In honor of Cinco de Mayo (the day non-Mexicans get drunk because they think it’s Mexican Independence Day), XXLMag.com thinks it’d be fitting to list some of the more popular alcoholic drinks mentioned in hip-hop music.
MCs always tend to have a drink du jour, whether it is Ice Cube “slangin’ bean pies and St. Ides in the same sentence” or Busta Rhymes stomping on Monique’s toes because she drank the last of the Courvoisier. Big business is listening also; every time a key influence, such as Diddy, name drops a product, sales automatically shoot up. It’s the kind of advertising money can’t buy.
So sit back and relax. This round’s on us.—Jesus Trivino Alarcon
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- DomPerignonWeddingDom PerignonThis champagne is named after a 17th century monk.<br /> <strong>Spokesmen:</strong> Jadakiss, Wyclef Jean, 2 Live Crew, Little Shawn, Notorious B.I.G., etc.<br /> <strong>1st Appearance:</strong> 1989<br /> <strong>Endorsement:</strong> “Can't we just all get along?/ So I can put hickies on her chest like Lil’ Shawn/ Get her pissy drunk off of Dom Perignon/ And it's on, and I'm gone”—Biggie “Party and Bullshit”<br />
- AlizeAlizeWine Enthusiast ranked Alize as one of the 50 best bangs for your buck spirits in 2006.<br /> <strong>Spokesmen:</strong> Notorious B.I.G., 2Pac, RZA, Saigon, Jay-Z, etc.<br /><strong>1st Appearance: </strong>Early ‘90s<br /><strong>Endorsement:</strong> “Ayo, raise 'em up, hold ya cup up/ let the Alize fill them up”—RZA “Drink, Smoke, and Fuck”<br />
- Thug PassionThug PassionJust like Pac said, “Two parts Cristal, one part Alize.”<br /> <strong>Spokesmen:</strong> 2Pac, Lil Boosie, etc.<br /> <strong>1st Appearance:</strong> Early ‘90s<br /> <strong>Endorsement:</strong> “It's a potion for my niggas in motion, forever blastin'/ Bitches ain't ready for this Thug Passion”—2Pac “Thug Passion”<br />
- e_j_brandy_2E & JThe brandy is named after its founders, brothers Ernest and Julio Gallo.<br /> <strong>Spokesmen:</strong> Notorious B.I.G., Mobb Deep, etc.<br /><strong>1st Appearance:</strong> Early ‘90s<br /><strong>Endorsement:</strong> She mad because what we had didn’t lastI’m glad because her cousin let me hit the ass Fuck the past: let’s dwell on the 500SL, the E&J and ginger ale Notorious B.I.G. “One More Chance”<br />
- hkfeatureHeinekenThe Dutch beer company owns more than 125 breweries in over 70 countries.<br /> <strong>Spokesmen:</strong> Nas, D-12, Kool G. Rap, Notorious B.I.G., etc.<br /> <strong>1st Appearance:</strong> Early ‘90s<br /><strong>Endorsement:</strong> “True in the game, as long as blood is blue in my veins/ I pour my Heineken brew to my deceased crew on memory lane”—Nas “Memory Lane (Sittin’ in da Park)”<br />
- Tanqueray-Gin-421x1024TanquerayThe biggest non-British consumers of this gin are Americans.<br /> <strong>Spokesmen:</strong> Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, 2Pac, Notorious B.I.G., Wiz Khalifa, Tha Alkaholiks<br /><strong>1st Appearance:</strong> Early ‘90s<br /> Endorsement: “Gettin faded wit another nigga wife/ Drinkin hella champagne / Tanqueray wit the sprite/ Then I'm up in the AM to catch another flight”—Wiz Khalifa “The Kid Frankie”<br />
- Colt45Colt 45It worked every time for smooth ass Billy Dee Williams.<br /> <strong>Spokesmen:</strong> Snoop Dogg, Afro Man, Tha Alkaholiks, etc.<br /><strong>1st Appearance:</strong> Early ‘90s<br /><strong>Endorsement:</strong> “Coke bottle shape, like green eyes/ Drunk off of love like a Colt 45/ I keep kush in my lungs, I'ma smoke 'til I die”—Snoop Dogg “Boom”<br />
- SeagramsSeagrams GinIn the late 1990s, Seagrams Inc. owned urban music powerhouse Def Jam Records.<br /> <strong>Spokesmen:</strong> Snoop Dogg, Method Man, etc.<br /> <strong>1st Appearance:</strong> Early ‘90s<br /><strong>Endorsement:</strong> “Now that I got me some Seagram's Gin/ Everybody got they cups, but they ain't chipped in”—Snoop Dogg “Gin & Juice”<br />
