Hip Hop Pop-Up
Kottke points us to Hip Hop Pop-Up, a developmental software that plays MP3s which are user-embedded with URL info for the name-brand products name checked in the track; the file would play normally on your iPod, but listening on your computer (while online) takes you to the homepage for each product pimped, in real time. The Hip Hop Pop Up product hopes to be available as an iTunes plug-in, and offers a look at the "potential future of the state of mainstream rap music."
We tried it out so you don't have to (but if you're curious, disable your pop-up blockers, turn up your volume, and head here). The sample track is Kanye's "All Falls Down," and yes, right in time with West's mentions come the homepages for Nike, Lexus, Rolex, Cartier, and Versace (or in Kanye-speak, Versaysee).
Now, nobody needs to give corporate interests any more incentive to sway the creative process -- but the technology itself is intriguing. Got a better use for it? Like, think about an MP3 of Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start The Fire" that popped up the Wiki page for each reference! That's an entire history class utilizing life's two greatest joys: Billy Joel and Wikipedia. It's like Michael Scott said: "Wikipedia is the best thing ever. Anyone in the world can write anything they want about any subject, so you know you are getting the best possible information."
Posted at 4:28 PM
my global studies class got a free poster from Billy Joel's label with the lyrics to "We Didn't Start the Fire". didn't help at all.
Score = 0
If this was made as a form of exposee satire, it would be hilariously awesome.
But it sounds like it's instead a tool to be used BY the advertisers to promote their products.
We're entering an age of unbelievable irony.
Score = 0