Beyond Urban Branding

Kindle ads suck. There, I said it. I have watched these pseudo clever ads for too long. This is the latest one to not catch my eye. The other ad they had was the boring one with the lady and flashlight? Don't remember? I'm not mad at you for forgetting. Also, who is Kindle trying to market to? I mean, based on the ads, I'd say White nerds.  Which is OK. Everything ain't for everybody. But this couple on the beach is NOT making me want Kindle. I mean, if I'm at the beach and I wanna read, I'm not about to bring Kindle near these waves (unless its waterproof!). Note to Kindle marketing people: Many people (races, cultures, subcultures, etc.) love to read. Many people love technology. Please make an ad that makes any lover of books excited. If you don't, they'll just go grab an ipad. -Beyond Urban Branding beyondurban@gmail.com

As much as graff may get criminalized by mainstream media, people really love it. Food, shoe, clothing and car brands are all sold using the power of graff. The above piece is a classic example. -Beyond Urban Branding beyondurban@gmail.com

Skating and graffiti have always been in alignment. Skating was usually done by more White kids in the urban areas. Rapping and DJ'ing was done by more African American kids. Graffiti brought them together. I think this is a very cutting edge campaign. I love the can design idea. I love it when any company embraces urban art.   -Beyond Urban Branding beyondurban@gmail.com

I've always loved the Geico Gecko. This most recent at with the "rap ringtone" is really funny. Every way to use Hip-Hop as fun does not have to be a "mockery" of the art. This was funny and very memorable. To me the "rap ringtone" at the end is indicative of all the corny ways some brands try to use urban elements to their advantage- but fail. Love this ad. -Beyond Urban Branding beyondurban@gmail.com

B.O.B and RJ Berger (Paul Iacono) are in great new ad by Adidas. If you dont know B.O.B you could possibly live under a rock. The thing I wonder is if Adidas PAID for the brand placement in this song, or was the timing just divine? PS. If you really don't know who B.O.B is, you can ask your kids or just click below: -Beyond Urban Branding beyondurban@gmail.com

The Droid ads are amazing. I love them because everything about them is so cutting edge. They speak to not only everything we want technology to be (futuristic, deeper than we can imagine, fun, easy to use), but they make it feel like that moment is right now! -Beyond Urban Branding beyondurban@gmail.com

Find out from Dres from Black Sheep (scroll under this sentence for the link) Exclusive with Dres from Black Sheep on Kia Ad!!

Be alarmed, what you about to see is the bomb/ Like 3D in Nam, vivid like CD Rom/Info kept like Internet.com - Rakim, Its Been A Long Time

"Its like my ipod is stuck on replay..."- Iyaz, Replay

I know its been a minute since we did a Tech Week. Honestly, a lot of ads were kinda boring me. Not even that I was mad at them, I was just unmoved. Maybe I will write about that more in depth. But for now I'm in love with Facetime iphone app ads. They hit heartstrings with honesty. These ads show how technology is not a sterile tool made of ones and zeros. They showed that technology can and does bring people closer together.  The use of Louie Armstrong brings it all in. -Beyond Urban Branding beyondurban@gmail.com