O.K. so, we as a Hip-Hop community, didn’t have any platinum albums this year. None the matter. Thanks to the avenues made possible from the culture’s expansion (and/or whitewashing in some cases), there is still a myriad of ways for rappers to make money outside of record sales.
Which mainly includes endorsements from companies with the revenue stream to make it possible. As we’re set to close out the current year, take a look at the best Hip-Hop commercials of 2014 to see who was cashing who’s checks and entertaining us at the same, damn time.
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Photo: GEICO
14. “A Man’s Story”: A$AP Rocky For Ferragamo
You didn’t think Pretty Flacco was slandering HBA and Been Trill without an exit plan now did you? This is as avant-garde as it gets.
Although Mighty Mos doesn’t physically appear in the video, the technological innovation spliced with the soulful rhythms of the track made it a repeat watch this year.
7. “Grandma’s House”: Diddy & Drake for Time Warner Cable
Before Diddy ruined their friendship with a dragon punch, Drizzy was helping REVOLT get the good word out for subscribers amongst all the rest of the premium channel pandemonium found in the clip.
5. “Push It: It’s What You Do”: Salt-N-Pepa For GEICO
When you make a hands-down classic record, you’re bound to collect some residuals along the way. Just ask these female pioneers who want to keep your insured for less.
4. “The Dream: all in or nothing”: Kanye West For adidas
Kanye wasn’t terribly focused on creating music this year so this was not only a welcomed sound bite from his mystique, but a way to get us amped for the FIFA World Cup as well.
With no shame in their game, the cough drop gurus happily got all the weed smoker’s attention during this year’s American Music Awards. Hearing Waka pronounce “acacia” was reason enough to make it #1.
