Walk into any barbershop today and mention a "yee yee ass haircut," and you'll likely get a smirk from anyone under the age of forty. It's weird. This specific, crude insult from a video game released over a decade ago—Grand Theft Auto V—has managed to outlast almost every other piece of digital slang from the 2010s. It isn't just a funny line anymore. It's a cultural shorthand for being a "loser" in the most specific, visual way possible.
The phrase comes from a scene early in the game where the character Lamar Davis roasts the protagonist Franklin Clinton. Franklin is trying to get Lamar off his porch. Lamar, being Lamar, decides to systematically dismantle Franklin's entire existence, starting with his hair.
The Anatomy of the Franklin Roast
The scene is simple. Lamar asks if he can come into Franklin’s house. Franklin says no. Lamar then delivers a rhythmic, profane, and strangely poetic monologue about why Franklin’s life is going nowhere.
"Maybe if you got rid of that old yee yee ass haircut you'd get some bitches on your dick," Lamar says. He follows it up by suggesting that Tanisha, the ex-girlfriend, might call Franklin if she stops "fucking with that brain surgeon or lawyer she fucking with."
It’s brutal. It’s also incredibly relatable to anyone who has ever been told their style is the reason for their social failures.
The brilliance of the writing by Rockstar Games, and specifically the delivery by actor Slink Johnson, is in the cadence. It sounds like music. The way he sings the final slur as he walks away is what turned a standard dialogue exchange into an internet relic. Slink Johnson wasn't just reading lines; he was bringing a specific West Coast energy that felt authentic even in its absurdity.
Why the Term Stuck
"Yee yee" isn't a word you'll find in the Oxford English Dictionary. In different contexts, particularly in the Southern United States, it’s a celebratory shout often associated with country or "redneck" culture. But in the mouth of Lamar Davis, it became a descriptor for something raggedy, unkempt, or just plain ugly.
It filled a linguistic gap. We didn't really have a punchy way to describe a haircut that was technically a haircut but looked like a disaster.
The 2021 Resurgence and the Metaverse
For years, the meme was just a niche joke for GTA fans. Then, around 2020 and 2021, something shifted. The internet decided to break the scene.
You started seeing "Lamar Roasts Franklin" videos everywhere on YouTube and TikTok. But they weren't the original scene. Creators began swapping out Lamar for other characters. You had Darth Vader telling Franklin he had a yee yee ass haircut. You had Snow White doing it. Even Kermit the Frog.
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Slink Johnson and Gerald Johnson Recreate the Scene
The absolute peak of this phenomenon happened when the actual voice actors, Slink Johnson (Lamar) and Shawn Fonteno (Franklin), met up in real life to recreate the scene in person. They stood in a driveway that looked remarkably like Franklin's house in the game.
Slink wore the same colors. He hit every beat perfectly.
That video alone has millions of views. It proved that the actors understood exactly why the scene was funny. They leaned into the absurdity. It wasn't just a job for them; it was a legacy. Most gaming memes die within six months. This one survived because the people who made it were willing to keep playing with the community.
Beyond the Game: The Real-World Impact on Barber Culture
It sounds silly, but "yee yee ass haircut" actually entered the lexicon of real-world barbers.
I’ve talked to stylists who say younger clients will come in and literally say, "Don't give me that yee yee ass haircut." It’s become a way to communicate a fear of the "mid" fade or the botched line-up. It represents the ultimate social nightmare: looking so bad that even your friends can’t help but humiliate you.
The Psychology of the Insult
Why does this specific insult cut so deep?
- It’s Personal: A haircut is something you chose. It's a reflection of your judgment.
- It’s Visible: You can’t hide a bad haircut unless you wear a hat 24/7.
- It’s Fixable: That’s the kicker. Lamar is telling Franklin that his problems are his own fault.
Franklin's reaction in the game—a quiet "What?"—is the reaction of a man who knows, deep down, that Lamar might be right.
The Technical Side: GTA V’s Longevity
We can’t talk about this meme without acknowledging that Grand Theft Auto V is the most profitable entertainment product ever. Because the game has been re-released on three different console generations, new kids are playing it for the first time every single year.
Each new generation "discovers" Lamar.
The game’s writing, led by Dan Houser during his time at Rockstar, was always meant to be a biting satire of American life. The "roast" scene captures that perfectly. It’s mean, it’s funny, and it’s deeply observant of how men interact.
Acknowledging the Controversy
Is the scene offensive? By some modern standards, sure. It uses heavy profanity and a racial slur as a term of endearment/aggression. However, within the context of the characters and the neighborhood they inhabit, it’s seen by most players as a piece of authentic, if heightened, character building.
It isn't punching down. Lamar and Franklin are in the same boat. Lamar is just the one with the louder mouth.
How to Avoid Having a Yee Yee Ass Haircut
If you're worried that you might be the target of a Lamar-style roast, there are actually some practical things to keep in mind. Barbering has evolved significantly since 2013, yet the "yee yee" look persists.
Usually, what makes a haircut "yee yee" isn't the style itself, but the execution.
- The Fade: If your fade has visible lines or "steps," you're in danger. A good fade should look like a gradient of smoke.
- The Line-up: If your hairline looks like a mountain range instead of a straight line, you're asking for it.
- The Maintenance: Franklin's hair in that scene is a basic buzz cut that’s grown out too far. It’s "old."
Honest advice? Find a barber who uses a straight razor for the finish. If they just use clippers and send you on your way, you might be walking out with that yee yee energy.
The Cultural Legacy
We live in an era where memes are the new currency of fame. Slink Johnson has parlayed that one scene into a sustained career in comedy and digital content. He’s "the guy."
It’s a testament to the power of a single well-delivered line. Rockstar Games wrote thousands of pages of dialogue for GTA V, but these thirty seconds are what people remember most. It’s the "To be or not to be" of the digital age, just with more insults about your ex-girlfriend.
What’s Next for the Meme?
With Grand Theft Auto VI on the horizon, people are already wondering what the next "yee yee" will be. Can lightning strike twice? It's hard to say. The internet in 2026 is much more fragmented than it was back then.
But for now, the yee yee ass haircut remains the gold standard for video game memes. It’s a perfect storm of writing, voice acting, and timing.
If you're looking to upgrade your look and move past the Franklin Clinton aesthetic, start by paying attention to the details. Don't just get a cut; get a consultation. Ask your barber what works for your head shape. Avoid the generic. And for the love of everything, don't let a "brain surgeon or lawyer" take your girl just because you were too lazy to book an appointment.
Take a look in the mirror today. Is your hairline crisp? Is your neck shaved? If you have to hesitate before answering, you know what you need to do. Go get that fix. Don't let the Lamars of the world have the last laugh.