Ice Spice has found an unlikely but undeniable global hit with “Big Guy,” a playful track created for The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants that has exploded into a viral sensation driven largely by TikTok.

Released via 10K Projects and Capitol Records, “Big Guy” blends Jersey Club rap and pop rap, pairing bouncy, high-energy rhythms with minimalist production from Ice Spice’s longtime collaborator RIOTUSA. The track samples M.I.A.’s 2012 hit “Bad Girls” and subtly weaves melodic elements inspired by the classic SpongeBob SquarePants theme. The result is a sparse but hypnotic sound built around bass, space, and repetition.

Lyrically, the song stays firmly within the family-friendly world of SpongeBob. Ice Spice delivers her signature deadpan, monotone flow while leaning into aquatic wordplay and cartoon references, including lines about blowing bubbles “like Mrs. Puff” and being “the catch” without being a jellyfish. The chorus, anchored by the now-ubiquitous phrase “SpongeBob big guy pants okay,” has become a meme in its own right and the backbone of the song’s viral success.

Thematically, “Big Guy” mirrors SpongeBob’s journey in the film, where he tries to prove his bravery and earn the right to be seen as a “big guy,” even if that simply means being tall enough to ride a roller coaster. Ice Spice has described the song as an expression of confidence and positive energy, aimed at facing the world with a new attitude.

While the track’s release sparked mixed reactions on YouTube, with some listeners unsure how the Bronx rapper’s usual subject matter fit into a SpongeBob movie, the numbers have spoken loudly. “Big Guy” has generated more than 4.1 billion views across 4.9 million TikTok creations, climbing to No. 2 on TikTok’s Trending Songs chart. It has also topped YouTube’s Daily Top Videos, YouTube Shorts’ Weekly Top Songs, and Snapchat’s Sounds Chart, pulling in roughly 13 million global streams per week.

The momentum was amplified by a TikTok dance trend created by Louis Da Silva. What began as a solo flex to the song’s hook evolved into a popular two-person version where a second participant hides behind the lead dancer and extends their arms to create exaggerated biceps. The trend has been embraced by celebrities, including Mario Lopez and his son, and even Ice Spice herself.

“Big Guy” arrived ahead of the theatrical release of The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants and was accompanied by a video placing Ice Spice inside SpongeBob’s underwater universe. The film also marks her voice-acting debut, with a character inspired by her own iconic look.

The song’s success continues a steady rise for Ice Spice, who has spent the past year expanding her reach across music, fashion, and film. Recent releases include “Thootie” with Tokischa, praised by Rolling Stone and named Song of the Week by The New York Times’ Popcast, where critic Jon Caramanica cited Ice’s “minimalist swagger” and pointed to “Big Guy” as the start of a new era. She has also released singles like “Baddie Baddie,” collaborated with KATSEYE and Latto, and built on the acclaim of her debut album Y2K!, which featured her highest-charting solo Billboard Hot 100 single to date.

Beyond music, Ice Spice has made her mark in film and pop culture, contributing “Barbie World” to the Grammy-winning Barbie soundtrack and making her acting debut in Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest. As she heads into 2026, “Big Guy” stands as another example of her ability to cross worlds, turning a cartoon movie tie-in into a genuine viral hit and further cementing her place at the centre of pop culture.

Author: Andrew Braithwaite

Andrew is the founder and chief editor of Music Talkers. He's also a keen music enthusiast and plays the guitar.