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A major part of the growth of Hip-Hop has been the way that the culture connected with the global marketplace. From Run-DMC’s connection with ADIDAS to LL Cool J rocking Kangol hats, branding has been a major part of the culture moving forward. After many years of rappers shouting out their favorite fashion brands on wax, it was only a matter of time before products became influenced by Hip-Hop in return.
Here are a few of our favorites:
Rap Snacks
Founded by Miami-based entrepreneur James Lindsay, Rap Snacks is the first food company to feature rappers prominently in its branding. Partnering with some of the biggest names in the game, Rap Snacks grew into a multi-million dollar business. After starting with flavored chips (crafted to match the personality of each featured artist), the company has since expanded to noodles, breakfast cereal, and rice.
Happy Hues Co.
After achieving success with the Because Of Them We Can brand, Eunique Jones Gibson expanded to a baby essentials line. The Happy Hues Co. was founded with the intent of providing quality, affordable items while also allowing kids of color to see themselves in the branding. With product names such as “Wipe Me Downs”, “Go-Getters” diapers, and “Big Ups” training pants, the culture is well represented.
The Doux
The Doux was launched by Maya and Brian Smith while in Germany, where Brian was stationed in the Air Force. Citing their mutual love for Hip-Hop, this Black & Veteran-owned brand includes natural haircare products named after various songs and figures. From “CRAZYSEXYCURL” honey setting foam to “O.P.P.” heat protection spray, The Doux takes pride in making consumers look fresh.
Trill Burgers
For another perfect example of the connection between hip-hop and the food industry, look no further than Trill Burgers. Co-founded by Houston rap legend Bun B of UGK, the company started during the COVID-19 pandemic with pop-ups at local food events. It quickly grew notoriety for its delicious smashburgers, earning the title of “Best Burger in America” by Good Morning America in 2022. Soon, the burger company was making a name for itself throughout H-Town and beyond, with appearances at Coachella, Rolling Loud, and other notable festivals before opening its first brick-and-mortar location in 2023.
Television Shows
Of course, we cannot forget about the various television shows that were inspired by Hip-Hop culture. With the common goal of vivid storytelling, it seems like the merging of the two was inevitable. From New York Undercover to Irv Gotti’s Tales to 50 Cent’s Power franchise, we have seen a wave of shows that have captivated audiences with the genre serving as the soundtrack.
The most recent series to grab attention in the culture is Hulu’s Reasonable Doubt, a lawyer drama inspired by the music of one of Hip-Hop’s greatest lyricists, Jay-Z. With each episode named after his hits, it is one of the very few shows to feature the Brooklyn MC’s music prominently. This serves as the latest example of how far Hip-Hop has come…and how far the genre can go.
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