1. 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)?
This commercial was used in the superbowl two years ago and I thought it was awesome. I hate when rappers and other performers whore themselves out to promote a product though. The fact that Busta Rhymes and Missy Elliot were in the commercial did not increase my likelihood to go out and purchase a Pepsi Max. I do however see the recent increase in hip-hop artists being showcased to promote certain products. I believe that when artists do promotions like these, unless they are for a good cause or an extremely awesome product then they are merely "selling out," and not staying focused on what is supposed to be focused on, the music and the fans.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I was going to use this same commercial, yes I do not think this commercial was very good, it was kind of dumb, but it catches the eye of people. Yes mamy rappers end up becoming more promoters than actually rappers and forget about making good quality music and just promote! But then again its all business and they are out to win money just like everyone else in the world.
ReplyDeleteinteresting that hip hop music wasn't used in the videos although the hip hop artists themselves were promoting the product
ReplyDeleteThis commercial is awesome. However I think you are being a little harsh on the artists. Yes they are promoting products, but who doesn’t. If you are going to hate the rappers in this commercial, then you also have to hate the football players, baseball players, and almost any public figure that endorses a certain product.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the same thing, music was not even used in the video and they were still able to promote the product.
ReplyDelete