Um, a billboard?
May 05th, 2010
If you’ve walked around the mean streets of New York in the last 2 weeks, you may have seen one of these snazzy Bushmills billboards, including this one with the FG crew next to the Alife Rivington Club. Or maybe you saw the Chromeo one in Williamsburg which is, oh I don’t know, 20 times bigger:
They actually painted them! It was a real trip to watch this guy paint my brother’s sideburns.
For more pics of the campaign you can check out the Bushmills Facebook page.
Here’s a behind-the-scenes video from the shoot itself, at Jonathan Mannion’s fabled studio.
39 Responses to “Um, a billboard?”
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- I would like a scrumptious snack.
- RT @kimcockerill: trying to plan my outfit for @atrak tomorrow, think its a proper occasion to bust out the new gold jeans #discopants
- RT @timmhotep: I was already on fish and spaghetti.
- Bobby "Gefilte" Fischer
- Real trap shit!! RT @DJCassidy: Souvlaki by Estee Lauder
Selling out is using the fame that you got from your talent to push something else. Athletes do it all the time, but their careers can end with one injury. Plus, hard liquor isn’t exactly harmless. Musicians are supposed to drink it, not sell it, or not, I guess. What a disappointment.
@ ZS is this jealousy or honest opinion? As a DJ, I would rather be endorsed by a product directly in the party scene than by anything else – it’s a win-win situation.
I think selling out refers to lowering your standards in order to reach a larger public, e.g. going commercial. Being on a poster with your buddies and a bottle of liquor does not make your music worse – or does it?
I think they look great. Who doesnt want to be on a Bushmills poster with their best friends?
I can def see both sides of the issue however if some company came to me with a boat-load of cash I would totally do it. Does that make me a sell out? In this economy, i think not.. Like 2-short said – “get in where you fit in” !!
is this selling out? let’s be honest, it is… but you gotta eat as an artist too. however, deep down i do believe in the words of Bill Hicks “”Do a commercial, there’s a price on your head, everything you say is suspect…” BUT i don’t think I could ever ever abide by that…. you have to promote yourself as an artist, and you have to make a living… 99% of ALL jobs involve some sort of compromise. it’s a dope ad at least. if given the opportunity, i would do it in a second.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5K20-4s2_o
Barbara Streisand
I think people who accuse artists/sports stars/etc of ‘selling out’ are just afraid that whoever they looked up to or followed will now be less cool because they will become more well-known by others cause their face is on a billboard or something.
IMO just focus on what they are producing as an artist, or what they are achieving out on the field as a sports star. That’ll be how I decide whether I still dig someone or not.
I also think it’s funny when things like Nike collabs aren’t seen as selling out – but when Nike they are pretty fucking commercial and well-known.
And shit, I’d love to see my face plastered up on a wall for everyone to see – that would be half the reason for me agreeing to do such a thing – the money would just be bonus haha.
Sure, it is “selling out” (if there ever was such a term). Who cares? Really neat ad. I would do the same thing, and I’m underground. We’re living in capitalism, let’s play by the rules. Which I love
There’s no money in music. If assholes would support it like they’re supposed to, then artists would be less likely to “sell out”. Big artists have to eat and pay bills like everyone else.
But really, selling out is when an artist goes against their own ARTISTIC integrity for more fame or profit. There’s nothing wrong with product or service endorsements. And not all commercial sounding stuff is bad, you freaking snobs.
On a related note, don’t sleep on this long (but well worth the read) piece by Mike from Fucked Up. http://lookingforgold.blogspot.com/2010/03/sxsw-why.html
O-god! And I don’t mean the remix…
Let them be! I think its dope that they’re being exposed to a broader audience, and how is this selling out?
A Bushmill ad in Hipster Williamsburg? I would understand if this were plastered in Times Square, but most relevant young people in Brooklyn are already aware of who Chromeo and A-trak are. If anything the artists are helping the brand by endorsing it so they can seem relevant and hip.
