21 Times Rappers Provided the Soundtrack to TV Commercials
With fans increasingly turning to services like Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Google Play and YouTube to get their music fix, artists continuously have to seek alternative ways to get their paper. The streaming business is a beast of its own, and while music isn’t being consumed or calculated the way it used to be, one method for making money when you’re a rapper is tried and true: we’re talking about that TV commercial money.
With companies such as Sprite, St. Ides, Old Spice, Boost Mobile and AOL turning to rap early in the game to help promote their products, in 2016, it’s even more commonplace for your favorite TV commercials to feature the music of some of your favorite rappers. It’s a no-brainer to combine one of the fastest growing genres in our contemporary cultural history with marketing. As more and more rap artists find their own shine, a growing number of advertisers continue to embrace their music.
Considering artists and big brands are both looking to cash in, one could argue the merger of the two worlds is mutually beneficial, as opposed to grossly exploitive. In the 1980s, rap was used to promote the food, liquor and clothing industries and helped give rappers national fame. Two decades later and the playing field continues to expand, endorsing the likes of smartphones, cars, travel, sports and major events such as the Super Bowl and pretty much anything else you can put a price tag on.
From insurance commercials to ads for Wrigley’s gum, more and more companies are looking to up their cool factor. Missy Elliott, Lil Dicky and Future are just a few of the big names whose music has shown up in some of the best commercials on TV. Take a look at 20 examples of brands wisely selecting from the hip-hop crates to soundtrack their national TV advertising campaigns.
- 1
"Ultimate" for Adidas
Denzel Curry - 2
“Hot in Herre” for Lime-A-Rita
Nelly - 3
"Save Dat Money" for Old Navy
Lil Dicky - 4
"Holiday in Your Hood" for Gap
Common - 5
"Jumpman" for Beats 1
Drake and Future - 6
"Much Respect" for Nike
Mos Def - 7
"Slam" for Gatorade
Onyx - 8
"Y.A.L.A." for Nissan
M.I.A. - 10
"Forever" for Wrigley's Gum
Chris Brown - 11
"Wavin' Flag" for Coca-Cola
K'naan - 12
"The Choice Is Yours" for Kia
Black Sheep - 14
2Pac, J. Cole and Missy Elliott for Sprite
- 15
“The Creator” for Android
Pete Rock & CL Smooth - 16
“Queen’s Speech Ep. 4” for Samsung
Lady Leshurr - 17
“The Jump Off” for AOL
Lil' Kim - 18
"Fly Shit Only" for Beats by Dre
Future - 19
"Rapper's Delight" for Evian
Sugarhill Gang - 20
"Every Second Counts" for NBA
Timbaland - 20
"Pep Rally" for Amazon
Missy Elliott - 20
"Hotline Bling" for T-Mobile
Drake - 21
"You Be Killin' Em" for Honda
Fabolous