Let's be real. If you’ve spent more than five minutes on TikTok or YouTube lately, you’ve heard it. That bouncy, polarizing beat. The aggressive "I’m in the thick of it" hook. It’s unavoidable. KSI’s track "Thick of It," featuring Trippie Redd, didn't just drop; it exploded into a cultural phenomenon that people absolutely love to hate. But while the internet spent weeks roasting the lyrics, something else started happening. People actually started trying to sing it.
Now, thick of it karaoke is a legitimate trend. It's the ultimate "dare" at the local bar or the basement party. You think it's easy? Think again.
The song is a weird mix of high-energy bravado and surprisingly tricky vocal placements. Most people go into a thick of it karaoke session thinking they’re just going to shout their way through a meme. They quickly realize that keeping up with the cadence—especially during Trippie Redd’s melodic, high-pitched contribution—is harder than it looks on paper. It’s the kind of song that sounds simple until you have a microphone in your hand and thirty people waiting for you to mess up the "everybody knows" part.
The Viral Infamy of the Lyrics
Why are we even talking about this? Because the lyrics are, honestly, kind of hilarious. When KSI released the song in late 2024, the reaction was almost instant. Critics and fans alike latched onto lines like "From the screen to the ring, to the pen, to the king." It’s peak "influencer rap."
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But that’s exactly what makes it perfect for karaoke.
Karaoke isn't about being Adele. It’s about the vibe. It’s about the energy in the room. When you pull up a thick of it karaoke track, you aren't aiming for a Grammy. You're aiming for the reaction. You want the groans. You want the ironic cheers. You want everyone in the room to scream "WHOOOO" at the exact same time. It’s a collective cultural moment wrapped in a three-minute pop-rap song.
The irony here is thick. Thick as... well, you know.
Technical Struggles You’ll Face During the Instrumental
If you’re planning on tackling this, you need to understand the structure. The song isn't a straight-ahead rap track. It bridges that awkward gap between melodic pop and British-inflected hip-hop.
- The Energy Management: You start at a 10. There is no build-up. If you burn your voice out in the first thirty seconds, you’re going to sound like a squeaking hinge by the time the second chorus hits.
- Trippie Redd’s Verse: This is where the casuals fail. Trippie’s style is fluid. It’s "mumble-adjacent" but melodic. If you try to enunciate every single syllable like you’re reading a news report, you’ll fall behind the beat.
- The Hook: It’s repetitive. "Thick of it / thick of it / thick of it." If you don't vary your physical energy, the audience will get bored by the third repetition.
Many amateur singers find that the vocal range required for the "I'm in the thick of it" line is higher than they expect. You’ve got to hit those notes with confidence, or it just sounds like you're complaining about being stuck in traffic.
Why the Internet is Obsessed with Failing at This Song
We live in an era of "hate-watching" and "ironic consumption." The success of thick of it karaoke stems directly from the fact that the song became a massive meme on platforms like Reels and TikTok. Creators like Ray William Johnson and various music commentators dissected the track, which only fueled the fire.
When a song is "cringe," it becomes a challenge.
Can you perform it without laughing? Can you make it sound actually good? Or, more commonly, can you lean so far into the cringe that it becomes a masterpiece of performance art? That's the beauty of the karaoke version. It strips away the polished production and the features, leaving just you and those lyrics. It’s vulnerable. It’s ridiculous. It’s brilliant.
Finding the Best Karaoke Tracks
Not all backing tracks are created equal. If you search for a thick of it karaoke version on YouTube, you’ll find a dozen different channels offering their take. Some are just the original song with the vocals "scooped" out using AI. These are usually terrible. They leave behind these ghostly, robotic whispers of KSI’s voice that will throw you off your rhythm.
You want a reconstructed instrumental. Look for channels that specialize in high-quality remakes. You need those sharp, synthesized drums to be crisp so you can stay on beat. If the bass is too muddy, you’ll lose your place in the verse.
- Avoid: Low-bitrate rips that sound like they were recorded in a tin can.
- Look For: "Studio Quality" or "Acoustic" versions if you want to be extra daring.
- Pro Tip: Watch the lyrics closely. Some fan-made karaoke videos have typos that will make you look like an amateur when you're trying to be the "king of the ring."
The Psychological Toll of the "Thick of It" Meme
It’s actually fascinating how much space this song occupies in the current zeitgeist. KSI is a master of attention. Whether he intended for the song to be a serious chart-topper or a viral lightning rod is almost irrelevant at this point. The result is the same: the song is stuck in everyone’s head.
Performing this at karaoke is an act of social bravery. You are acknowledging the meme. You are telling the room, "Yes, I know this is ridiculous, and yes, we are all going to endure it together."
There is a specific kind of euphoria that happens when a room full of people who have been mocking a song for weeks suddenly finds themselves shouting the lyrics in unison. It’s a weird form of bonding. It’s the "Friday" by Rebecca Black effect for the 2020s.
Actionable Tips for Your Next Karaoke Night
If you’re going to do this, do it right. Don't be the person who mumbles.
- Commit to the Bit: If you’re going to sing about being in the "thick of it," you have to act like you’re in the middle of a heavyweight title fight. Use your hands. Move around.
- Practice the Transition: The switch between the verse and the chorus happens fast. Listen to the original track a few times to nail the timing of the entry.
- Watch Your Breathing: The lines are packed tight. There aren't many places to take a deep breath. Use the short instrumental breaks to reset your lungs.
- Know Your Audience: If you’re at a jazz club, maybe skip this one. If you’re at a college bar or a tech-hub hangout, you’ll be a legend.
Moving Beyond the Meme
Eventually, the "Thick of It" hype will die down. That’s just how the internet works. Another influencer will release a song, another meme will take over, and we’ll all move on. But for now, thick of it karaoke is the peak of ironic entertainment. It captures a specific moment in digital history where the line between "good" and "viral" became completely blurred.
So, grab the mic. Queue up the track. Ignore the haters—or better yet, invite them to join you on stage. After all, everybody knows you’re in the thick of it.
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How to Master the Performance
To really nail this, you need to treat it like a theatrical performance rather than a vocal showcase. Focus on the punchlines. The "pen to the king" line needs to be delivered with unearned confidence. The more serious you look while saying these things, the funnier and more impactful the performance becomes. If you can keep a straight face while Trippie Redd’s melodic section kicks in, you’ve won.
Where to Find the Lyrics
Most karaoke bars use systems like KaraFun or TouchTunes. Since this song is a relatively new viral hit, it might not be in every legacy machine yet. If you're hosting a party at home, your best bet is to use a dedicated YouTube karaoke channel that provides the scrolling text. Make sure your screen is large enough for everyone to see, because half the fun is the audience reading along with the absurd metaphors.
Final Technical Insight
Check the key of the backing track before you start. If it's been pitched up or down to avoid copyright strikes, your vocal performance will be doomed from the start. Stick to "Original Key" versions to ensure you aren't accidentally trying to sing in a register that only dogs can hear.
The most important thing to remember is that you are participating in a piece of internet history. This song represents the chaotic, noisy, and often confusing world of modern celebrity. By choosing this for your karaoke set, you aren't just singing a song; you're performing a critique of the very culture that created it. Or, you're just having a laugh with your mates. Either way, it’s a win.