The 'Thug Shaker' meme refers to a viral internet phenomenon involving a specific style of bait-and-switch videos that became prevalent on platforms like Discord and Twitter around 2022. It originated within 'thugposting' communities, often featuring clips from adult animations by Animan Studios, most notably the 'Axel in Harlem' sequence. The meme typically involves a narrator or caption demanding the 'Thug Shaker,' leading to an absurdist reveal. While its origins are rooted in niche subcultures, it exploded into mainstream meme culture as a form of high-energy irony and shitposting, used to subvert expectations in video edits and social media threads.