Kanye West launched a new song, "Only One," where he collaborated with Paul McCartney, on New Year's Eve. Fans of the American rapper went to Twitter to ask who West was collaborating with on the new song.
"I don't know who Paul McCartney is, but Kanye is going to give this man a career w/ this new song!!" a Twitter user posted on the microblogging social media network.
Another Twitter user even lauded West for "shining light on unknown artists."
The phenomenon has been dubbed as the "Who is Paul McCartney Meme" by Deadspin.
The Gawker Media weblog reported that even local U.S. TV news shows featured the McCartney meme. However, Deadspin also reports that most of the meme tweets are merely jokes, including a tweet from Desus the comedy podcaster, who said that West has a "great ear for talent" and that McCartney will be "huge."
The Atlantic posted an article about the Twitter outburst, saying that there should be no shame in not really knowing who the former The Beatles member is. It says that even though the band was famous, it was already over 40 years ago.
Meanwhile, fans of McCartney have been quick to defend. One tweet said that people are "too lazy" to research about the English singer even with the "most advanced computer systems humanity has ever imagined."
West's song was dedicated to his mother Donde, who passed away after North West was born.
For the uninitiated, Sir James Paul McCartney was part of The Beatles, along with Ringo Starr, George Harrison and John Lennon. The band is widely known for its influence in the history of rock music.