Major corporations often turn to rap music when they want to get their products in front of the right crowd or when they want to earn some cool points with the masses. Sometimes, though, the end result can leave much to be desired. Over the years, we’ve seen ads that feature corny raps, plug questionable local businesses, and at times, even incorporate serious social ills.
There are few things more cringey in the ad world than a commercial that misses the mark when attempting to appear trendy and current. For your amusement, here are 12 of the worst commercials starring rappers.
Warren G, Erectile Dysfunction Ad
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Why it’s cringey: No paycheck is big enough to excuse rapping about an erectile dysfunction pill while wearing a plastic crown
Cringe level: 4.5/5
Have you ever watched an erectile dysfunction commercial and wondered what happened in the life of the struggling actor that made them decide to accept the gig? Now, imagine if the commercial starred a Grammy-nominated rapper instead of a struggling actor. To say the least, the bag must have been massive for this one. No one raps about their malfunctioning penis without the right financial compensation. Despite the payday, though, it seems Warren G might have regretted starring in this ad. After the commercial aired, he clarified to TMZ that he doesn’t actually take the medication himself. “A lot of people have that problem, but I don't have it!" he explained. “The commercials are funny and I meant for it to be funny. This is not something that dictates who I am.” —Eric Skelton
Lil Flip, Random Garage Sale
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Why it’s cringey: Lil Flip rapping in a high school student’s backyard
Cringe level: 4/5
Low budget commercials are never a good start, but that’s only half of what’s wrong with this ad. For starters, this commercial is abnormally long. It begins with a group of preppy suburban kids rapping about their upcoming garage sale while touring a quaint neighborhood. Lil Flip doesn’t even show up until the 2:30-mark where he raps about “getting money” and “chilling poolside” with his homies (his homies being a few kids hanging in the backyard). From the corny raps to awkward dancing, this is the type of ad you’d expect high school students to make for a team project. —Jessica McKinney
Mary J. Blige, Burger King
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Why it's cringey: Mary J. playing into Black stereotypes and singing for chicken
Cringe level: 5/5
Mary J. Blige unfortunately got roped into a Burger King commercial, and she wasn’t singing for Whoppers. Somehow, Burger King convinced the R&B legend to sing for Crispy Chicken snack wraps, ultimately playing into Black stereotypes by having Mary J. perform a jingle for chicken. Making things even more absurd, Mary J. Blige is gluten-free and likely wouldn’t even eat a chicken snack wrap. —Jessica McKinney
Vanilla Ice, Kraft Mac & Cheese
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Why it's cringey: Suburban mom dancing while saying “go ninja”
Cringe level: 4/5
Surprisingly, this commercial has nothing to do with Vanilla Ice selling beverages. That would’ve been cringey as well, but the fact that he’s advertising Kraft Mac & Cheese makes this even worse. In the commercial, Vanilla Ice is browsing the Kraft section while chanting, “Go ninja.” A suburban mom and her son soon join him in the aisle and after a moment of silence, the mom breaks out into an awkward dance while loudly singing, “Go ninja.” The chant, combined with her sad attempt at hip-hop dancing, feels subtly racist, but it only becomes clear at the very end of the ad that “go ninja” was in reference to the Ninja Turtles movie that was newly released at the time. Still, this whole ad was a mess. —Jessica McKinney
Uncle Murda, Pawn Rite
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Why it’s cringey: “Yo, we got the money from Pawn Rite. Let’s make the album!”
