Watch the 'It's Corn' Transformation: from Raw Street Interview to Billboard-Charting Earworm
By Chloe Bennett
Julian Shapiro-Barnum created Recess Therapy in the spring of 2021 alongside media production company Doing Things Media. His premise was simple: wander New York City parks, crouch down to eye level with children between the ages of two and nine, and ask open-ended questions about emotional well-being, everyday philosophy, and personal passions.
On August 4, 2022, Shapiro-Barnum published a two-and-a-half-minute video titled "The CEO of Corn." Tariq instantly stole the frame. Between enthusiastic bites of his buttered cob, Tariq rattled off observations with theatrical sincerity. He described corn as "a big lump with knobs" and noted with absolute conviction that "it has the juice."
The raw clip resonated immediately because it was completely unvarnished. Shapiro-Barnum did not feed lines or engineer punchlines. Tariq genuinely adored corn. Within 48 hours of posting on Instagram and TikTok, the original clip amassed over 20 million views across social networks. Audiences gravitated toward Tariq's unforced charisma, but the video was still just a high-performing comedy sketch. It needed a sonic framework to penetrate global pop culture.
Chloe Bennett explores the intersection of pop culture, streaming entertainment, digital trends, and contemporary lifestyle. Her weekly commentary reaches thousands of culture enthusiasts.
