Memes on the internet are getting views in the millions, and world-renowned organizations are using them in advertisements. Particularly, the Let Him Cook meme has been very popular on many social media platforms along with TikTok.
Memes on the internet are getting views in the millions, and world-renowned organizations are using them in advertisements. Particularly, the Let Him Cook meme has been very popular on many social media platforms along with TikTok. However, it can be difficult to understand if its meaning is positive or negative. With so many different applications, you may not know how to use this meme to convey your message or joke properly.
This blog will explain this meme so you can understand its origins, uses, and how to create your own.
First, we will explain the different meanings this meme can have depending on the situation.
Also referred to as “let that boy cook”, this meme is a slang phrase that now means that you should give someone (that boy) the space to improve their craft or to do an action. Alternatively, it could mean that you want the audience to stop holding back “that boy”. Or, it could mean that you want the audience to allow someone to do what they excel at.
Now, this meme is popular as a response to other posts about flirting, unpopular opinions, and sports events. You can also use this phrase as an original post to start a conversation or make a comment.
Generally, you can use this meme either sincerely or sarcastically. Therefore, the connotation depends on the rest of the context, such as the images and captions attached. A popular picture you may use with this meme is the image of the Toy Story character Woody spreading out an arm to stop Sora. However, this meme may not come with a picture attached.
This meme first started in 2010 as a line in one of the rapper Lil B's videos. Originally, he first mentioned, “Let that boy cook.” In his post on YouTube, which now has 2.9 million views, Lil B explained that for him, to “cook” is to “take your time and care” in your actions.
Now that you understand what this meme means and its origin, let's explore its rise in fame on different social media platforms.
At first, this phrase was only popular among Lil B's fans. However, with so many views on YouTube, the video spread to users outside his community.
As the phrase left its intended audience, it gained a new meaning and use. Rather than meaning that someone was using their time to do something with intention, it transformed into a meme. This new meme meant that someone was doing something subversive and that you should allow them to continue since they might succeed. In particular, users posted this phrase to defend someone who was flirting.
After the meme became popular on YouTube, it appeared on X. There, it transformed again. Users created new versions of the meme, such as the “Why did y'all let him cook?” and the “Hold up let him cook” meme.
Apart from the Woody and Sara image, users also commonly featured an image from Spongebob alongside this meme. In particular, they would use the image from Spongebob in his brain, with mini versions of him panicking in an office-like room that is disorganized and on fire.
As National Basketball Association star James Harden started using a stirring motion as a celebration move, Lil B accused him of stealing his dance, which brought attention to the meme.
Likewise, when the National Football League started using this meme in its highlights of Russel Wilson's performance, it further popularized it. However, the meme took on a negative connotation after Wilson's poor performance.
Finally, the meme increased in popularity on TikTok. There, @.slump posted the video 'Let him COOK' featuring the One Piece character Luffy. This TikTok earned over 100,000 likes and 1 million plays.
Supposing you want to create this meme, one of its variations, or a completely new iteration, you can use Realm AI.
Here is how you can create any version of this meme:
When you begin creating this meme, you need to sign up on the Realm AI website or application. You can use its Chrome extension to start this crafting process.
Once you have signed into your Realm AI account, you will need to describe what you want your meme to look like. If you are unsure about the details you should add, you can use the original “let him cook” meme and image. Alternatively, you could find the right meme font, color, text, and image to perfectly target your audience.
After filling out your meme idea in the prompt box, click 'Generate'. In seconds, Realm AI will create your customized meme.
Lastly, you can further customize your original meme by adjusting aspects such as art style until it matches your vision.
Now you know that the “let him cook” meme comes from the rapper Lil B. He first used the phrase “let that boy cook” to mean that you should allow that person to do something with care and attention. Over time, this phrase became a meme used as a response to encourage others to allow the subject or original poster to freely continue what they are doing since it might succeed even though it does not appear as such. Now, you can use it sarcastically, giving the meme a more negative connotation.
“He cooked” in slang means that “he” lost or is hopeless. It is a phrase that is connected to the slang “cooked”. Alternatively, it can mean that “he” is exhausted.
“I'm getting cooked” means that your adversary is seriously beating you. While the phrase is also related to the slang “cooked”, it is usually used in sports discussions. Social media users on TikTok and X often use this phrase to refer to either themselves or athletes with poor performance.
The “cooked” meme comes from Breaking Bad, where the main character says, “Someone cooked here.” After appearing in season 4, episode 11, in 2023, this phrase became a popular audio on TikTok. Users created memes with this phrase to mean that the person they are referring to learned niche or gender-specific knowledge from someone else, and they are surprised the person knows this topic.
