Back in the day, Sprite was among the first nationwide brands to really embrace hip-hop. I’m not talking about a “rap” jingle, as so many other brands tried (we’re still trying to get rid of that corny “My name is ____ and I’m here to say…” rhyme to this day). Instead, Sprite really recruited pivotal figures from the hip-hop community like Nas and AZ, Pete Rock, and Five Deadly Venoms to make awesome commercials like the Voltron spots with Common, Fat Joe, and Westside Connection (my good buddy Dan Charnas writes about it in his book, The Big Payback).
Those ads kicked off a legacy of connection with hip-hop for the brand that continues today, as hip-hop celebrates its 50th anniversary. As part of the ongoing Hip-Hop 50 celebrations, Sprite paid homage to its own history with the culture by creating a new TV spot with Nas and Rakim and updating the premise with contemporary stars GloRilla and Latto. The commercial has all four rappers quoting “Rapper’s Delight,” the first official rap hit, while performing snippets of their own signature hits. Check it out:
The ad is a nice, throwback nod to the original Sprite rapper commercials of the early ’90s, which featured rappers like Kriss Kross, Kid N’ Play, KRS-One, Missy Elliott, and more, often performing original songs or their own hits to showcase the promotional power of hip-hop. This one’s still the best, though:
GRAMMY Award-nominated producer Metro Boomin, renowned for his diamond-certified hits, is expanding his creative endeavors into the comic and film universe. Today, he proudly announces the release of the highly anticipated Metro Boomin Presents Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Soundtrack from and Inspired by the Motion Picture,” on which he serves as the Executive Producer.
Embracing his passion for both music and superheroes, Metro Boomin has assembled an all-star lineup of musical talents to contribute to this groundbreaking soundtrack. Joining forces with the Grammy-winning producer are industry heavyweights including 2 Chainz, A$AP Rocky, Coi Leray, Don Toliver, Future, James Blake, Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Wayne, Nas, Nav, Offset, Swae Lee, Wizkid, and more. This star-studded collaboration promises to deliver an electrifying musical experience that perfectly complements the forthcoming film.
While this marks Metro Boomin’s first foray into film soundtracks, his affinity for film and comic superheroes has long been evident. The visionary producer has consistently demonstrated his admiration for the art of storytelling, drawing inspiration from the vivid narratives and larger-than-life characters found in comics and movies. With his latest endeavor, Metro Boomin aims to merge his musical genius with the awe-inspiring world of Spider-Man, amplifying the film’s immersive experience through captivating and evocative soundscapes.
Of the collaboration, Spring Aspers, President of Music,Sony Pictures, said “The concept for the next installment of Miles’ story demanded a contemporary and culturally significant musical collaborator. Metro Boomin was clearly the perfect cultural voice to sculpt the musical environment to support this amazing next chapter.”
Dana Sano, EVP Film & TV Republic Records, added: “Metro Boomin is a true visionary who continues to raise the bar. For the Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse soundtrack, Metro curated and delivered with fierce passion and integrity. Republic is thrilled and honored to be reteaming with the filmmakers and our amazing partners at Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group.”
In honor of hip-hop’s 50th, popular soda brand Sprite has teamed up with hip-hop legends Nas and Rakim and rising stars Latto and GloRilla to launch a creative campaign honoring hip-hop’s past, present, and future. In addition to the campaign, Sprite is introducing a new flavor called Lymonade Legacy, along with exclusive merchandise and content. […]
DJ Khaled recently acquired a rare photograph of Nas from his Illmatic era. It appears to have captivated him. Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, the We The Best mogul shared the black and white photo. The shot captures a young Nas standing at an intersection in the Queensbridge housing projects, looking back at the camera. Additionally, Khaled posted a video about it. In the clip, the producer expressed his admiration for the picture. He mentioned that the photographer who took it for Nas’ Illmatic album in 1993 signed it and gave it to him. He referred to it as a classic, representing the essence of hip-hop.
Danny Clinch, renowned photographer, took the photo of Nas. It was taken during the shoot for the rapper’s debut album. Clinch discussed the iconic photoshoot in a 2014 interview with Billboard. In the story, the photographer recounting how Nas guided him around his neighborhood, leading to the capturing of memorable shots. Clinch described Nas as a wise poet who was ahead of his time. Additionally, he highlighted that during that era, hip-hop artists represented their roots and shared stories of their upbringing. Furthermore, he said that Nas epitomized this with Illmatic, making the album particularly special.
Nas’ Illmatic is widely regarded as one of the greatest rap albums of all time. The Library of Congress even added it to their collection in 2021. Librarian Carla Hayden emphasized the cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance of the album. Furthermore, she said they considered it an audio treasure worth preserving for future generations. Released on April 19, 1994, “Illmatic” debuted at No. 12 on the Billboard 200 chart. It went on to sell over 63,000 copies in its first week. The album achieved 2x platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in February 2019. It had already sold a million copies by December 2001.