Cringe level: 4/5
There’s a lot to unpack in this 2013 spot for Pawn Rite, a chain of pawn shops that, as Uncle Murda explains, has “locations all over Brooklyn.” A group of rappers is lamenting the fact that they can’t afford studio time when Murda appears, announcing that the shop will provide them with money in exchange for their belongings, a transaction that will allow them to finish their album. With money in hand, the crew hits the studio, while Murda, standing under the fluorescent lighting of a Pawn Rite location, lets the viewer know, “Tell ’em Uncle Murda sent you.” As Murda later told DJ Vlad, his friend Bob—the financier behind many of his videos—has a stake in the chain. And if you do visit it on Murda’s suggestion, “You actually get a little bit more for your buck.” Murda does recognize, though, that “it might not be the best commercial,” and admits that the messaging may be problematic: “Because they see it’s Uncle Murda and pawn shops, they figure, ‘Damn, it must gotta be Murda saying go rob motherfuckers and bring it to Pawn Rite and you’re good.’” —Lucas Wisenthal
MC Hammer, KFC
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Why it's cringey: MC Hammer dancing for chicken, playing into Black stereotypes
Cringe level: 5/5
MC Hammer’s Hammer Time dance was wildly popular in the ’80s and early ’90s, but it still didn’t make sense to include it in an ad for KFC. The old commercial shows the artist gearing up to go on stage for a concert when a friend introduces him to KFC’s new popcorn chicken. So enamored by the chicken’s taste, MC Hammer refuses to go on stage until every single piece is gone. In the video, he’s seen popping the final bite-size piece in his mouth while doing a happy dance. Like the commercial with Mary J. Blige, it further perpetuates Black stereotypes. —Jessica McKinney
Hoodstarz & King of Queens, “Hyphy”
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Why it's cringey: It’s blatant pandering from the “use rappers to appeal to Black viewers” book
Cringe level: 4/5
The King Of Queens was an unabashedly New York show, which may have tempered its west coast appeal. In 2009 the CW went to desperate lengths to expand their audience, having the cast dance “along” with Bay Area act Dem Hoodstarz in a cringey 2009 spot. Dem Hoodstarz had the good sense not to mangle their “Grown Man On” single besides adding an occasional “I get my grown man on with the King Of Queens.” But even through the low quality of this clip, it’s apparent the duo was dancing on a different green screen than the King Of Queens crew. It makes one wonder if the CW didn’t use the same footage in spots with acts from other regions. If the pandering wasn’t obvious enough, the ad ended with Kevin James noting, “Be right there Bay Area, I’m goin’ hyphy,” before asking, “What does that mean?” Maybe it’s just not for you to know, Kevin. —Andre Gee
Memphis Bleek, Garnier
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Why it's cringey: “Garnier, strung all day/ It replenish your glow”
Cringe level: 3.5/5
Visually, this commercial is pretty fitting for the early 2010s. It’s shot in the style of a music video which includes rappers and scantily clad blondes. But what’s confusing is that the commercial is for Garnier shampoo and features Memphis Bleek as the musical talent. In the video, he’s spitting cringey bars about being with his “lady friends” and how they have really soft hair thanks to Garnier. “You know my lady got that silky smooth/ You know just how I do/ I can string my fingers through,” he raps. There should be a rule that rappers should never be asked to freestyle about random products just because of this video. —Jessica McKinney
Snoop Dogg, Hot Pocket
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Why it's cringey: They didn’t need such big-budget surreality to sell a $3 snack
Cringe level: 3.5/5
When you shoot your shot as much as Snoop Dogg has with the ads, there’s bound to be some airballs. Cue his confusing partnership with Hot Pocket. Business Insider felt like the brand was “targeting stoners” with their 2013 “You Got What I Eat” ad, but the 4-minute visual felt hallucinogenic. The star-studded spot starts with Kate Upton falling into an extended dream sequence after watching Snoop Dogg and actor Oliver Cooper rap about the best part of a Hot Pocket during a Larry King interview. With such a preposterous setoff, the video had no choice but to descend into further madness, with Snoop and Upton traveling through the Hot Pocket universe in a spaceship, meeting a rapping baker and an 8-bit butcher. The “extended video ad” follows Snoop’s “Pocket Like it’s Hot” commercial, where he, Andy Milonakis, and others spat Hot Pocket raps over the “Drop It Like It’s Hot” beat. —Andre Gee
Master P, Winton & Hiestand Law Group PLLC
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Why it's cringey: These guys clearly don’t know Master P
Cringe level: 3/5
Somehow, Master P was recruited to do the voiceover for accident attorneys Jeremy Winton and Chauncey Hiestand. Master P isn’t exactly the professional voiceover you’d expect to hear for a legal ad like this, but he doesn’t do a terrible job. What warrants an eye roll here is what they asked him to say. In the video, Master P states that Winton and Hiestand “care about the community” and “work hard for the children.” While there is a clip in the ad that shows the duo walking with Master P, it doesn’t seem like they have a relationship with the No Limit mogul or the community. And to top it off, he lets out a very awkward “uhhh” ad-lib. —Jessica McKinney
BONUS: Drake, Sprite
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Why it’s cringey: The robot (but this one is so bad, it’s actually kind of good?)
Cringe level: 4 robots/5
In 2011, as Drake was gearing up for the release of Take Care, he partnered with Sprite for an ad that's still being talked about (and meme'd) to this day. And it’s all because of the robot. For some reason, Sprite decided to create a robotic replica of Drake that splits into a bunch of pieces and fills with liquid until it explodes, before putting itself together again. As cool as that might sound on paper, something about the execution is off, and seeing the robot’s face split open was uncomfortable every time this ad came on. Unlike the other selections on this list, though, this one falls into the category of: it’s so bad, it’s actually kind of good. The whole thing is goofy as hell, but a decade after it first aired, we’re still fascinated by the Drake robot (and still talking about Sprite). Pigeons & Planes even did a whole investigative series about it. It’s memorable, to say the least. Whenever Drake decides to focus on acting again, could we get a feature-length Drake Robot movie? We’re here for it. —Eric Skelton
