Blog 5 Andrew Corke

Find a current commerical in which a hip-hop artist advertises a product. Discuss the video as it relates to the role of marketing and advertising in the artist’s career. Make sure you provide examples to argue the thesis that hip-hop artists have (or have not) blurred the line between music and merchandise. Is hip-hop more open to identifying itself with brands? Is hip-hop more entrepreneurial than rock or pop? “…has black talk been used openly, knowingly, and not mockingly to sell products” (Savan 195)?

Awesome! I love rap so this is perfect opportunity to show you my favorite rapper! In this Adidas commercial, my favorite rapper, Young Jeezy (In White) is playing poker against Kevin Garnett –a professional basketball player (In Black). Of course Young Jeezy wins because he is the best.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPXciRsgS-0

Sex, Love, Drugs, and Alcohol are all common subject matter in today’s rap. Because of these scandalous behaviors rap is very popular with teenagers in our culture. Rap is also linked with money, and expensive things such as cars. Young Jeezy for example is known for his collection of Lamborghinis, and what he raps about you will have to find out for yourself. Because Hip-hop/Rap’s close connection with such activities it is better and more open to identifying itself with these brands that would promote to teenagers. In this case Hip-hop/Rap is more suitable than Rock or pop in today’s advertising to catch the attention of the viewer. Rap/Hip-hop artists are in no been used mockingly to sell these products, black is in, black is cool, and our president is black. Id like to share a drawing I made recently because I thinks it ironically goes with a quote I picked up from the story. “We can be part black (the part presumed to be cool and soulful, real and down, jazzy or hip-hop, choose your sound) and be part white (the privileged part, the part that has the luxury to easily reference other parts).