Australian Students made to analyse ‘Thick of It’ by KSI

Australian Year 12 students in New South Wales were shocked last week after sitting their final music exam and being asked to analyse “Thick of It” by YouTube megastar and rapper KSI. According to several posts made to social media, the exam featured a Jazz Cover of KSI’s thick of it to analyse on pages 6–7 of the paper, sparking massive virality across social media.

Thumbnail for KSI’s Thick of It Song on YouTube

The inclusion of KSI’s song, best known for its catchy hook and emotionally charged lyrics, left many questioning how it ended up in a high-stakes academic assessment. TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) quickly filled with reactions as thousands of students shared their confusion and amusement at being told to dissect the themes, tone, and stylistic choices of a track originally born out of YouTube culture. The version of Thick of It they were made to analyse was a Jazz cover by What Now Presenter Rahul Luddin. Rahil commented on our Instagram post about this situation saying “so I made this jazz cover. hope everyone’s exams went ok”

Originally released in 2024, “Thick of It” became a global sensation, racking up more than 121 million views on its official music video. Known first for his comedic gaming videos, KSI (real name Olajide Olatunji) has since built a multifaceted empire spanning music, boxing, and business.

For many, the unusual exam question highlights the evolving nature of modern education, where pop culture, internet virality, and traditional academia collide in unexpected ways.