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)?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enJbXlb4zqo



I guess advertising is doing a good job because I immediately thought of the Chris Brown commerical for doublemint gum. The video is an excellent representation of how using a popular musician to advertise brings their fan base in to purchase the product. It also works the other way around in helping the artist become a bigger icon. I think that becoming an actor now a days means being a musician, or being a musician means becoming an actor or actress. Disney stars are a great example of that. These major stars also advertise according to their music, age, or group. You won't see a rapper advertising tweenage footwear or facial cleanser. Hip hop definitely has more of a presence in advertising than rock in my opinion. Certainly celebrities from every genre but hip hop is more popular than other genres so it's easier to appeal the majority.