DJ Khaled and Nas have collaborated multiple times throughout the years. It makes sense that he would like to have such an important piece of Nas’ history. The pair’s most recent joint effort was “Sorry Not Sorry” featuring JAY-Z. It was included on Khaled’s 2021 project, Khaled Khaled. What do you think of DJ Khaled’s reaction to getting the picture? Let us know in the comments below! Be sure to stay turned to HNHH for all the latest news and updates on everything hip-hop.
Tobe Nwigwe has a big year ahead of him. He just released his latest single, “On My Soul,” with Nas and Jacob Banks for the new film that he also stars in, Transformers: Rise of the Beast. The eccentric Houston rapper has had multiple breakout years, widening his exposure in hip hop while collaborating with high-profile artists. His repertoire continues to grow as he now transitions into acting.
Nwigwe is quite active, releasing five full-length compilations of loose singles released during his Get Twisted Sundays music series, and also has multiple EPs and live recordings. Everywhere you see Tobe Nwigwe, you see his wife, Martica “Fat” Nwigwe, who appears alongside Tobe in his songs, in his music videos, and at his live shows. With the help of his wife, Tobe Nwigwe has slowly become one of hip hop’s latest exciting artists that have carved his own lane.
Keeping It In The Family
Tobe Nwigwe and his wife Fat have been together since the start of his career and now have four children together. Their friend and producer, LaNell Grant, was one of their longtime collaborators, producing most of Tobe’s beats before they parted ways in 2022. On every single cover from their Originals music series, Fat and LaNell appear on the cover, as well as in every music video. The outro track on one of his breakout albums, Fouriginals, is titled “For Family Only” and features commentary from Tobe, Fat, and their loved ones. With his wife, children, and close friends by his side, family is clearly an essential part of who Tobe is, and a key component of his musical identity.
A Signature Sound & Look
Aside from the family aspect of his music, Tobe Nwigwe’s sound and look set him apart from his contemporaries. His image and signature sound are distinct, as one can see in his music videos and live performances, and in the actual music itself. Musically, he takes inspiration from his Nigerian heritage. Tobe Nwigwe also continues the lineage of traditional Southern rap, paying homage to his hometown of Houston and collaborating with many iconic Southern artists. Religion also plays a major part in Tobe’s sound as he incorporates his Christian faith into his lyrics.
The family has developed their brand and image with the color mint as they consistently wear it in music videos and performances. The artists featured in their music videos also stick to the style of clothing as Tobe brings his guests into his musical world. The visuals are an important part of Tobe Nwigwe’s career, as his videos display his unique artistry.
Pandemic Breakthrough
With each Originals album release, Tobe Nwigwe has grown in popularity but reached new heights during the pandemic. His song, “I Need You To (Breonna Taylor),” went viral in 2020 during the height of the Black Lives Matter protests as the song advocates for the arrest of Breonna Taylor’s killers. The song was a part of his Pandemic Project, which also consisted of one of his most popular songs, “Try Jesus.” These viral moments led to numerous cosigns and collaborations from many notable hip hop artists, including Royce Da 5’9”, Black Thought, Bun B, and Big K.R.I.T. These rappers appeared alongside Tobe Nwigwe and his wife on Cincoriginals, his biggest album to date.
Tobe Nwigwe’s Recent Mainstream Success
Following Cincoriginals and several other collaborations and cosigns, Tobe Nwigwe has reached a new level of notoriety. He has performed on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, an NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert, and various festivals, including Coachella and Pharrell’s Something in the Water Festival. Nwigwe was also nominated for Best New Artist at the 2023 Grammy Awards.
Furthermore, he also contributed a song to the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack. The recent success of Tobe Nwigwe has led to him branching outside of music, landing roles in the Netflix series Mo and the new Transformers: Rise of the Beast film, which includes his latest single with Nas on the soundtrack. Tobe Nwigwe and his wife have also recently collaborated with Pharrell, CeeLo Green, and 2 Chainz.
The Pharoahic image of Nas, which appears on his I Am LP cover, has been receiving an onslaught of negative criticism in a Dutch art exhibition, with the Queensbridge legend being depicted as King Tutkenhamun.
The image has been shown in the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities recently opened exhibit called “Kemet: Egypt in Hip-Hop, Jazz, Soul and Funk,” which explores the connection between Egyptian culture and Black music. David Cortes’ statue, which is titled “I Am Hip-Hop,” shows Nas as King Tut, sending many critics into a frenzy for daring to depict Egyptians as Black people.
An Egyptian antiquities expert the museum, claiming that it made a “grave mistake by insulting Egyptian civilization by portraying Tutankhamun as Black.”
Museum director Wim Weijland had to go as far as defend the exhibit after receiving the immense amount of criticism, saying that while the Kemet exhibit “does not have an Afrocentric perspective on ancient Egypt” but it does help to “critically examine ideas presented in Black music.”
