It was 2019. Before the world shut down, before the TikTok explosion really rewrote how we consume music, a comedian-turned-rapper named Dave Burd—better known as Lil Dicky—decided to save the planet. Or at least, he tried to get us to look at it. The Earth song wasn't just a track; it was a massive, star-studded collision of celebrity culture and climate anxiety.
Honestly, it’s easy to be cynical about it now. We’ve seen a thousand celebrity "we are the world" moments that felt forced or out of touch. But "Earth" was different because it was self-aware. It was crude. It was animated. It featured Justin Bieber as a baboon and Ariana Grande as a zebra. It was, basically, the internet in song form.
Breaking down the chaos of the Earth song
If you look back at the credits, it’s actually insane. Leonardo DiCaprio, the king of environmental activism, showed up at the end. You had Kevin Hart as Kanye West. You had Ed Sheeran, Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, and Snoop Dogg. Usually, when this many A-listers get in a room, the result is something incredibly polished and boring. This was the opposite.
Lil Dicky built his career on being the "everyman" who doesn't quite fit into rap. By the time the Earth song dropped, he was leveraging that "awkward guy" persona to bridge the gap between heavy environmental science and the average person who just wants to watch a funny video. The song starts with a simple premise: we love the Earth, it is our planet. From there, it devolves into various celebrities voicing animals and discussing their specific anatomical or social traits. It’s weird. It’s meant to be.
Why the humor worked (and why it didn't)
Comedy is a risky vehicle for a message this serious. Some critics at the time, including those from Pitchfork and The Guardian, felt the jokes undercut the urgency of the climate crisis. They argued that making a song about animal flatulence and Justin Bieber's "baboon breath" wasn't exactly the rallying cry we needed.
But here’s the thing: it reached people.
The video racked up hundreds of millions of views. It wasn't preaching to the choir in a stuffy lecture hall. It was playing in middle school cafeterias and on car radios. By using humor, Lil Dicky bypassed the "doom and gloom" fatigue that often makes people tune out when they hear about carbon emissions or rising sea levels.
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The actual impact on environmental funding
We shouldn't forget that this wasn't just a play for views. The Earth song was a massive fundraising engine. Profits from the song, the music video, and the related merchandise were directed to the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation (LDF), which has since merged into Earth Alliance.
Specifically, the money was earmarked for very real, very tangible projects:
- Protecting the Quickstep Forest in the Amazon.
- Assisting indigenous communities on the front lines of climate change.
- Renewable energy initiatives.
- Supporting the "Global Deal for Nature."
Benny Blanco and Cashmere Cat, who produced the track, managed to create something that sounded like a pop hit while serving as a massive donation link. It’s a weird hybrid. It’s a "charity single" that sounds like a comedy sketch.
Celebrity cameos: Who was who?
It’s a fun game to go back and try to identify every voice without looking at the list. You’ve got Brendon Urie as a pig, Halsey as a lion cub, and Zac Brown as a cow. One of the funniest moments—at least to me—is Sia playing a kangaroo. She’s got this powerhouse voice, and she’s using it to sing about a joey in her pouch.
Then you have the more "serious" cameos. Lil Jon playing a clam is just classic 2000s nostalgia. But the inclusion of Leonardo DiCaprio at the end was the seal of approval. Leo doesn't just put his name on anything environmental unless he thinks it has reach. He stood on the bow of a ship—a nod to Titanic—holding a CGI globe. It was meta, it was cheesy, and it worked.
The technical side of the animation
The music video was produced by 300 Entertainment and featured some pretty high-end 3D animation. The goal was to make it look like a high-budget animated film, but with the irreverent edge of a late-night cartoon. Ryot and many other creative partners spent months syncing the celebrity voices to these animal avatars.
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Interestingly, many of the artists recorded their lines in total isolation. They didn't know who else was on the track until much later. This kept the surprise factor high when the video finally premiered just before Earth Day in 2019.
Is the Earth song still relevant?
Looking at the climate landscape in 2026, the song feels like a time capsule. We’ve moved into a much more intense era of climate activism. Figures like Greta Thunberg (who was just starting to gain global traction when the song came out) shifted the tone from "let's love the Earth" to "our house is on fire."
Does that make Lil Dicky’s track obsolete? Kinda, but not really.
The Earth song serves as an entry point. Not everyone is ready to read a 500-page IPCC report on climate mitigation. Some people just need a catchy hook and a talking zebra to remind them that the planet is worth saving. It’s "top of funnel" activism. It brings people into the conversation who might otherwise feel intimidated or bored by the science.
The song also highlighted a shift in how celebrities use their platforms. It wasn't about a single person being a hero; it was about a collective of the world's biggest stars admitting that we’re all "forgiving our stupidities" and trying to do better.
What we can learn from the "Earth" phenomenon
If you're looking to make a difference or even just understand why this song blew up, there are a few takeaways. First, don't be afraid of being "cringe" if the cause is worth it. Lil Dicky leaned into the awkwardness. Second, collaboration is the ultimate multiplier. If he had released this song alone, it would have been a minor comedy hit. With 30+ celebrities, it became a global event.
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The song reminds us that environmentalism doesn't always have to be a somber funeral for the planet. It can be a celebration of what we have. It can be loud, messy, and a little bit gross.
Actionable steps for the "Earth" fan
If the song still resonates with you, don't just leave it on your Spotify playlist. The issues it raised are more pressing than ever.
Check out the organizations that the song originally supported. Earth Alliance is a great place to start. They focus on protecting ecosystems and wildlife, much like the characters in the video. You can also look into local conservation efforts. Small changes, like reducing meat consumption or opting for public transit, were literally shouted out in the lyrics.
Also, support creators who use their platform for more than just self-promotion. Whether it's Dave Burd or a small YouTuber talking about upcycling, the "Earth" model showed that entertainment and education can live in the same space.
The Earth song might be a bit of a meme, but its heart was—and is—in the right place. It’s a snapshot of a moment when the world’s biggest stars stopped taking themselves seriously for three minutes to talk about something that actually matters. We need more of that energy, even if it comes with a few more jokes about baboons.
Next Steps for Impact:
- Visit the Earth Alliance website to see where current conservation funding is most needed.
- Review your own carbon footprint using a reliable calculator like the one provided by the World Wildlife Fund.
- Share the "Earth" video with someone who hasn't seen it—sometimes a laugh is the best way to start a serious conversation about the environment.
- Support independent artists who donate a portion of their proceeds to environmental causes.