Jim Jones: Everybody ain't got a sneaker deal. Everybody ain't got no clothing deal. All these niggas that's popping got sneaker deals and all type of dumb shit going on -- which is good, 'cause corporate America need to make some of this money. Pretty soon we gonna be doing Tropicana commericals and all that, 'cause we drink orange juice, too. Kellogg's and all that. I'm about to go after all that. I need some of that money. We eat cereal, too, in the morning.Not to keep riding on this topic of rappers snagging sneakers and car endorsements, but I saw this article online and had to pass it along.kris ex: But Kellogg's may not want you eating their shit 'cause you might fuck up their brand.
Jim Jones: You may think that. But then again, you gotta look at Mountain Dew, Sprite, Pepsi, Nike [and] Reebok. Look at the top contenders that's doing it and look at the people they got as they spokespersons. They need to be part of hip-hop, they don't care who you are. If you that big of a person, they'll fuck with you. Whether you a bad boy or a good boy, they love you.
-- Jim Jones, as featured in the September '05 issue of XXL magazine
First, the setup:
In the midst of all of these rappers snagging sneaker deals, Nike is the only footwear company that doesn't have a rapper hocking their shoes. Of course, the sneaker giant doesn't need to since every rapper in the game is sporting Nike Air Force 1's in their glossy videos. But Nike doesn't have a big-time rhyme-spitter officially promoting their signature kicks. That's because Nike reps have emphatically stated in past interviews that they want to promote athletes and athletics, not short-lived fashion trends. Much like what hardCore said ("The scope in which companies view these hip-hop artists is very small and short term"), Nike didn't see it as long-term investment in nabbing a rapper to pitch their shoes.
Ahhh, but how things change. Peep this news item below . . .
From AllHipHop.com:
Nike is making a play for the urban market and is launching Blue Ribbon Sports -- the original name for Nike, which was founded by chairman and co-founder Phil Knight. The exclusive brand will only be available at high-end retailers. The company has not announced any celebrity endorsers, but reports stated designers from P. Diddy's Sean John clothing company have been tapped to design the collection.I can see a stampede of rappers charging at Nike to become their spokesperson for this apparel line.
I don't know if P. Diddy is going to design the collection since he has his own line of footwear coming out this month. You've probably seen the ads for it in the new XXL and other rap magazines -- it's called the Sean John black Elite (aka El Moreno).
I guess, the Diddster wants to just do it, too.
Holla!
