Branding In Hip-Hop

Kanye West - All of The Lights

Restraining order, Can’t see my daughter/ Her mother, brother, grandmother, hate me in that order/ Public visitation, We met at Borders/ Told her she take me back, I’ll be more supportive

Kanye is human.  He has made mistakes (which the media loves). All he wants to do is make up and be a better person.  So in this anecdote (which may or may not be true), he convinces a woman that he cannot legally see to meet him in Borders, a (past) bookstore franchise.  There, he tells her that he will be more supportive and that he wants to be taken back.  

Borders may not exist anymore, but gotta love the fact that it provided a center for make ups like this.  

Kanye West - Touch The Sky

Before anybody wanted K-West beats/ Me and my girl split the buffet at KFC

I don’t think KFC allows this.  Nor do any buffets out there.  Either way, being a musician is tough.  Do what you can to make it, even if it means having a romantic evening with someone at the local KFC, splitting a buffet meal.  Save your money on more important things, like clothes with logos. 

Kanye West - Glory

Tank on empty whipping my mamma’s Volvo/ I spent that gas money on clothes with logo’s

Before the fame, glory, Nike sneakers and celebrity girlfriend, Mr. West was just a guy trying to make it big in this world.  Always admitting that he can be materialistic at times, he admits his priorities before the glory.  Even though he was driving his mother’s Volvo with little to no gas, he still had to make sure he was a presentable guy with clothes made by the best brands.  

Though Kanye has moved up the luxury cars, nothing has changed since his Volvo days.  He is still one really great dresser.  

Kanye West - Last Call

Killin y’all niggaz on that lyrical shit/ mayonnaise colored benz I push Miracle Whips

With a rhyme that caught the attention of Damon Dash and eventually led to a record deal with Roc-A-Fella records (explained in the last few minutes of the song), Kanye West lets it known to the world that he is more than just a producer.  Always typecasted as they guy who can just do beats, Kanye pushed all the boundaries possible to let it be known that he also has potential to be a successful rapper. Essentially, he is killing competitors with his flow and lyrics and also styling in his Mercedes Benz.  What makes his benz stand out is that it is mayonnaise colored.  Only those with the swagger of Ye can get to drive this whip, so essentially he is driving a “Miracle Whip.”

I personally love puns with brand names.  The two meanings involved usually provide witty and hilarious lines.  So the next time you see a mayonnaise colored vehicle, think Miracle Whip.  Ketchup red…think Heinz.  Steak sauce brown…think A1.  And so on and so on.  

Jay-Z - Run This Town

Fuck the other side, they jealous/ We got a banquette full of broads/ They got a table full of fellas (ewwwww) / And they ain’t spending no cake/ They should throw they hand in/ ’Cause they ain’t got no spades (iiiilll)

Jay-Z is in the club with Kanye, Rihanna, J. Cole, Rita Ora, etc.  They are all in the club hanging out at the table.  They have a table full of broads that are enjoying themselves, whereas the haters in the same club are criticizing their team for the wealth and status they have.  Interestingly, the table full of haters is only filled with males.  Ill.  They might as well just give up.  Not only are they not spending any money, but they aren’t even drinking Ace of Spades like Jay-Z and his team is.  Ace of Spades is Jay-Z’s own liquor.  Jay endorsed it after Crystal owner criticized rap music.  Ace of Spades is the new status symbol for liquor drinkers, and if you don’t got it and you are jealous of those who do, throw your hand in. 

Ace of Spades has had quite a following, with rappers shouting out the brand and requesting it at bars.  It is quite the luxury liquor, and if you can afford it you will be sure to be the life of the party.  

Chief Keef – I Don’t Like (Remix) (Rap Genius Lyrics)

Fake Gucci, that’s that shit I don’t like/ Smokin’ on this dope, higher than a kite/ This bitch gonna love me now, she gon’ let me pipe/ Screaming Sosa, that’s that nigga that I like

The song title speaks for itself.  Kanye, Pusha, Big Sean, Jada and new 16 year old Chicago rapper Chief Keef are telling you what they don’t like.  Genius song in my opinion, considering everyone can relate to that “slogan.”  One of the things Chief Keef doesn’t like is fake, counterfeit Gucci.  If someone is wearing fake luxury brands and someone else notices, it shows that the person wearing the fake stuff is trying too hard to show status.  And if that person has the audacity to wear and flaunt fake gear, then perhaps they also have the audacity to claim they are something they are not.  In all honesty though, that is that shit that I don’t like either.  But Chief Keef does make sure you know what he does like and that is dope, bitches and screaming sosa (his nickname)

Fake counterfeit clothing has always been a huge issue for brands and companies. It costs millions to the companies and results in large, hefty fines for the vendors.  If it is a luxury product that is replicated and not authentic, it hurts the image and background behind the clothes.  If you can’t afford it, don’t wear it.  Because again, that is that shit that I (and Chief Keef) DON’T LIKE!

