Timeline of a Meme: How 'Imagine If Ninja Got a Low Taper Fade' Took over the Web
Q1: Who originally made the "Imagine if Ninja got a low taper fade" song?
A1: The song was improvised by musical artist Ericdoa during a casual Twitch livestream in late 2023. He sang the melody offhand over an instrumental loop, and users quickly clipped the audio to upload it to TikTok.
Q2: Did Ninja actually get the haircut in real life?
A2: Yes. In January 2024, Tyler "Ninja" Blevins hired a barber to give him a real low taper fade live on his stream, abandoning his signature long spikes to pay off the running joke.
Q3: Why do people say the meme is "still massive"?
A3: After the initial buzz died down in mid-2024, Ninja frequently defended the meme on his broadcasts, insisting to viewers that the joke was "still massive." Viewers turned that phrase into a self-referential meme mocking the act of clinging to outdated viral moments.
Q4: What is the connection between the low taper fade and the Locked In Alien?
A4: In early 2025, creators engaged in "brainrot layering," combining unrelated trending assets. They photoshopped the low taper fade haircut onto the popular 3D "Locked In Alien" graphic, setting it to slowed-down versions of Ericdoa's audio.