Here's a full excerpt from the original article in The Economist that caused all the Cristal hoopla in the first place:
"Unwelcome attention The reality is rather different, at least in the United States. Today, the most high-profile consumers of Cristal are rap artists, whose taste for swigging bubbly in clubs is less a sign of a refined palate than a passion for a “bling-bling” lifestyle that includes ten-carat diamond studs, chunky gold jewellery, pimped up Caddies and sensuous women. In his number one hit “Hard Knock Life”, Jay-Z raps, “Let’s sip the Cris and get pissy-pissy”. Cristal has been so visible at Mr Combs’s concerts that onlookers have wondered whether the venerable champagne house was sponsoring the event.
In fact, the attitude of the house of Roederer to the unexpected popularity of Cristal among rappers is considerably more circumspect. Frédéric Rouzaud, who took over from his father as managing-director of the winery in January, says that Roederer has observed its association with rap with “curiosity and serenity”. But he does not seem entirely serene. Asked if an association between Cristal and the bling lifestyle could actually hurt the brand, he replies: “That’s a good question, but what can we do? We can’t forbid people from buying it. I’m sure Dom Pérignon or Krug would be delighted to have their business.”
The attitude of the house of Roederer to the unexpected popularity of Cristal among rappers is considerably more circumspect. Both Dom Pérignon and Krug have had their share of unwelcome attention, too. The late President Mobutu of Zaire, a notoriously profligate dictator, was said to be a devotee of Dom Pérignon’s rosé champagne. Naturally enough, Rémi Krug, the chairman of the champagne house, prefers to emphasise the more cultured devotees of Krug—drinkers, like the late Ernest Hemingway or the painter Francis Bacon, who are “creative individualists who never follow the crowd, and have strong tastes of their own.”
As is the case with other luxury brands, some consumers are nevertheless motivated more by the sheer ostentation of the product. For many years, the most famous consumer of Krug in Britain was Jeffrey Archer, a novelist, politician—and, ultimately, prison inmate, after being convicted for perjury. His insistence on serving Krug, and nothing but Krug, to guests at his summer parties was regarded as a tad flashy—a little like his reported instructions to guests about how to find the lavatory (“Past the Picasso, left at the Matisse”)."
Jay Z is overreacting and making a huge jump to say that Cristal is being racist for the comments made by Frederic Roederer in this article.
Roederer is merely commenting on the fact that his brand has not made any effort to market to the "hip hop" population, yet the product has become iconic and associated with hip hop.
He doesn't even outwardly say that the mentioning of his product by Jay Z and others harms his brand, but that it's "curious" and that he can't "forbid people for buying it."
He doesn't outwardly say that hip hoppers shouldn't drink his brand of liquor, he's just saying they aren't the target audience. He also doesn't mention race. Another point- the journalist points out that the lyrics of rap songs often refer to these champagnes being drunk to excess, which I would argue is not something any alcohol brand wants to be tied to.
While there certainly are racial undertones in any comment made about hip hop, Jay Z and others are the one making this an issue of race, and for no reason.
Here's a full excerpt from the original article in The Economist that caused all the Cristal hoopla in the first place:
ReplyDelete"Unwelcome attention
The reality is rather different, at least in the United States. Today, the most high-profile consumers of Cristal are rap artists, whose taste for swigging bubbly in clubs is less a sign of a refined palate than a passion for a “bling-bling” lifestyle that includes ten-carat diamond studs, chunky gold jewellery, pimped up Caddies and sensuous women. In his number one hit “Hard Knock Life”, Jay-Z raps, “Let’s sip the Cris and get pissy-pissy”. Cristal has been so visible at Mr Combs’s concerts that onlookers have wondered whether the venerable champagne house was sponsoring the event.
In fact, the attitude of the house of Roederer to the unexpected popularity of Cristal among rappers is considerably more circumspect. Frédéric Rouzaud, who took over from his father as managing-director of the winery in January, says that Roederer has observed its association with rap with “curiosity and serenity”. But he does not seem entirely serene. Asked if an association between Cristal and the bling lifestyle could actually hurt the brand, he replies: “That’s a good question, but what can we do? We can’t forbid people from buying it. I’m sure Dom Pérignon or Krug would be delighted to have their business.”
The attitude of the house of Roederer to the unexpected popularity of Cristal among rappers is considerably more circumspect.
Both Dom Pérignon and Krug have had their share of unwelcome attention, too. The late President Mobutu of Zaire, a notoriously profligate dictator, was said to be a devotee of Dom Pérignon’s rosé champagne. Naturally enough, Rémi Krug, the chairman of the champagne house, prefers to emphasise the more cultured devotees of Krug—drinkers, like the late Ernest Hemingway or the painter Francis Bacon, who are “creative individualists who never follow the crowd, and have strong tastes of their own.”
As is the case with other luxury brands, some consumers are nevertheless motivated more by the sheer ostentation of the product. For many years, the most famous consumer of Krug in Britain was Jeffrey Archer, a novelist, politician—and, ultimately, prison inmate, after being convicted for perjury. His insistence on serving Krug, and nothing but Krug, to guests at his summer parties was regarded as a tad flashy—a little like his reported instructions to guests about how to find the lavatory (“Past the Picasso, left at the Matisse”)."
And a link: http://www.economist.com/node/6905921
I wanted to share this before I add my comment:
ReplyDeleteJay Z is overreacting and making a huge jump to say that Cristal is being racist for the comments made by Frederic Roederer in this article.
Roederer is merely commenting on the fact that his brand has not made any effort to market to the "hip hop" population, yet the product has become iconic and associated with hip hop.
He doesn't even outwardly say that the mentioning of his product by Jay Z and others harms his brand, but that it's "curious" and that he can't "forbid people for buying it."
He doesn't outwardly say that hip hoppers shouldn't drink his brand of liquor, he's just saying they aren't the target audience. He also doesn't mention race. Another point- the journalist points out that the lyrics of rap songs often refer to these champagnes being drunk to excess, which I would argue is not something any alcohol brand wants to be tied to.
While there certainly are racial undertones in any comment made about hip hop, Jay Z and others are the one making this an issue of race, and for no reason.
I guess you chalk it up to not unstanding the culture of hip-hop how. Hip-hop artist will create a assocation with something just be talking about it.
ReplyDelete