Don’t hate, procreate
I have never understood the “keep it underground” mentality… People don’t like artists for taking the music that the people have grown to love and using it commercially. I think the problem lies in the consumer feeling that their favorite artist, band, clothing line is going mainstream. Its no longer THEIR secret – or something that makes them cool because now everyone knows about it.
Alain- make that money. You will still be you and your skills will still be yours no matter what products you promote- Heineken, Bush Mills or even Colgate.
Foremost, I agree w/ DustOneLV’s comment (Barbara Streisand). Second, and more importantly, being one of the artists next to Alain on the billboard, I myself questioned the “selling-out-ness” when presented with the opportunity to participate.
At first I wasn’t comfortable endorsing a product which isn’t a brand I usually support, there’s the ethical factor, i.e. being a poster child for a product that when used improperly can be as fatal, if not more-so than “illegal drugs”, and lastly, my self-image. What would my friends and peers think?
Yes, times are tough, financially speaking, for everyone. Yes, it’s visibility, and potentially raises market value and brand awareness. Truthfully, i did it for the above mentioned reasons and more importantly, because if I didn’t, the next man would, and that’s food off my plate.
As for the question of selling out.. If endorsement equals selling out as seems to be the argument in these comments then anybody who supports Dj A-Trak, Fool’s Gold, Catchdubs, and Dust La Rock by going to our shows, buying our product, and listening to our music is a “sell out”and if that’s the case, sign me up, I want to be a part of this movement.
Matter-of-fact ZS, let’s talk about this in person, I’d love to sell out all over your face.
“I’m not a businessman, I’m a business, man.”
Applicable to A-Trak and to anyone else who likes getting paid. Mr. La Rock pretty much nailed everything else in his last para.
Sexy mens!
Im about to go slap some FG stickers on the Greenpoint ones…
As long as you don’t try to play that stupid game we all played once,
(which consists in trying to put your finger in and out the bottle)
and you can still do that robot rock routine, do it.
Cheers from Paris,
where you should come chill with Dave more often.
I think this ad is well done and classy. Also, were obviously all huge A-trak fans but I would bet that a lot of people who see that billboard don’t know who he even is.
What the ad is trying to communicate seems more generic than each artists actual image. It probably seemed a better idea to hire actual artists, musicians, etc than models pretending to be friends
you can be the artist who makes a successful living and enjoys their life or the artist that abstains from all commercial exposure/exploitation of their image, brand, or art and maintains a sort of purist artistic credibility. Which is better?
Ultimately while we’d like to believe our beloved artists are sent from above solely to entertain us they are people. People with mortgages, credit card bills, and a future to think about.
I too would do this in a sec. I think its a great ad.
Hahahaha. Man, everyone on here just sounds so intelligent with their 4 paragraph analysis on A-Traks decision to be on a billboard for a liquor ad with his homies. On the next conversation lets talk all about how A-Trak sold out by making the YYY’s remix one of the top in the UK? If you make great music that people love, your a sell out! If you can’t sense my sarcasm here…. your a sell out. We <3 A-Trak. At least argue about a mans integrity on a music blog other than his own. One Love!
Wamp wamp, its not selling out. Atrak makes pop (dance) music- thankfully, its really great stuff. But hes not making minimal here (not yet)- its supposed to be accessible. This has no impact on his music, especially music that is designed for partying and dancing.
The Black Eyed Peas are the biggest sell out musicians ever and most of their music is wack. But they get it right with these lyrics:
Y’all niggas wanna talk shit, but
Why don’t you put it on the blog, nigga?
Rockin’ like this my job, nigga
We can’t help that we popular
And all these folks want to flock to us
Come to a show and just rock with us
A million plus with binoculars
I’ll pipe in. Mr. La Rock is on point. If you are selling a product like music, you’re not going to make much money. As a growing label, like FG, at some point, you need to diversify into new markets. Every business person does it at some point. Its smart business. So, is that selling out? I think everyone shown on these ads are keeping their standards up and they are doing a GREAT job at it. Plus, this product is directly associated with the market these guys are in. If they were selling proctor and gamble goods, then we’d be having another conversation (Fool’s Gold says using Listerine before you hit the club will get you laid!)
