“Having a million viewers was always a dream of mine.” At only 19 years old, Darren Watkins Jr., better known as IShowSpeed, has made his wildest dreams come true. With over 45 million subscribers across his YouTube channels and recently winning Streamer of the Year honors, Watkins is re-defining both digital and traditional media.
While most creators stick within the confines of their home country, Speed’s livestreams have taken him around the world, from Southeast Asia to Europe to Australia and more. In many ways, he’s recapturing the magic of the late Anthony Bourdain, who toured the world through food and cooking, except Speed is doing it for a new generation through YouTube and livestreaming.
I had the chance to sit down with him to talk about his meteoric rise, his record-breaking livestream in Indonesia with over one million concurrent viewers, and how he’s navigating life as one of the most influential creators in the world today.
Breaking Records
Streaming from his bedroom in Cincinnati, Ohio, Speed began his journey with just a handful of viewers tuning in to watch him play FIFA, NBA 2K, and Fortnite.
“When I first started my stream, I only had one viewer, two viewers, and that kept me going,” he explained. “In week two, I started averaging four viewers. In week three, I started averaging 17 viewers. As more people watched, I thought I could get somewhere with this, and I had fun. So that’s what kept me going.”
At the time, his streams were raw and mostly focused on gaming content like NBA 2K. His unscripted authenticity quickly resonated with fans, helping him build a loyal community. Whether it was his over-the-top enthusiasm when winning or his reactions in multiple languages, Speed’s personality became, and still remains, his most powerful trait.
“It’s pretty much improvising, just natural. Everything is just random events. Stuff just happens,” he said.
As his fanbase grew, so did his ambition. In 2023, Speed took his streams beyond his bedroom and started to travel internationally, opening a new chapter for his career.
“Our Euro tour was my first tour, and we improvised that so well. It wasn’t supposed to be a tour at all, but we made it one. I was like, ‘Whoa, this is something that I’m actually doing big.’ Then, after the Euro tour, I followed up with the Southeast Asia one.”
“When I reached that moment, I just started crying because [there were] a million live viewers, something that I always dreamed of. That’s the accolade that every streamer wants to reach. And I did it alone. No collab. No event. Just me streaming. That’s true art right there.”
But Speed isn’t stopping anytime soon. He told me that his goal is to livestream in every country with the hopes to “try out the national food and really connect with the people.”
It’s those moments of travel that have led to spontaneous encounters like the time Speed met the Prime Minister of Albania.
“Some kid randomly came up to my security and was like, ‘I know the Prime Minister.’ My security was like, ‘You’re chatting.’ But I heard him out. We got his number twenty minutes later in my stream. I met him. Then it went crazy.”
This unexpected meeting not only highlighted Speed’s openness to new experiences but also the unscripted nature of his livestreams, which fans have come to love. While the tours have been groundbreaking, they weren’t without challenges.
“When I was in Malaysia, I was locked inside of a restaurant. I couldn’t get out of the restaurant because there were just too many people. It just wouldn’t be safe.”
Managing massive crowds became a recurring challenge. He was also locked in a restaurant in Austria and a souvenir shop in Norway.
“People were jumping on me. Sometimes, it gets too crazy, and I hate that. It’s always a way to have fun, turn up, get crazy, but, you know, still in a safe way. Sometimes people get too crazy, but it is what it is.”
Those challenges were a small price to pay for the deeper connections he formed with his global audience. For Speed, these tours are just the beginning.
“I gotta do them all. I gotta stream to every country,” he said.
Staying True To His Name
Time and time again, Speed has proven himself to be one of the fastest — and most athletic — creators out there. But a few weeks ago, he put his talents to the test against Olympic champion Noah Lyles in a high-profile matchup in a recent MrBeast video, where he came close to victory.
“MrBeast called me while I was streaming and said, ‘Let’s race.’ I was like, ‘I’m in Miami,’ and he said he was in Orlando. That’s a three-hour drive. But I said, ‘Alright, if you can wait three to four hours, I’ll come.’ And I did. No stretches, no planning, nothing. I literally just drove and raced him.”
But it was his Lamborghini stunt that truly shocked the internet. Speed jumped over the sports car traveling at 45 mph — and he did it several times.
“The feeling of jumping over cars is the best feeling ever. It happens in like two seconds,” he said. “I actually did that. I do want to make that clear. I can jump over a 45-mile-per-hour car running at me. And I’m the first person to do that.”
Speed’s athleticism also shines in his collaborations with sports icons. At the NFL Combine, he caught a pass from #1 overall draft pick Caleb Williams, ran a blistering 4.4-second 40-yard dash, and even beat All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner in a route-running challenge.
Speed has also shown his skills in the world of professional wrestling, taking an RKO from WWE legend Randy Orton — a moment that became one of the most-viewed Instagram Reels in the platform’s history.
Livestreaming in the Era of AI
Speed’s meteoric rise underscores the unparalleled connection that livestreaming offers between creators and fans.
“As a livestreamer, we have such a close connection with our supporters and fans. We’re always talking to them, giving them updates on our lives every single day. That’s what makes livestreaming the thing now.”
This immediacy stands out in a world increasingly filled with AI-generated content and deepfakes.
“For an artist, the only time they’re talking to their fans is at a concert. An actor? Maybe at a convention, if even that. But with livestreaming, we’re always there. It’s just the thing now. It’s 2024, that’s what everybody’s doing right now.”
But for the few partnerships he’s done, there have been countless others he hasn’t pursued. For Speed and his team, there’s been a huge focus on growing his brand intentionally to make sure every partnership aligns with his north star to entertain while staying true to himself.
The Next Chapter For IShowSpeed
Looking into next year, Speed talked about how his ambitions are starting to extend beyond just livestreaming. He’s hinted at future business ventures, from new products to more produced videos, as he evolves from a raw entertainer to a multifaceted creator.
“I have been doing this for five years now. I feel like a veteran. It feels like I’m getting older. But I want to keep going higher, and I will.”
One of his more ambitious ideas? Streaming in space.
“I want to stream in space one day. Once I talk to Elon Musk, it’s happening,” he said. “I want to keep making people happy. I want to keep making people laugh. I want to keep reaching.”
At only 19 years old, Speed has already reached for — and achieved — so much in his livestreaming career. But don’t be surprised if his next chapter includes skyrocketing to another stratosphere of super stardom, both figuratively and literally.
NB: This article was first published in December 2024.
IShowSpeed ended his one day tour in Ghana as part of his Africa Tour which has seen him visit countries such as Nigeria, Benin, Kenya, South Africa.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh
