Lara was just a regular student at a Californian high school. Just a day later, he was a viral sensation due to a video posted by his classmate which spawned the now-iconic phrase: "Damn, Daniel!"
The original tweet currently has over 300,000 retweets, whereas a Damn Daniel starter pack meme was quickly created, containing a pair of white Vans. Unsurprisingly, just over a week later, Lara was contacted by Vans to star in a commercial.
### Drake âViewsâ Meme
Just last year, Drakeâs inimitable "Hotline Bling" dancing sparked the creativity of Twitter users worldwide, [launching a series of memes and gifs](http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/hotline-bling). This year, on April 24th, the rapper topped himself by releasing the cover art of latest album *Views* and, once again, the internet began frantically photoshopping.
Within days, the seated rapper popped up atop BeyoncĂ©âs cornrows, on E.T.âs bicycle and even perched on Nicki Minajâs famous rear. Never one to take himself too seriously, Drakeâs official website was soon updated with a link for users to create their own album art.
### Pepe the Frog
Despite originating back in 2005 as a character in artist [Matt Furieâs *Boyâs Club* comic series](https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/feels-good-man-728), 2016 was the year that Pepe the Frog gained mainstream notoriety â first as a mainstream meme, then as an apparent hate symbol.
It started in May, when *The Daily Beast* [published an interview](http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/05/26/how-pepe-the-frog-became-a-nazi-trump-supporter-and-alt-right-symbol.html) with a Twitter user, self-identified as an "anonymous white nationalist," who expressed desire to "reclaim" Pepe by featuring him in anti-Semitic memes.
The situation escalated to the point that the artist had to defend himself, stating that he had no involvement in the "weird racist memes" and launched the \#SavePepe hashtag to restore the poor frogâs reputation.
### Garlic Bread Memes
This year, meme culture honed in like never before on the Italian delicacy. Although established a few years ago, in January this year, articles were published dedicated to the rapid growth of the [Garlic Bread Memes Facebook page](https://www.facebook.com/Garlicbreadmemes/).
New entries came in thick and fast, but one in particular stood out for the wrong reasons â the image depicts two slices of garlic bread captioned with âif I had a slice of garlic bread for every existing gender,â and was taken to be a slight towards non-[cisgendered](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cisgender) individuals.
The meme went viral and spawned articles and online commentary on its offensiveness, proving that, when memes go political, the consequences arenât always great.
### DJ Khaled
Itâs difficult to pinpoint the excellence of DJ Khaled. This is, after all, a man that this year gained icon status for his hilarious Snapchats â most notably the time he got stranded at sea on a jet ski and documented the whole thing.
He has predictably become a meme on various occasions due to his inspirational quotes. This year, an image of him next to Obama became an ISIS hoax, whereas a screenshot of the jet ski incident, subtitled âride wit me through the journey of successâ was posted with the caption âWhen you get more than 10 likes on your selfieâ.
DJ Khaled â heâs the gift that wonât stop giving.
### Bernie and Hillary
Bernie Sanders developed a reputation as an online hero this year, spawning iconic Facebook groups such as Bernie Sandersâ Dank Meme Stash.
It was a campaign poster depicting him next to Hillary Clinton, however, which went viral due to its layout being extremely easy to Photoshop â users began pasting various "issues" into the box and comparing the two candidates with the general implication being that Bernie is a radical badass whereas Hillary is a conservative robot.
### Harambe
When Nicki Minaj references you in a freestyle, you know youâve made it. âIâm dragging these hoes like Harambe did the kid,â she rapped in "[The Pinkprint Freestyle](https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/nicki-minaj-the-pinkprint-freestyle/)"; she was, of course, referring to the silverback gorilla shot dead at Cincinatti zoo when a child fell into his enclosure.
The tragic incident resulted in the \#JusticeforHarambe hashtag which, in turn, sparked a series of initially heartfelt memes. However, things did get weird fairly quickly when Harambe appeared Photoshopped into memes mourning the legends claimed by 2016 â next to Prince, Muhammad Ali and David Bowie.
### Arthurâs Fist
One of the most ubiquitous memes of the year, Arthurâs Fist was originated in a now-deleted tweet on Twitter and then by user axedowg on Reddit back on July 28th.
Captioned, âWhen people say Harambe was just a gorillaâ, the meme quickly gained notoriety and resulted in the inauguration of a Twitter feed entitled "Arthurâs Hands," which spawned viral memes on everything from Spongebob and PokĂ©mon to racism and even North Korea.
### Mr. Krabs Spinning
Few animated shows have spawned more memes than Spongebob Squarepants. From relatable statements about [the first day of school](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2016-06/29/15/asset/buzzfeed-prod-fastlane02/sub-buzz-21282-1467228815-3.png?no-auto) to the disappointment of [parents refusing that all-important night out](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2016-06/29/13/asset/buzzfeed-prod-fastlane01/sub-buzz-2981-1467221205-7.png?no-auto), the iconic sponge and his underwater pals have resulted in a meme for every occasion.
In 2016, it was Mr. Krabsâ time to shine â a wavy image of the famous crustacean originally captioned âwhen you just wake up from a nap and your parents already yelling at youâ this year attracted thousands upon thousands of replicas and retweets.
### Dat Boi
Some memes gain notoriety for no apparent reason. One example is this yearâs "dat boi" meme which has appeared in various incarnations.
