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Dragon Ballis a beloved manga and anime series that even celebrities can’t help but love. The Super Saiyan form has especially caught the attention of American rappers and athletes, making them feel inspired and hyped.
After all, Goku and his Super Saiyan form is entirely too iconic to forget. It has become cemented into popular culture, even outside of the anime community. The protagonist has become a symbol of power and determination. It’s a type of excitement only Akira Toriyama can create.
Recently, the Producer of the Year nominee, Mustard, at the 2025 GRAMMYs spoke about his work with Kendrick Lamar, including popular songs likeNot Like Us,TV Off,andHey Now.
The yell of “mustard” inTV Offhas fans and producers alike baffled and highly entertained. The rapper loved the beats so much, it made him feel like Goku and he just had to scream the producer’s name. It inspired something completely new and different in him.
Kendrick Lamar channels his inner Goku inTV Off
The American rapper has become an unstoppable force in the music industry. His infamous rivalry andbeef with Canadian rapper Drakehas got people talking to this day and his song,Not Like Us,took off. Lamar was already renowned and famous before this, but this was a new level of respect.
Ever since then, his fan base has been growing. Kendrick Lamar’s lyrical ability is worthy of the high praise and admiration. His flow has people bopping their heads, but it isn’t all his work. The producer, Mustard, has undeniable talent that completes the songs.
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The beat forTV Offpossessed Lamar completely to the point he yelled his producer’s name in the official song itself. It’s become a viral meme all over the internet.
Mustard, whose real name is Dijon Isaiah McFarlane, speaks about his experience working with Lamar. When asked about ifTV Offat the 2025 GRAMMYs, he confessed he didn’t know the full song before sending him the beat. He states:
I didn’t hear the song until it came out. I had heard “Hey Now” during the “Not Like Us” video shoot; he played me a snippet. I asked him, “Man, what made you do that?”And he said, “When I heard the beat, I just felt likeGokuor something.” I was like, “What?”And he explained, “Yeah, when I hear certain s— on your beats, it brings out something else in me, so I just did whatever I felt.” I was like, “Wow, that’s crazy.”
It attests to the fact that not only isKendrick Lamarvery passionate about music, but he’s also a hugeDragon Ballfan. If he can casually make a statement about how a beat made him ‘feel like Goku,’ it’s clear he gets the hype of the series.
How other rappers have paid homage toDragon Balland Goku
Before Kendrick Lamar’s burst of inspiration, there was Chance the Rapper. InBlessings,he references Krillin fromDragon Ball Zwhose death triggered Goku’s Super Saiyan form.
Other rappers who have done similar feats are Lil Uzi Vert and Big Sean. The Super Saiyan form is not only incredibly popular in rap but also in the hip-hop community. Singers like The Weeknd and Childish Gambino have also referenced achieving the state in their songs.
Several athletes also loveDragon Ball.Darren Fells and David Njoku of the Cleveland Browns performed the iconic fusion dance after the former scored a touchdown. The list is surprisingly long for the amount of athletes who admireAkira Toriyama’swork.
“I would really love to be Android 18”: The WWE Legend Who Loves Dragon Ball So Much She Wants to Be In the Next DBZ Movie
This just goes to show how legendary Goku and the story ofDragon Ballare. Evenother famous mangaka, likeEiichiro OdaandMasashi Kishimoto, look up to it. So knowing the “mustard” yell was from Lamar feeling like Goku was extra special for anime fans.
Bidisha Mitra
Articles Published :802
Bidisha is an Anime Content Writer at FandomWire with over 700 published articles. With over 7 years of writing experience, she’s versatile and adept. When she’s not writing, she’s also a voice actor on the side.Bidisha is currently continuing to learn Japanese and gets more fluent everyday. Her expertise is One Piece, Bungo Stray Dogs, and Haikyuu, but has been watching anime for over a decade. She was previously a Content Writer reviewing the latest Kpop music.