Kanye West – Theraflu (Rap Genius)

Don’t talk to me ‘bout style, nigga, I’ll muhfucking embarrass you/ Talking ‘bout clothes? I’ll muhfucking embarrass you/ Hollerin’ ‘bout some hoes? I’ll muhfuckin’ embarrass you/ Way too cold, I promise you’ll need some Theraflu

Kanye listens to all the criticism he receives.  An animal hater (with his furs dragging to the floor). A misogynist who is often gets negative press due to the women he “supposedly dates.”  He hears it all.  On this song, Kanye is telling you all that he doesn’t care.  It doesn’t bother him.  And even if it does, he has reached a certain pinnacle where he can embarrass you in comparison.  His clothes, women and style are on a whole other lever na dhe is making sure you know that.  Threatening to embarrass you, Kanye is showing his cold attitude and lack of sympathy for your feelings.  If you cannot handle the cold delivery, then you need Theraflu to take care of your illness.  

Though Theraflu did not appreciate the product placement from Kanye, I have to admit that I am now fully aware of Theraflu’s potential to stop a cold.  If it can alleviate the pains from Kanye’s haters, then it surely can alleviate the pains of millions across the country, right?

Kanye West “Diamonds From Sierra Leone”

If a stripper named Porscha and u get tips from many men/ Then your fat friend her nickname is Minivan/ Excuse me, That’s just the Henny man/ I smoke, I drink, I’m supposed to stop I can’t

Kanye has a playful rhyme listed here.  He describes the type of treatment different people get, depending on factors such as occupation and body size.  A stripper, if she is good and the opposite of overweight, can get excellent treatment from men.  this includes large tips that can eventually lead to a Porsche.  It is destined for this stripper to get the good things, because of her value to these men visiting strip clubs.  Since it is destined, she might as well be called Porsha, the woman who is sure to drive a Porsche.  However, if this woman has a fat friend, the antithesis of what men want to reward in a strip club, then she might as well call herself mini-van.  Mini-vans, generally associated with soccer moms and large families, is clearly not as fancy as the Porsche.  But in a world where sexism and favoritism can still play a role in the rewards women receive, “Mini-Van” can’t get the same type of car Porsha can drive. Nor can Mini-Van receive the same respect (in a strip club anyways).  This is a pretty mean joke, but always remember that Kanye likes to kid around a lot when he drinks that Hennesey.  He tells himself to stop drinking and smoking, but who knows if he could come up with this witty jokes without it.

So if you have the status and “goods” like Porsha, then drive that Porsche.  Otherwise, good luck with the Mini-Van (or working in an occupation different than Porsha).  

Kanye West “Gone”

Groupies say I’m too choosy/ Take ‘em to the show and talk all through the movies/ Says she want diamonds, I took her to Ruby Tuesdays/ If we up in Friday’s, I still have it my way

Kanye West explains the life of an entertainer.  He is constantly surrounded by groupies that want to try their luck with a celebrity and hopefully acquire all the desires they wish.  However, Kanye is very choosy in the type of women he wants.  If the woman can exceed Kanye’s high expectations, they can expect to be chosen and be allowed to accompany him.  However, Kanye still notices the woman’s behaviors, including talking throughout movies and requesting diamonds.  Kanye obliges to her request of diamonds by taking her to Ruby Tuesdays.  Not necessarily the same “jewelry” the groupie was requesting.  This pun helps Kanye’s lyrics by further emphasizing the idea that he, while still being nice to the groupie by taking her to a pretty good restaurant, is too choosy.  Not just anyone will get the diamonds.  It is Kanye’s decision.  It is his way.  Whether they are at TGI Fridays, Ruby Tuesdays, or the show.  

Nonetheless, congrats to Ruby Tuesdays for being selected by the very choosy Kanye.