• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • 703-385-8178
  • Strategic Partners
  • Press Releases

Borenstein Group

Washington DC’s Expert Top B2B|B2G Digital Branding Agency

  • Who We Are
    • About Us
    • Market Expertise
    • Clients
    • Client Testimonials
    • Strategic Partners
  • What We Do
    • Full Service
    • Our Process
    • Digital & Interactive Branding
    • Strategic Marketing
    • Public Relations & Online Reputation Management
    • Branding And Awareness
    • Employer Branding
    • Social Media
  • Clients
  • Our Work
  • Blog
  • Contact
    • Request A Proposal
    • Contact Us
    • Careers
    • Internships

Digital Marketing Lessons From Hip-Hop’s Finest

August 4, 2014/ by Gal Borenstein

Hate’m or love’em, but they are the marketing Dons on top. Some call them lyrical faux-gangsters because they sing rather than sling. Some call them smart American entrepreneurs that came up from the roughest neighborhoods to succeed on Main Street. The one thing you have to agree on: if you don’t listen to the streets, you might be missing out on some important digital marketing lessons that all marketers can follow.

1. Drake’s Lesson: #Yolo Your Way to the Top with a Smart Hash Tag
Rapper Drake, one of the fastest growing brands in a new era of Hip-Hop, started from the bottom, well almost the bottom. Either way the Canadian born star came from humble beginnings to a lead role on Public TV show ‘Degrassi’ to the top of the music charts. Most importantly, using social media, he was able to establish a brand for himself using a single hash tag ‘#YOLO’ (You Only Live Once). The popular hash tag phrase became a statement that inspired its followers to take chances and follow their dreams and aspirations.

2. Jay-Z’s Lesson: Build a Digital Umbrella Brand Using Icons with Raving Fans
Aside from the meteoric rise from a street drug dealer to a major music mogul, producer, and global entrepreneur, Jay-Z is known for creating the ‘diamond’ icon, which represents Rock-a-fella records, his label. Whenever you go to a Jay-Z concert, Beyoncé or anyone under his label (which includes Rhianna, Kanye, and many others), you will see folks flashing the iconic ‘triangular hand sign’ that symbolizes their ‘belonging’.

3. Rick Ross’ Lesson: If you mention a desirable brand’s name enough, they will let you use it even if no money exchanges hands to build your brand.
Rick Ross, the Miami-based Rapper, has a very tough exterior. But also a promoter’s brain to boot. Using ‘Maybach,’ the iconic luxury German car’s name to create a likeness to his own brand, Rick Ross has established a luxury brand all of his own. Listen closely to every song under his label and you will hear ‘Maybach Music’ pronounced by a sultry lady singer. This common form of advertising is called ‘piggy backing,’ where one brand leverages another more popular brand to build its own.

4. Kanye West’s Lesson: Be Evocative. Be Provocative. Be Consistent: Haters Fuel Engagement.
Kanye West proceeds to define his artistic brand around ‘provocative’ statements that always capture the attention of the press. He engages social media to make you cringe, and creates X-rated music videos that are banned from YouTube only to be replicated on other sites, increasing his press coverage. If you hate him or his music, he gets more fans, clicks and downloads.

5. P-Diddy’s Lesson: You Don’t Have to Belong to a Club. Create Your Own Club.
One of the best in the game. Two decades after P-Diddy showed up on the scene, he continues to make a name for himself with his own apparel, fragrances and vodka brands. Ciroq continues to make a name as a high-end Vodka evoking imagery of Frank Sinatra and other prominent celebrities. Moreover, who could have imagined that P-Diddy would be selling the new Italian Fiats as a ‘luxury sell’ to the masses?

In summary, what do all of these individuals have in common? Each have their very own unique insignia, whether it’s a provocative persona, unique phrase or iconic gesture, one thing is for sure: they all have serious marketing swag.

Filed Under: Branding, Public Relations, Social Media, Strategy

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • WESCORP Unveils Next Generation of Mission-Grade Industrial Surface Coatings with Fresh New Digital Branding. December 23, 2020
  • 7 Web Design Trends That Will Shape Your 2021 Digital Brand Strategy December 23, 2020
  • Chief Marketer Names Borenstein Group, B2G Marketing Agency, A Top 2021 200 Brand Engagement Agencies December 17, 2020

COA-Dowload

Footer

From our Blog

  • WESCORP Unveils Next Generation of Mission-Grade Industrial Surface Coatings with Fresh New Digital Branding. December 23, 2020
  • 7 Web Design Trends That Will Shape Your 2021 Digital Brand Strategy December 23, 2020
  • Chief Marketer Names Borenstein Group, B2G Marketing Agency, A Top 2021 200 Brand Engagement Agencies December 17, 2020

Borenstein Group

The Borenstein Group is a Washington DC’s Top Digital Marketing Agency for Integrated Marketing Communications. We develop Brand Strategy, Brand Design and Brand Content for emerging and market-leading IT, Professional Services, Federal Contractors, Business Services, as well as Public Sector markets.

As a stellar creative agency, with 25 years of experience, Borenstein is ranked at Chief Marketer’s Top 50 B2B Agencies, Clutch’s Top Digital Branding Agencies, Expertise’ Top Advertising Agencies, and Washington Business Journal’s Top Advertising Agencies the Washington DC region.

Get Results

Call us at 703.385.8178 x1 for a no-obligation strategic assessment of your digital brand.

Tysons Corner Headquarters:
8230 Leesburg Pike, STE 520
Vienna, VA 22182

 

Copyright 2020 Borenstein Group. All Rights Reserved. 

  • Borenstein Group Site Map
  • Legal
Go to mobile version