In a long line of internet memes only one has clogged up our HootSuite Dipity keyword search for over a month. Do Da Dipity: the 2009 KIA Soul Hamster Commercial. For the last few weeks every time I log in to update Dipity followers (become one!) about the latest dipitiness, I see a long string of tweets from people all over the world who can’t seem to get enough of this video. The video features a couple of ghetto, rapping hamsters cruising around in their KIA Soul. Other, less hip hamsters drive toasters, cardboard boxes and washing machines. The message is a clear one: compared to common household appliances, cars offer a much more stylish and practical mode of transportation. I trust the hamsters, don’t you?
This excellent bit of marketing from KIA suddenly has the hip-hopping hamsters as the hottest rodents since Alvin and the Chipmunks. At Dipity, our twitter feed has been flooded with the refrain from the end of the commercial, “Do Da Dipity.” We thought we’d capitalize on the vicarious publicity by exploring this internet meme with our own KIA Hamster timeline:
My favorite part of the ad is the music. The commercial features the song “The Choice is Yours” by hip-hop group Black Sheep. Black Sheep were an integral part of the Native Tongue hip-hop movement in the early 90’s. They were famous for being the first to openly parody gangster rap and also gained recognition for their unique beats and intelligent lyrics. In 1991 the group released their first album A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing. The album debuted at #30 on the Billboard charts with the single “Flavor of the Month.” However, another song from the same disc, “The Choice is Yours” would land them in a KIA commercial.
Check out the Black Sheep timeline on Dipity:
In an interesting turn of events, the artists, Dres and Mista Lawnge were not aware that KIA was using their song in a commercial. “I wasn’t even contacted. I have yet to receive payment on it but don’t get it twisted, I will,” said Dres during an interview with Vibe Magazine. “I’ve been talking to KIA for the past week or two so certain things might be done moving forward in maximizing what we’re trying to do. But Universal, the record label, was basically the ones that signed off on it and gave them permission to use my likeness so that’s a different story that might wind up having a life of itself as well.”
Lawsuits, and sometimes internet trends, tend to take on a life of their own, much like these rapping hamsters. So much of creating a buzz online revolves around creative, funny and/or original content. Dipity is an innovative way to explore such trends, but is also a new and cutting-edge trend in itself. We are getting nearly 500k page views a day, and that number just keeps on growing. Catch on! Sign up for Dipity today. After you do, be sure to tell your friends they don’t know Dipity. The choice is yours… Do Da Dipity!
No comments:
Post a Comment