Gawker reports that Jadakiss got paid by Coogi to mention them in his "Letter to BIG" tributw. What do y'all think is there an ethical issue here? I have to imagine that Biggie would heartily approve of this hustle, so I'm not offended by Jada doing it in a tribute song, and it fits in naturally, seems like something he's say anyway.. but in general does it seem a little creepy for people to be getting secret checks for dropping brand names?
Rappers have been dropping brand names in their lyrics for cash for years; it's tasteless, but widespread. But why would you turn a memorial track for your dead friend into a Coogi ad?
...In his first verse, Jadakiss (who's wearing Coogi in the video) says, "In your memory I keep Coogi in my closet." Why? Well, Biggie did love those crazy ass Coogi sweaters. But a more important reason: because, a good source tells us, Coogi paid Jadakiss tens of thousands of dollars to drop their name in the song.
Maybe save the product placement for normal, non-memorial-to-my-deceased-friend songs?
