Reaction videos are a YouTube staple, often created in response to events, such as the Reno plane crash or Lady Gaga’s fashion choice at the 2011 Video Music Awards.
While most videos go largely unnoticed, some become even more memorable than the original subject.
That was the case with a recent reaction video from Quentin “BigQuint” Coleman to the Weeknd’s mixtape Echoes of Silence—available for free download here—the final installment in the avant-R&B singer’s trilogy of new releases this year.
In six short days, Coleman’s near eight-minute-long response has collected more than 40,000 views, largely thanks to a shout-out from actor/comedian Aziz Ansari of NBC’s “Parks and Recreation.”
“This dude’s reaction video to The Weeknd is my favorite thing,” tweeted Ansari to his more than 1.7 million followers.
That’s because it’s no ordinary reaction video. Like the frantic rapper recounting Watch the Throne on a subway, Coleman’s enthusiastic response is distinctly his own—complete with dance club moves, a break for lunch, and endearing commentary on each track.
“I was honored; I was never expecting it to go viral at all,” Coleman told the Daily Dot. “I just want to thank all the people for passing it around and laughing at it. I make these videos for the people. I want to make people laugh.”
Coleman is a 23-year-old psychology student and offensive lineman at MacMurray College in Illinois who has been a casual YouTube member for three years. It was only after receiving a FlipCam for Christmas a few years ago that his video production took off, he said. One of his first videos was a reaction piece titled “Why can’t white people say nigger?” The video collected more than 280 comments and 10,000 views.
“It got a lot of people’s attention. Some people didn’t like it. But it started up a conversation which is what I really like about YouTube,” Coleman said. “YouTube is a great place to express myself in that way.”
Coleman followed up that success with a reaction piece on The Weeknd’s last mixtape, Thursday, which collected more than 24,000 views. The video helped Coleman establish his YouTube personality and signature “break time” segment.
“People loved it. It’s literally a break time from music. A time for me to express myself to just be funny,” said Coleman, who snacks on a turkey sandwich in both videos. “[A time to] stop listening to the music, for a second. It’s comedic relief.”
Coleman isn’t sure when he’ll produce another YouTube reaction video. For now he’s content with finishing up school, mastering the piano, and listening to good music.
“My parents always said ‘forget what other people say and just do you and do it responsibly,’” Coleman concluded.
Photo provided by Quentin Coleman