- hennessy_vs_bigHennessyThe timeless hip-hop liquor is the largest producer of cognac in the world.<br /> <strong>Spokesmen:</strong> 2Pac, Snoop Dogg, Kanye West, 50 Cent, Tech N9ne, Nas, etc.<br /> <strong>1st Appearance:</strong> Early ‘90s<br /><strong>Endorsement:</strong> "Hey, remember me? Down that Hennessy/ The nigga you don't wanna see, let me proceed”—Pac “Hennessy”<br />
- StIdesSt. IdesAlso known as The Crooked I, this malt liquor employed various rappers as pitchmen.<br /> <strong>Spokesmen:</strong> Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, Notorious B.I.G., Dr. Dre, King Tee, Cypress Hill, Geto Boys, Wu Tang Clan, etc.<strong>1st Appearance:</strong> ‘90s<br /><strong>Endorsement:</strong> “With St. Ides in my system, crack another I'm blitzed, let's go hit the next one/ Hang it over, the object is to stay sober/ Lay on the sofa, better yet, dial my chauffeur”—Raekwon, St. Ides Commercial<br />
- OldEOlde EnglishThe original 40 ounce is owned by beer giant Miller Brewing Company.<br /> <strong>Spokesmen:</strong> Game, Youngbloodz, LL Cool J, etc.<br /> <strong>1st Appearance:</strong> ‘90s<br /><strong>Endorsement:</strong> “Olde English filled my mind/ And I came up with a funky rhyme”—LL Cool J “Mama Said Knock You Out”<br />
- remy_martin_xoRemy MartinThis brandy was founded in France in 1724.<br /> <strong>Spokesmen:</strong> T.I., Jay-Z, The Notorious B.I.G.,Dr. Dre<br /><strong>1st Appearance:</strong> Early ‘90s<br /> <strong>Endorsement:</strong> “But before I hit the dope spot, I gotta get the chronic/ the Remy Martin and my soda pop”—Dr. Dre “Let Me Ride”<br />
- grand_marnierGrand MarnierCreated in 1880 it is often used in pastries.<br /> <strong>Spokesmen:</strong> Canibus, Notorious B.I.G., Gucci Mane, etc.<br /> <strong>1st Appearance:</strong> Early ‘90s<br /><strong>Endorsement:</strong> “Grand Marnier increase the don strength/ Two four-fifths within my arms length”—Notorious B.I.G. “Would You Die For Me”<br />
- AstiAsti SpumanteThis desert wine from Italy is low on alcohol.<br /> <strong>Spokesmen:</strong> Prodigy, Nas, Redman, etc.<br /> <strong>1st Appearance:</strong> Mid-‘90s<br /> <strong>Endorsement:</strong> “All jeweled like Liberace/ You watch me while Jakes tryin’ to knock me and lock me/ But I'll be on the low sippin Asti Spumante”—Prodigy “Eye for an Eye”<br />
- bacardifeature1BacardiInitially ardent supporters of the Cuban Revolutionaries, the Barcardis stopped once Fidel Castro and company became communists.<br /> <strong>Spokesmen:</strong> 50 Cent, Cassidy, Dem Franchize Boyz, Big Pun, etc.<br /> <strong>1st Appearance:</strong> Late ‘90s<br /><strong>Endorsement:</strong> "Go, shawty, it's your birthday / We gon' party like it's yo birthday / We gon' sip Bacardi like it's your birthday / And you know we don't give a fuck/ It's not your birthday—50 Cent “In Da Club”<br />
- MoetMoet & ChandonMoet & Chandon is one of the world’s largest producers of champagne.<br /> <strong>Spokesmen:</strong> Foxy Brown, Big Daddy Kane, Jay-Z, Lloyd Banks, Prodigy, etc.<br /><strong>1st Appearance:</strong> Late ‘90s<br />Endorsement: “I'm rap's LeBron, Teflon Don/ Baguettes on arm, the next Sean John/ By any means I protect my charm/ Blade'll bubble you up, like Moet & Chandon”—Lloyd Banks “If You So Gangsta”<br />
- cristalmagnumCristalThe champagne lost its popularity among rappers, when the company’s managing director, Frederic Rouzaud, told The Economist: “We can't forbid people from buying it. I'm sure Dom Pérignon or Krug would be delighted to have [rappers’] business.”<br /> <strong>Spokesmen:</strong> Jay-Z, Notorious B.I.G. Lil’ Kim, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, Diddy, etc.<br /><strong>1st Appearance:</strong> 1997<br /><strong>Endorsement:</strong> "You can't roll a blunt to this one / You gotta, you gotta well, ya gotta light a J, You gotta puff a J on this one / You can't even drink Crist-OWL on this one / You gotta drink Crist-All”—Jay-Z “Excuse Me Miss”<br />
