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Source: Budweiser / Budweiser
One of America’s most beloved beers is saluting one of the culture’s most beloved MC’s. Budweiser has just released an issue of Word Up! Magazine in tribute to The Notorious B.I.G..
As spotted on Hype Beast the King of Beers has partnered with the late great rapper’s estate to bring back one of Hip-Hop’s most influential publications. The co-branded effort celebrates the anniversary of his seminal debut Ready To Die. This limited-edition print highlights his brief but significant career while using some of the most iconic photographs of the “10 Crack Commandments” MC. Additionally, it will feature excerpts from his mother Voleta Wallace, his children, Angie Martinez and others.
“Christopher Wallace’s story is one of resilience, determination, and the belief in self that shaped him into the rap legend known as The Notorious B.I.G. During Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary, Budweiser is proud to champion B.I.G.’s story, spirit and legacy through the reimagining of this iconic publication” a formal press release reads. “Dive deep into these pages; in every line and image, the story of B.I.G. awaits. From the gritty avenues of Brooklyn to the corners of the country, a legend in the making never quits.”
The first edition of the Budweiser Word Up! Magazine Notorious B.I.G. edition is available now at select retailers throughout the country. A deluxe edition is scheduled for a September 28 release. You can read about this special release here.
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Ozuna and Coors Light join forces and kick off their newest campaign Ritmo Chill. In the spirit of the beer brand’s slogan “Made To Chill” — which is on par with Coors Light’s aesthetic of the Rocky Mountains — Ozuna heads towards the icy route but gives his newest song some heat with the tropical-laden single, “Chill Conmigo,” written and produced by the artist himself.
The visual follows the Puerto Rican-Dominican star in an office setting who’s ready to break free and go on a quest for chiller moments. So he climbs to the peak of the Rocky Mountains and discovers a loaded Coors Light cooler. “Yo solo busco un ambiente para vacilar con mi gente,” he sings against a joyous mix of Afrobeats and calypso pop. “I’m just looking for an environment to hang out with my people.” Then the scene transitions to the Ozuna enjoying himself at a spring break-styled pool party.
“Ritmo Chill is a musical program focused on helping consumers eliminate daily pressures by relaxing with good music and a cold Coors Light,” said consumer excellence senior manager, LatAm, Yaidi Clery in a statement. “The collab with Ozuna is a dream partnership because they both embody that spirit of taking things easy and letting go with good vibes. Just like Ozuna, Coors Light is ‘made to chill’.”
Although Coors Light Latin America soft launched Ritmo Chill last year, which also includes a series of five playlists on Spotify titled “Chill with Friends,” “After Work,” “Beach Chill,” “Pool Time,” and Chill Vibes,” it’s the first time the division launches an original song and video with a Latin powerhouse performer for their campaign.
Ozuna, a global reggaeton and Latin trap hitmaker, is a five-time No. 1 chart-topper on Hot Latin Songs. He has landed on the Top Latin Albums with all of his five albums, including two No. 1s, and has reached the Billboard Hot 100 twenty times to date with hits like “Taki Taki,” “Te Boté,” “Monotonía,” “Criminal,” and more. In December, Ozuna performed live at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 closing ceremony.
As conservative country stars such as John Rich and Travis Tritt continue their calls for a boycott of Bud Light, Anheuser-Busch CEO Brendan Whitworth has responded to the ongoing controversy on Friday (April 14).
In a statement posted to the company’s official Instagram page and Twitter account, Whitworth said that he felt a responsibility toward making sure “every consumer feels proud of the beer we brew,” pointing to Anheuser-Busch’s history of support for “our communities, military, first responders, sports fans and hard-working Americans everywhere.”
In regards to the ongoing backlash, Whitworth clarified the company’s objectives as a brand: “We never intended to be part of a discussion that divides people,” he wrote. “We are in the business of bringing people together over a beer.”
Conservative backlash to the brand began when transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney participated in a branded partnership with Bud Light, advertising its Easy Carry Contest across her social media accounts, in which she thanked the company for sending her a can of the beer with her face emblazoned on the side.
In response to Mulvaney’s video, artists including Kid Rock and Ted Nugent began speaking out against the brand, with Tritt and Rich starting their own respective boycotts of all Anheuser-Busch products.
Whitworth never directly referenced Mulvaney, Tritt, Rich, or the boycotts themselves in his statement. Instead, he focused on “the importance of accountability and the values upon which America was founded: freedom, hard work and respect for one another,” while also adding that he as CEO would focus more on “protecting [Anheuser-Busch’s] remarkable history and heritage.”
Closing his official statement, Whitworth said that he would “continue to work tirelessly to bring great beers to consumers across the nation.”
Check out Brendan Whitworth’s full statement below.
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