Arguably the most popular and recognizable iteration depicts an animated frog on a unicycle, but later in the year the caption reappeared underneath a weird Pac-Man creature dressed in red sneakers and gloves; Tumblr user casualchriss even [multiplied the original unicycle-riding amphibian](http://casualchriss.tumblr.com/post/143593966561), creating a frog crew alongside the caption âwe dem bois!!!!!â
### Get You a Man That Can Do Both
Once again proving the internetâs obsession with Drake, the Canadian star went viral back in February when Twitter user @MikeShotya\_ tweeted an image of the musician wearing a suit and tie next to another of him dressed in a tracksuit, captioned âget you a man who can do bothâ.
This sparked a series of hilarious selfies accompanied by the same caption; later came the dogs dressed in jumpers, followed by politician parodies and guys with their heads replaced by sandwiches. Well done, internet.
### This Is Fine
One meme that truly encapsulates the overall mood of 2016 comes courtesy of the [webcomic series Gunshow](http://www.gunshowcomic.com/). The image, depicting a dog sat saying âthis is fine⊠Iâm okay with the events that are unfolding currentlyâ whilst engulfed by flames has become the go-to reaction for staying composed amidst social and political chaos â or seeming to, anyway.
The Republican National Committee posted the meme back in July as a reaction to scenes of extreme disarray at Philadelphiaâs Democratic National Convention, but even as recently as a week ago French musician HĂ©loĂŻse Letissier (of Christine & The Queens) tweeted the image to sum up this year.
### Classical Art Memes
It was just eight weeks ago that an [Instagram account entitled "Classical Art Memes"](https://www.instagram.com/classical_art_memes/?hl=en) popped up and quickly went viral.
The account tapped into a trend growing all year; from Botticelli to monsters and Muppets Photoshopped into oil portraits, this year has provided art historians with a wealth of memes touching on topics ranging from hideous selfies to drunk negotiations in the line at the club.
### Skai Williams Sitting
On April 4th year, actress and Disney star Skai Jackson tweeted a photo of herself in the green room before appearing on Good Morning New York. Within days the image had been tweeted by Twitter user @JonnnFinest accompanied by a caption of an imagined petty conversation between a boyfriend and girlfriend.
The tweet racked up thousands of retweets and Jackson quickly went viral; she even retweeted one herself, cementing her own status as one of this yearâs greatest meme stars.
### If Metro Donât Trust You
Producer Metro Boominâ has had a huge year, working with musical behemoths like Drake on "Jumpman" and Kanye West on *The Life of Pablo* album.
With visibility, however, comes online notoriety: his DJ tag âif young Metro donât trust you Imma shoot youâ quickly took on a life of its own in February this year when [Drake tweeted](https://twitter.com/drake/status/699696503674302465?lang=en) âAnd on the off chance that Metro Boominâ doesnât trust you⊠wellâŠâ
The tweet quickly gained over 100,000 retweets and resulted in countless viral parodies.
### Name a More Iconic Duo
When Twitter user @negansvoid tweeted a picture of Kylie and Kendall Jenner captioned with âName a more iconic duo⊠Iâll waitâ, [the internet quickly rose to the challenge](http://www.papermag.com/never-challenge-the-internet-to-name-a-more-iconic-duo-than-kylie-and--2020868535.html).
A selection of the finest examples include Destinyâs Childâs *Survivor* album cover with a sticker over Michelleâs face ([poor Michelle\!](http://poormichelle.com/)), a screen cap of Paula Abdul and her animated sidekick in the "Opposites Attract" video and even an image of American rock and roll duo Hall & Oates.
### Evil Kermit
The history of Kermit memes spans several years, but this yearâs most notable example came in the form of the extremely relatable Evil Kermit. Originating from an image of Kermit talking to his evil nemesis, the meme has been used to represent the inner voice we all resist on the daily.
The first Evil Kermit to go viral explained the inner desire most of us feel to kidnap cuddly dogs; other examples make reference to guilty pleasures like skipping class and spending irresponsibly as well as irrational desires like starting arguments in relationships.
### Joe Biden and Obama
On November 9th, the news was announced that Donald Trump â known for his open racism and claims that his power allowed him to "grab women by the pussy" â was elected Americaâs President-elect. One day later, Twitter began responding with hilarious memes depicting imagined jokes between President Obama and Joe Biden.
They ranged from Biden threatening to steal all the White House towels to â better still â changing the wifi password to "ILoveMexicans." Now known as "Prankster Joe Biden" memes, theyâre still a fairly regular feature on feeds worldwide.
### Honey Bun Baby
Itâs not unusual for kids and babies to become memes â remember Vine star Gavin who, a few years ago, racked up a considerable following as well as a wealth of memes to his name?
This year it was the turn of 22-month-old Ashton J, now better known as Honey Bun Baby, to go viral. The exact origin of the image is unknown but the image blew up when actor and singer Tyrese tweeted the photo captioned with âWhen she keeps calling after you up in her face⊠Cause she wants to keep arguing about the same bullshitâŠâ
The tweet racked up over 30,000 retweets and, within days, a new viral star was born.
### Me in 2006 vs. Me Now
Twitter is often a breeding ground for great memes due to various "challenges" â usually in the form of hashtags â which often crop up. One recent example is the "me in 2006 vs. me in 2016" series, designed to encourage users to post side-by-side selfies to demonstrate that \#glowup (or, usually, the opposite).
The earliest example dates back to October this year, but more recent examples have juxtaposed images of Shiba Inus, PokĂ©mon and â in an example particularly relevant to 2016 â a dumpster on fire.
*Now check out* [*the 10 biggest trends of 2016, including our predictions for how they'll fare next year*](https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/biggest-fashion-trends-2016/)*.* |
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