What Are Those Light Up Scooters Artists Keep Posting Videos of on Instagram Called?

Balance like a bitch.

A photo posted by Wiz Khalifa (@mistercap) on May 29, 2015 at 6:32pm PDT

If you’re plugged into the musical side of social media in any way you've seen artists posting videos and pictures of themselves riding hands-free scooter devices. You know them, the light up things that nobody knows what to call. The ones that Kylie Jenner plays with. From Justin Bieber to Chief Keef these things are everywhere:

@mikeyarana I'm not gay but even if I was that's not an insult

A video posted by Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) on May 31, 2015 at 3:12pm PDT

Backing up my in my Ghost!

A video posted by Chief Keef (@chieffkeeffsossa) on Jul 10, 2015 at 7:26pm PDT

Dad's R Us. @phunkeeduck

A video posted by Wiz Khalifa (@mistercap) on May 28, 2015 at 3:09pm PDT

They've even been making cameos in music videos—most notably during the one for Meek Mill and Nicki Minaj's “All Eyes on You.” But there are some big questions on people's minds, like “what the hell are these things?” and “where the hell did they come from?”

It turns out those are tough questions to answer with a Google search and no frame of reference for a few reasons: First, Segway has long had the scooter market cornered, and, second, there are a ton of companies all competing for brand recognition. According to a Wired article, these self-balancing scooters most likely originated in China, made by a company called Chic Robotics. But because of weak intellectual property rights in China the technology has been rebranded by different companies and celebrities, who just slap their names on it and mark up the price by amounts ranging from a couple hundred to a thousand or more dollars. You may have seen brands like SkyWalkers USA or the Phunkeeduck or Space Board or the less glamorous-sounding “Self Balancing One Wheel Electric Scooter with U.S. Charger” by Airwheel. Even Soulja Boy has released a scooter, cleverly named the SouljaBoard. Because why not?

Regardless of the brand, though, artists—especially in hip-hop—are obsessed with these things. And they should be. Even though they cost a pretty penny, these scooters are pretty damn cool, a nod to some Jetsons-like idea of the future. And every picture or video of someone on one is either awesome, hilariously stupid, or both. Just look at everyone having a sweet time on them:

NO CHILL @skrillex

A video posted by @vicmensa on Jul 6, 2015 at 9:46pm PDT

@iohawkworldwide came through with the official NEW WAY TO MOVE @Official_iohawk riding through the city! ORDER NOW 1866-464-3954 #iohawk #iohawkworldwide #iohawkmaryland

A video posted by RemyBoyz“1738” (@fettywap1738) on Jun 27, 2015 at 12:15am PDT

Life ft. @lilduke60 & @yakgotti_ & @goddessdora_ !!! VIDEO BY: @missjerrikakarlae

A video posted by CESAR THE APE!!!!!!! (@thuggerthugger1) on Jun 12, 2015 at 1:14pm PDT

#FinnaGetLoose #FutureFoot #zone @iamdiddy @pharrell #summerbanger

A video posted by therealswizzz (@therealswizzz) on Jul 3, 2015 at 5:56pm PDT

We out

A video posted by Nicki Minaj (@nickiminaj) on Jun 14, 2015 at 3:39pm PDT

A video posted by @chrisbrownofficial on May 21, 2015 at 1:53pm PDT

A photo posted by French Montana (@frenchmontana) on Jun 27, 2015 at 3:15pm PDT

futuristic Nami. @sebastiankingss x @3hunna light up kicks x @spaceboard.co

A photo posted by Lani Tsunami lil'LayLow (@kehlanimusic) on Jun 28, 2015 at 6:18pm PDT

#HTOWN Waddup‼️

A video posted by Yo Gotti (@yogottikom) on Jul 29, 2015 at 7:22pm PDT

Sparkle is Noisey's intern and chief scooter correspondent.