- greygoosefeature1Grey GooseIn 2004, this vodka was sold to Bacardi for over $2 billion.<br /> <strong>Spokesmen:</strong> Nas, Ying Yang Twins, Young Jeezy, Maino, etc.<br /> <strong>1st Appearance:</strong> Early 2000s<br /><strong>Endorsement:</strong> “But I ain't 5-O, y'all know it's Nas yo/ Grey Goose and a whole lotta hydro”—Nas “Made You Look”<br />
- patron_bottles_01PatronMexican made Tequila; consumed by American-born rappers.<br /> <strong>Spokesmen:</strong> T.I., Jay-Z, Lil Jon, B.o.B., Ludacris, Yung Joc, Paul Wall, Game, etc.<br /><strong>1st Appearance:</strong> Early 2000s<br /> <strong>Endorsement:</strong> Surrender to da woman, end up takin’ me home/ ‘Cause she started lookin’ better, every shot of Patron (Yep!)”— Ludacris “One More Drink”<br />
- HypnotiqHpnotiqThe mixture of fruit juices, vodka and cognac was created by college dropout Raphael Yakoby.<br /> <strong>Spokesmen:</strong> 50 Cent, Yukmouth, Chamillionaire, Timbaland, Cormega, etc.<br /><strong>1st Appearance:</strong> Early 2000s<br /> <strong>Endorsement:</strong> “I can take ya overseas in the villas that look exotic/ You would think it's open bar how the water look like Hpnotiq”— Chamillionaire “Nothing But Lies”<br />
- IncredilbleHulkIncredible HulkThe drink (a mixture Hennessy and Hpnotiq) was created by a bartender at Diddy’s NYC restaurant Justin’s.<br /> <strong>Spokesmen:</strong> Lil’ Wyte, Master P, etc.<br /> <strong>1st Appearance:</strong> Early 2000s<br /> <strong>Endorsement:</strong> “I'm a thug nigga, I lean when I walk/ My favorite drink is that Incredible Hulk (Uuuughhhh!)”—Master P “Who Them Boyz”<br />
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- SyzurpSizzurpExtreme consumption of this drink could lead to weight gain, tooth decay and, even, death.<br /> <strong>Spokesmen:</strong> UGK, Lil Wayne, Diplomats, Three 6 Mafia, DJ Screw, T.I.<br /><strong>1st Appearance:</strong> Early 2000s<br /><strong>Endorsement:</strong> “Hydroco-done, on the hands-free phone/ The '84 Brougham, on them blades, 20-inch chrome/ If you got 16, you can get a biz-zerd/ I'm choking on that doja sweet and sipping on that sizz-urp”—Pimp C “Sippin on Some Sizzurp”<br />
- absolut-vodkaAbsolutThe vodka is sold in over 100 countries.<br /> <strong>Spokesmen:</strong> Kanye West, Jay-Z, Tone Loc, Foxy Brown, Method Man, etc.<br /><strong>1st Appearance:</strong> Early 2000s<br /><strong>Endorsement:</strong> “I've learned when you drink Absolut straight it burns/ Enough to give my chest hairs a perm”—Method Man “Bring the Pain”<br />
- BELVEDERE-VODKABelvedereThis vodka gets its name from Belvedere, the Polish presidential palace.<br /> <strong>Spokesmen:</strong> Young Jeezy, Kidz in the Hall, etc.<br /> <strong>1st Appearance:</strong> Late 2000s<br /><strong>Endorsement:</strong> “You see me standing here, like a chandelier/ Gangsta of the year, sippin’ Belvedere”—Young Jeezy “Vacation”<br />
- CourvoiserCourvoisierThis brand of cognac is rumored to have been Napoleon Bonaparte’s drink of choice.<br /> <strong>Spokesmen:</strong> Busta Rhymes, Diddy, AZ, Pharrell, etc.<br /> <strong>1st Appearance:</strong> 2001<br /> <strong>Endorsement:</strong> “We gon' tell that nigga (Pass the Courvoisier)/ We gon' tell that brotha (Pass the Courvoisier)/ Everybody sing it now (Pass the Courvoisier) / Everybody sing it now (Pass the Courvoisier)”—Pharrell & Busta “Pass the Courvoisier Pt. II”<br />
- Ciroc_latest_releasesCirocManufactured in France, the grape-derived vodka has become hip-hop’s choice drink since Diddy signed on as their official pitchman.<br /><strong>Spokesmen:</strong> Diddy, Lil Wayne, Too Short, T-Pain, etc.<br /><strong>1st Appearance:</strong> 2008<br /><strong>Endorsement:</strong> “I don’t fuck with fake hoes, all I touch is J-Los/ all I drink is my shit Ciroc by the case load”—Diddy “Oh Let’s Do It”<br />
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