Thug Notes is a popular web series that debuted on YouTube in 2013, featuring the character Sparky Sweets, PhD. The show gained massive popularity for providing high-level academic analysis of classic literature, such as 'The Great Gatsby' and 'To Kill a Mockingbird,' while utilizing urban slang and a 'gangsta' persona. The meme adaptation typically uses screenshots of Sparky Sweets to bridge the gap between high-brow intellectualism and street-smart commentary. It is frequently used to make complex subjects more relatable or to poke fun at the pretentiousness of literary circles by breaking down heavy themes into humorous, accessible, and often surprisingly accurate summaries.