And, if they don’t do it, the next guy will. I’d rather see the boys behind one of the best labels out there on those ads than most.
Keep it up guys!
if you use the words ‘sell out’ in 2010, one yourself. If you use them in the same sentence as Alain or Chromeo… One your family too.
why do ppl take offense to the notion of selling out? Great interview btw Peter Gabriel and Neon Indian, and Peter Gabriel when asked about his idea of selling out said “bend over until it hurts”. i don’t think there’s anything wrong with saying saying yeah, I’m slapping myself on a billboard to sell booze, who fucking cares. Just don’t try and rationalize it as not selling out –> it is.
the real question is, who fucking cares?
it’s a dope ad, and a-trak is a dope artist.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=up5Urqxw6sk&feature=player_embedded
Fight Fight Fight, i would sell (out) everything to see you guys whoop on ZS ass
This is A-Trak, Chromeo and FG posing for black and white pictures and a graphic designer slapping words and a bottle of alc on a poster.
It in no way changes the music they make. Doubt they will be name dropping any products in any future songs. Plus, if you never saw this ad, you would still listen to their music and go to their shows. You probably still will after seeing it.
Of course everyone is entitled to an opinion and expressing it, especially on the internet.
“Sell Out”? Negative ghostrider. A ‘sell out’ imho is someone who compromises their personal ideals, morals or integrity for the sake of cash. Only I would be able to say, “yeah, I sold out to make some money-gotta pay that doctor bill dude!” As a DJ, I would be selling out if I played an all trance gig or polka-house when I know inside of myself that I’m only doin’ it for the $ when in actuality I can’t stand that effin’ music(I’ve never actually heard polka-house, I was using it as an example). Selling out is a term used by those who are butt hurt that the artists that they cherish and feel a sense of ownership over had the audacity to increase their appeal or wallet size by becoming more known to the general populace. Deal with it haters.
[...] building. Hand painted, at that. We want my brother to be part of the campaign too (nice little debate on whether this was a sell-out move over on his blog, by the way). The photography’s got to be simple, classic and show that we’re just [...]
Let me clarify why this is selling out, and not just making a little side cash. The ads don’t discriminate between adults and kids. The Lower East Side and Williamsburg do have children in them – school-aged kids that can see the ads just as well as I can, on the subway platform, on the street. Some are your fans. No one should be selling alcohol to kids, much less hard liquor. Their innocence does exist, and it is worth protecting. Putting those ads up is, in a way, like being a bad neighbor. This is tacky misstep for a crew that’s earned their way. Had to say something.
ZS is dumb.
i don’t give a shit.
Sellout?!? WTF??? You guys have too much free time…
Alain, you should play your gigs without charging a fee from now on
oh c’mon guys….i just did a burn energizer promo videoshoot, so please – dont diss me!haha
it’s just a business, new experiance, kinda fun. as long as the product u advertise is cool (forget about toilet papers n stuff) everythings alright.
do u diss yuksek becouse of peugeot adv??
oh c’mon guys….i just did a burn energizer promo videoshoot, so please – dont diss me!haha
it’s just a business, new experiance, kinda fun. as long as the product u advertise is cool (forget about toilet papers n stuff) everythings alright.
do u diss yuksek becouse of peugeot adv??
LOVE THIS. it was an awesome surprise to be walking through my favorite neighborhood, look up and see something so dope. it was like, “YES, THIS IS THE SHIT!!!”. of course, impromptu photo shoot!!! LOVE YOU, and your BRO!!!!!! fool’s gold x x X X ♥ ♥ X X x x
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I see this all over New York City train stations.
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