Branding In Hip-Hop
I have created this blog as a way to show the relationship between branding and hip-hop. Branding is more than just a name and logo. A brand has a culture and a background. They symbolize an idea. Rappers, using heavy metaphors, use brands as a way to creatively express their ideas and overall messages.
I've been obsessed with hip-hop since I was 6. Figured I would create something related to it while utilizing my media/advertising background. So enjoy the product placement!
*I do not own any of these images
Big Pun “It’s So Hard”
Watch me, you can catch it live on the Hitachi/ Poppin shit like a Nazi, iced out like DeBiase/ Fuck that, Liberace/ 4X Versace, somebody stop me!
Big Pun is giving the listener lavish details on his life as a famous rapper. He mentions a few brands in these lyrics. He tells his audience to watch all of his moves being aired on TV networks broadcast on their Hitachi TV sets. While watching him on TV, the audience will notice his stupendous personality. The vulgar and audacious words he “spits” are comparable to a Nazi. To complement his Nazi-esque attitude, he compares himself to individuals like Ted DeBiase and Liberace. Ted Debiase is a WWE wrestling legend who awarded himself the “Million Dollar Championship Belt”, an iced out, diamond encrusted version of the championship belt. Liberace was just as flamboyant as Debiase and Pun, with his extravagant costumes and persona. The flamboyancy of these individuals only leads to Big Pun having to wear a 4XL Versace. Something that will match his spectacular and immense life while he is on Hitachi TV sets everywhere.
Big Pun died a few weeks before this song was released, but his legacy forever lives on. Even in death, the image and memory of the man who wore extra, extra, extra, extra large Versace shirts still cannot be stopped.
Kanye West “All Falls Down”
Man I promise, I’m so self conscious/ That’s why you always see me with at least one of my watches/ Rollies and Pashas done drove me crazy/ I can’t even pronounce nothing, pass that ver-say-see
Lyrics from “All Falls Down” by Kanye can have multiple posts in my blog. The song references plenty of brand names, which all play a heavy role in the song’s message about materialism. Focusing on the Versace brand, Kanye is admitting that he is infected by consumerism and purchasing the best products he can. He is so focused on brand names that he even purchases them whether he can pronounce them or not. The song shows just how much power a brand name can have on a person. Pronouncing Versace wrong, he is admitting that there is a deeper meaning behind the consumption that results to him being self-conscious. If marketed correctly, a brand (such as Versace) can become a staple and necessity for a buyer. Even if you don’t know why you want it, or even how to say it, you will get the product because you know it will increase your self worth. It will also go well with the watches and sneakers.
