Words by Sreya Nair | Feature Image from Instagram
In moments of boredom, we have all gone down rabbit holes of YouTube videos – whether it’s specific creators or genres, I have had my fair share of these deep dives. However, none were as prolonged as my exploration of the channel Slushy Noobz. Maybe it’s the duo’s diverse range of video topics or the simplicity of their content, bringing viewers back to a more personal and nostalgic era of the internet; even their introduction is a plain title card of their channel name in underlined Arial font, a singular high-pitched note sung in the background. Perhaps it’s Martin and Hamzah’s alluring quality and effortless comedic abilities. Ultimately, I’m not the only one who enjoys this channel. Martin and Hamzah have amassed more than 900,000 subscribers in under two years, with their most popular video, “We Went to Comicon on Shrooms,” amassing over 3.6 million views.
Based in Toronto, Hamzah and Martin seem to have been gearing up for successful careers in content creation. In July 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hamzah began posting on TikTok under @hamzahthefantastic and starred in a sketch-comedy Twitch stream called 4FreakShow with Claire Drake, Chase Rutherford, and Haley Sharpe – this improv show, taking place on a Zoom call, often featured guest influencers like Charli D’Amelio. Later the same year, Hamzah was deported from the US and, for his family’s safety and security, moved to Canada. Martin, being native to Canada, had graduated, received a degree in computer science, and took a job working for the Canadian government. On the side he began content creation, primarily posting on TikTok under @thatmartinkid, with his video “the life of a micro-influencer” being one of his first popular videos in 2022. Hamzah took notice of Martin’s popularity, and after reaching out on Instagram and consulting ChatGPT’s random name-generator, Slushy Noobz was born.
May 30, 2023, marked the release of their first video, “We beat the enderdragon,” during which they played the game Second Life. Even in their origins we see their natural chemistry – a blend of internet humor, intentional awkwardness, and chaos that is all too familiar to our own friendships. Since then, they have expanded their video topics from gaming to mukbangs, baking competitions, adventurous vlogs, and even science experiments.
They built a consistent and dedicated fanbase, who they startled when announcing on Instagram that they were taking a break when only a few weeks earlier they had shaved their heads in their first livestream. As January rolled in, posters promoting a Slushy Noobz art gallery appeared around Toronto, featuring paintings of Hamzah and Martin in boxing gear. At the height of their fans’ confusion, they finally announced their fight.
It’s become common for YouTubers to throw their fists at each other – everyone remembers the KSI vs. Logan Paul fight six years ago. Being that this is common for creators with some sort of dispute, Hamzah and Martin seemed an unlikely pair to tackle this trend. A two-hour YouTube livestream proved this to be wrong. For eight months, the two underwent intense training, all of which was captured in their Patreon documentary Slushy Noobz Out of Character – The Documentary (Parts 1 & 2). Their finely tuned skills made this match entertaining and suspenseful without a clear winner until the judges’ decision at the very end in favor of Hamzah.
The most notable moment, however, was the moment after their fight, when the two exchanged words of gratitude to each other. Out of breath, Hamzah wearily says, “Um, it felt good to beat him, but I still love him, and he’s my best friend.” In response Martin says, “I just want to thank you so much for being my partner in this whole YouTube journey. I love you so much – without you, I wouldn’t even be doing any of the things I do. I’m just not that type of person, but you’re pushing me every day to be a better person, so thank you – I love you.” This emotional exchange proves why Slushy Noobz is significant on social media today. In a string of superficial fame-chasing influencers, Martin and Hamzah show why passion and appreciation never fail. Their dedication to go to great lengths to provide engaging and amusing content for fans is admirable. Their genuine appreciation for each other makes their content even more authentic and exciting to watch.