Weijland said in his statement, “The exhibition does not claim the ancient Egyptians were Black, but explores music by Black artists who refer to ancient Egypt and Nubia in their work: music videos, covers of record albums, photos, and contemporary artworks. This music often reflects on the Black experience in the West and tells stories about the African diaspora and pre-colonial Africa, including ancient Egypt.”
He added, “The exhibition explains that the representations of ancient Egypt are imaginaries: artistic interpretations of ancient Egypt, not realistic images of ancient Egyptians. For example, the exhibition contains a modern sculpture that represents the musician Nas, modeled after the mask of Tutankhamun. The exhibition explains that it is a contemporary artwork, not a replica. The exhibition explains why and when it was made and clarifies that it is not an ancient Egyptian artifact.”
On this day in Hip Hop history, Slick Rick released his final studio LP, The Art of Storytelling.
Produced mainly by DJ Clark Kent and Kid Capri, this album featured guest verses from Redman, Rev Run, Outkast, Nas, Raekwon, and Snoop Dogg.
Critically the album has been hailed as the only proper sequel to his breakthrough debut album, The Great Adventures Of Slick Rick. Due to continuous run-ins with the law, the public could never fully experience Slick Rick as an artist. For the same reason, the world will never know what his outstanding ability and outspoken persona could have done for Hip Hop culture. What is apparent is that when the master storyteller has the time, he can pen and deliver a masterpiece.
The Art of Storytelling was Slick Rick’s most commercially successful album, peaking at #8 on the Billboard 200 chart and #1 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop charts. The album even went gold during its first week of sales. True to the title, the album is full of narratives that could only be crafted by the pen that scribed the famous “Children’s Story.” And although he has not strayed away from his signature rhetoric, The Art of Storytelling shows improvement and Slick Rick’s ability to stay relevant as far as his style blending with the popular sound of the time. This album is deserving of all accolades and is a proper farewell to Slick Rick as an album rapper.
Carmelo Anthony announced his retirement from the NBA on May 22. While the 38-year-old had not played since the 2021-22 season, the news still came as something of a shock to many. In his prime, Anthony was one of the best shooters in the NBA. Furthermore, he finishes his career as the 9th all-time scorer in the league.
After a stellar career at Syracuse University, which included a national championship in his freshman year, Anthony was the third-overall pick in the 2003 draft. He spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Nuggets. before being sent to the Knicks in a blockbuster 2011 trade. After six years in New York, Melo was once again traded, this time heading to Oklahoma City. Less than a year later, he was infamously traded to the Hawks only to be waived five days later without ever suiting up for the team. However, the final years of his career were defined by bouncing from team to team. He played what would become his last season with the Lakers in 2021-22.
Hip Hop Reflects On Melo’s Legacy
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 23: Carmelo Anthony #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts in the second half against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on November 23, 2021 in New York City. The New York Knicks defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 106-100. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
In the wake of the announcement, many big-name stars in the sports world and beyond have shared their thoughts on Melo. First, there was Nas, who narrated an Air Jordans video about Melo’s career. “He didn’t do it for the accolades or the Hall of Fame votes,” Nas said over footage of Melo’s many jerseys. “Boy did it for the kids from Red Hook, the crew from the block, Murphy Homes projects, San Juan, those with hoops dreams, dreams of hope and beyond. So when they look up, they see the sky for what it is: just another place for them to fly.”
Meanwhile, diehard Knicks fan Fat Joe shared his thanks to Melo. Anthony helped the team reach the second round of the playoffs in 2013. Additionally, it had been the first time the Knicks had done so since 2000. “Well done brother well done @carmeloanthony Congratulations you deserve all the glory,” the rapper wrote on Instagram. Furthermore, other tributes came from the likes of Metro Boomin, Ludacris, and 9th Wonder. What is your favorite Carmelo Anthony highlight? Let us know in the comments.
Based on the high-energy trailer alone, Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts is expected to be one of the biggest action movies of the summer. The forthcoming film is angling to merge the franchise’s beloved automotive characters along with a ton of fresh new blood. Apparently the soundtrack is doing the same.
Grammy Award-nominated rapper Tobe Nwigwe, critically acclaimed hip-hop titan Nas, and Jacob Banks join forces on the film’s featured track, “On My Soul.” Produced by Nwigwe’s collective, The Good Stewards, the song skillfully embodies the climactic essence of the movie. With the song’s instrumental ebbs and flows, the musicians put a show lyrically as they playfully try to one-up each other.
Outside of his musical contributions to the film’s soundtrack, Nwigwe will also appear in the movie. During an appearance on Sway In The Morning, he shared how he landed the onscreen role.
“One of [the director Stephen Caple Jr.’s] best friends was a fan of [my] music. And his best friend — as they were getting ready to start shooting the movie — passed [on the role], and he had Paramount Studios reach out to me to try to play the best friend’s role in Transformers. They kind of emulated who his best friend is in real life,” he said.
Listen to the full track above.
Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts is set to hit theaters on June 9.
