A new study by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center indicates that rap music may intentionally or unintentionally promote brand name alcohol to rap fans, many of whom have not yet reached the legal drinking age. Rap beats and lyrics often feature alcohol by brand name, but do not often focus on the consequences of overindulging.

Study May Prompt New Look At Rap

For the most part, the artists choose which brands to mention in their lyrics, but on occasion, the lyrics are the result of a promotional connection between the artist and the liquor company. The connection between rap music and alcohol sales is somewhat tenuous, but there are those who believe that rap beats have an impact on consumer behavior. In 2002, Busta Rhymes and P. Diddy released the rap single, “Pass the Courvoisier.” In 2003, the company’s sales shot up by nearly 19%.

According to the study, the most often mentioned brands were Patrón Téquila, Grey Goose Vodka, Hennessey Cognac and Cristal Champagne. The producers say that the music doesn’t constitute advertising because they have not solicited the mention of their products in the song.

In the United States, it’s illegal to target liquor advertising to persons under the age of 21, and the rap beats raise the question of what constitutes advertising. According to the study, listeners are exposed to brand-name “advertising” through rap music on average 34 times per day. The connection between rap music and alcohol is clear, and some artists have stepped in to use rap music as a brand-name promotional tool.

Critics point to Jay-Z’s acquisition of a majority share of Armadale Vodka, and Snoop Dogg’s commercial work for Landy Cognac. It’s not the first time a musician has mentioned alcohol in its songs, but some critics want to make sure that rap music does not become a surreptitious advertising vehicle for liquor advertisements directed toward minors, in much the same way that Joe Camel became a target for the anti-smoking lobby.

The study focused on rap music that landed on the Billboard Magazine’s Top 100 lists between 2005 and 2007. The researchers analyzed the lyrics from 793 songs and found that more than one in five rap songs mentioned alcohol. Of those that did, nearly one-fourth mentioned a specific brand name.

How big is the problem? In actual numbers, about 5% of all of the songs in the study mentioned alcohol by brand name. In terms of sheer numbers, the problem doesn’t appear to be all that significant, but simple numbers don’t account for the popularity of the song, and how much impact a few songs or a few artists can have on consumer behavior.

Photo Credit: renaissance chambara, via Flickr

If you want to show the world your stuff, KingIce.com has a contest on that you ought to know about. KingIce.com sells hip-hop jewelry and accessories, but they’re looking for some great, fresh rap beats. They’re offering a top prize of $1,000 in a contest you can find out more about on their website. If you’re looking to break into rap, or you’ve got some beats that the world should hear, put your best beats forward.

Sonic Producer Can Help

If you’re ready to make a statement in the rap world, Sonic Producer can help you get heard. Sonic Producer is a one-of-a-kind beatmaking software package that you don’t want to be without. Sonic Producer is with you all the way, whether you’re an experienced rap artist or just starting out. Sonic Producer has something for everyone.

Aside from its great features, like a 16-track built-in mixer, Sonic Producer comes with a full library of tutorial videos to show you not only how to use the program but also how to make the beats that people want to hear! It’s a great tool for beginners who want to stand out on the rap music scene.
Sonic Producer has everything you need. You don’t need to buy a lot of additional equipment or rent expensive studios to get professional sounding rap beats and recording capabilities. Sonic Producer is available for both the Mac and PC platforms, so you don’t have to buy more computer gear or miss out on such a great program!

Sonic Producer also comes with a large library of royalty-free samples that you can use with your raps. Royalty-free is the key when it comes to making rap beats. You can spend thousands of dollars licensing rap beats from other artists, but with Sonic Producer, you have a complete library available to you all the time and without having to pay additional fees to use them.

When you buy Sonic Producer, the video tutorial library and the library of samples are included in the price you pay for the software. The sample library alone may save thousands! Better still, you can do whatever you want with the beats – use them for your own personal sound, record them, sell them, distribute them or perform live using them. The sample library is yours!

Sonic Producer also lets you export your music to MP3 and distribute your sound around town. Sonic Producer is a stand-out product. Download your copy today!

Photo Credit: PhotoDu.de, via Flickr