The Junebug Challenge Is Everywhere. Here's What You Need to Know.

What is the Junebug Challenge? How do you do it? Who came up with it? What song is used? How did it get Casanova in trouble? We break down the TikTok trend.

Lil Baby Junebug Challenge
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Image via Lil Baby/TikTok

Lil Baby Junebug Challenge

The Junebug Challenge is the latest craze to take over social media. Similar to the Buss It Challenge and the Silhouette Challenge, the Junebug originated on TikTok, but the trend eventually made its way to all social media platforms. The challenge calls for participants to dance along to SpotemGottem’s song, β€œBeatBox.” And it’s so easy, celebrities like Lil Baby, Saweetie, and more are getting involved.Β 

While the Junebug Challenge sounds like another fun way to pass the time, it has also caused some controversy. In early Feb. 2021, rapper Casanova received disciplinary actions at the Westchester County Jail for participating in the challenge during a video visit.Β Β 

So, how did the Junebug Challenge start, how do you do it, and who is jumping on the trend? We break it down. Here’s what you need to know about the Junebug Challenge.

What is the Junebug Challenge and how do you do it?

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The Junebug Challenge is a popular trend that originated on TikTok. The challenge calls for participants to perform the β€œJunebug,” a dance that some have compared to the Shmoney Dance, which was popularized by Bobby Shmurda and Rowdy Rebel in 2014. The Junebug dance includes flexing both arms while popping your back and walking with a slight limp. The challenge encourages participants to find creative places to perform the dance moves. A number of videos have been recorded on the roof of a car, in the bathroom, or in the middle of incoming traffic. Early videos of the challenge were filed under the Ready to Get Started Challenge tag, but as it got more popular, many participants started to use the name Junebug.

What song is used in the challenge?

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Everyone who participates in the Junebug Challenge dances along to a song called β€œBeatBox,” which is performed by Florida-based rapper SpotEmGottem and features Memhis rapper Pooh Shiesty. β€œBeatBox 2” was released in December 2020 and appeared on SpotEmGottem’s album Final Destination. If you look closely, it kind of looks like SpotEmGottem attempted to do a variation of the dance during the 1:13-mark in his music video.

While many credit Bobby Shmurda’s Shmoney Dance for inspiring the Junebug dance, the official challenge didn’t start until Dec. 2020. The challenge was created by a TikTok influencer who goes by the name Junebug. The Los Angeles-based creative shared his first video on TikTok and Instagram on Dec. 24. He continued to post videos of himself doing the dance in his home and local areas until it went viral.Β 

The viral challenge has attracted attention from many celebrities in music and in sports. Lil Baby, Meek Mill, and Michael Rubin recorded a short clip of them participating in the challenge during the Super Bowl. Meanwhile, Saweetie photoshopped herself dancing on historic monuments around the world. Other celebrities who shared videos online include Lebron James, Mulatto, Swae Lee, Skai Jackson, and more. See some below.

@saweetie

πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚

♬ Beat Box 2 - SpotemGottem

@juneelite_

We made it to the NFL Y’ALL 😭πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸ”₯πŸͺ²πŸͺ²πŸͺ²πŸͺ² @nfl @panthers LETS GOOOOO!! #junebugchallenge #junebug

♬ Junebug Challenge - Junebug

@juneelite_

WE GOT THE KING JUNEBUGGIN YALL WTF!!!?!?!?!? WE DID THAT πŸ˜€πŸ˜€πŸ˜€πŸ‘‘πŸ‘‘πŸ‘‘πŸ‘‘πŸ‘‘πŸ‘‘πŸ‘‘πŸ‘‘πŸ‘‘πŸͺ²πŸͺ²πŸͺ²πŸͺ²πŸͺ²πŸ˜­πŸ˜­πŸ˜­πŸ˜­ #junebugchallenge

♬ Junebug Challenge - Junebug

During a video prison visit with Casanova, who is currently locked up on charges of racketeering, the Brooklyn rapper was recorded dancing along to the Junebug Challenge. The clip was short, but when it crossed the desks of his jail officials, Casanova was disciplined for violating inmate guidelines that state videos and pictures cannot be taken during visits. According to Westchester County Correction Commissioner Joseph Spano, Casanova’s visitation privileges have been revoked. The rapper also faces disciplinary actions for not wearing a mask during the visit. In early Dec. 2020, Casanova surrendered to federal authorities and began serving time in the Westchester County Jail in New York for his alleged involvement in gang-related crimes including racketeering, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and firearms possession. Casanova has maintained his innocence and pled not guilty to all charges. It’s unclear how his latest infraction could affect his upcoming trial or sentence.Β 

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