The meme traces back to a photograph of an aquatic specimen, frequently identified across community threads as an edited anglerfish or batfish, whose dorsal appendages and fleshy protuberances drape downward like cornrows. In July 2023, an archivist on Know Your Meme documented the image's rapid migration from niche biology message boards to mainstream rap humor. Paired with distorted autotune ad-libs ("Straight up!") and booming 808 bass lines, the still frame became shorthand for Scott's stage presence: head tilted downward, dreadlocks concealing the face, lost in low-frequency audio.
Short-form video platforms did the rest. Creators matched the visual with pitched-down snippets of "FE!N" and "SICKO MODE," turning a ten-second loop of a silent marine animal into an algorithmic juggernaut. It resonated precisely because it was absurd. Scott spent a decade curating an untouchable, hyper-stylized image filled with luxury fashion partnerships and bespoke Air Jordans. Transforming that multimillion-dollar aesthetic into a scowling, swamp-dwelling fish struck the exact tone of irreverence that Gen Z internet culture thrives upon.
