Rappers x Brands

These two campaigns launched recently. Both feature rappers of note that have been making waves on the mixtape scene (download links below).

And music is a major tool to build affinity with brands. Except, how do you creatively incorporate music into an advert?

Drake has probably had more commercial, crossover success, but this Sprite advert is so cliched it should've been killed at birth. Even Drake's acting talents couldn't save it! But, I'm sure it helped sell some soda.

A much more respectable collaboration is the Converse music video featuring Kid Cudi (Rostam, and Bethany.) Yes, it's not an advert, but may be that's the point?!





Kid Cudi download here.
Drake download here.

Mr. Cartoon plays for U.S.A in the FIFA World Cup 2010

The ultimate sporting event is nearly upon us! Yes, the FIFA World Cup is here again, but the training and competition isn't all about the football (soccer) pitch. It's about the world's brands, that are underwriting the sporting event, winning your hearts and minds too!

On June 11, eight groups (A-H) and 32 national teams will begin competing for the World Cup trophy in South Africa. And the toughest group G comprises of Brazil, Portugal, Ivory Coast and...North Korea?! (Don't miss U.S.A. vs. England on June 12th 11.30am PST!)

Nike x Street art Nike (Sportswear) kicked off its True Colors Artist Collaboration with artists from around the world designing their national football team emblems. For the U.S., the privilege goes to Mr. Cartoon from Los Angeles. For the World Cup 2010 project Cartoon approached it as a sign painter:

"For the crest, I wanted it to be real official looking...yet people would want to rock it...
When I approach a project like this I want to look back at it in 10 years from now and say that was cool, that was dope! Doing the U.S.A. logo, doing the eagle icon...putting the U.S.A in a shield that really made it look official, but still had a feel of...a street artist did it instead of a airbrushy-looking. I wanted it to be hard, solid. Mad business, you know what I'm sayin'?"

"I've been asked why me? I don't know...I think it's real, real  edgy for them to do that man, being that I'm heavily tattooed and I'm connected...to graffiti plus being Chicano, being Mexican to be able to do the eagle and snake was outta control!"

The Last Laugh Cartoon has his The Last Laugh store (with photographer Evan Oriol) in downtown L.A. which captures his love for low-riding, tattooing and graffiti. It also has some of his sneaker collaborations for Nike and Vans. Check out the opening here back in 2008.

Lipton Brisk launches new flavors with art

Tristan Eaton and his Thunderdog Studio has been creating graphic art and designing limited collectable toys for a minute.

It's no surprise that his comic book style art is appealing to brand managers trying to revitalize their brands with a (temporary) redesign.

In the case of Lipton Brisk Iced Teas, the six new flavors (lemon, strawberry melon, tea-lemonade, raspberry, peach, and sweet tea) demanded a new look. Agency Safari Sundays' idea was to raise the sensory impact of the bottles of iced tea before you even taste the new flavors.

To do this they invited Tristan Eaton, ilovedust and Mcfaul Studio to illustrate the new flavor and interpret it into the label design.

Forever 21 rips off Banksy

Fashion is about recycling and interpreting styles from the past and today. Some brands have been accused of plagiarizing talented artists, but this is the first (but surely not the last) brand to blatantly steal from street artist, Banksy.

Would you buy this?