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The long-awaited meme dream finally came true—20-year-old American streamer and YouTuber IShowSpeed (real name Darren Watkins Jr.) has officially met the man behind one of the most unintentionally viral songs on the internet: Chinese singer-songwriter Wowkie Zhang, also known as Da Zhang Wei.
Speed, who’s been on a wild livestreaming tour across China lately, finally got his big moment in Changsha, where he met the creator of the internet-breaking track “Sunshine Rainbow Little White Horse”.
Yep, it’s that song—the one with the now-iconic “nei ge nei…” line that got hilariously misunderstood by international viewers (especially in the West) as a certain racial slur.
Of course, in Mandarin, it's all totally innocent.
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But Speed’s explosive, confused reaction during a livestream months ago turned the song into a full-blown meme and gave it legs far beyond China.
Fast forward to now, and Speed’s China content has been popping off—he's been spotted in Shanghai, Beijing, and even climbing the steps of Chongqing.
But the real showstopper was when he met Da Zhang Wei face to face. And honestly? It was wholesome chaos.
Speed lit up the second he saw him. No translator needed.
He went straight in for a big hug, almost tackling Da Zhang Wei out of excitement.
Fans on both sides of the world were loving it.
The two then did a live performance of “Sunshine Rainbow Little White Horse”, and of course, Speed gave it everything—screaming the “nei ge nei…” bit like only he can.
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This time, though, when he passed the mic to Da Zhang Wei and other Chinese celebs nearby… they awkwardly skipped the infamous line. Can’t blame them—too much meme pressure.
While some folks online reckon the platform that hosted the meeting might’ve milked the moment a bit too much, no one’s denying how iconic it was.
This was a proper internet crossover—two worlds colliding, all born out of one massive misunderstanding.
For Speed, it’s a full-circle moment. For Da Zhang Wei, it’s likely one of the weirdest ways his music has ever gone global. But hey—this is the internet. Chaos is the culture.
FAQ:
Q: Why did the song go viral?
A: The lyrics “nei ge nei…” were misheard by English speakers as a racial slur, but it's actually just harmless Mandarin.
Q: Where did they meet?
A: They met in Changsha, China during one of IShowSpeed’s livestreams.
Q: Did they sing the song together live?
A: Yes, they performed it live, but Da Zhang Wei and other celebs avoided singing the “nei ge nei…” line.
Q: What’s next for IShowSpeed in China?
A: No one knows for sure, but with how popular he’s become there, it’s likely more chaotic streams and maybe more unexpected crossovers.
IShowSpeed Finally Meets Wowkie Da Zhang Wei Creator of "Nae Nei Ge" Song in Viral Moment https://t.co/oizjHBzA4p
— Tonboriday (@tonboriday) April 9, 2025
Speed正式见到了“Nae Nei Ge”歌曲的创作者大张伟 🤯🇨🇳 #ishowspeed pic.twitter.com/DLdyhU05iS