Ever since becoming one of the first companies to feature a rapper in a mainstream commercial in 1986, Sprite has had a long history of working with rappers. Now, it is paying tribute to the most impactful songs in the culture.
Fifty defining songs
Recently, Sprite put together a Spotify playlist of 50 key hip hop songs and released limited-edition packaging featuring quotes from some of them. The featured songs range from groundbreaking “Rapper’s Delight” (1979) to Latto’s “Brokey”.
In other words, “The Sprite Living Tracklist comprises 50 songs that influenced hip-hop and pop culture since the genre’s inception”, as the Genius-hosted microsite with stories behind the 50 tracks says. And of course, such a list is impossible to imagine without a contribution from Eminem.
Enter Slim Shady
To represent Eminem’s influence on hip hop Sprite chose the lead single from his major-label debut, The Slim Shady LP. Complex journalist and podcast host Noah Callahan-Bever explains why the song earned its place.
He still remembers hearing the song for the first time in May 1998. But the song’s importance stretches far beyond his personal experience.
“‘My Name Is’ is so interesting because it stands in complete opposition to everything that was working at the time in popular rap music”, notes the hip hop journalist before exploring the circumstances that gave birth to Slim Shady and sprinkling it with psychoanalysis. “[Eminem] goes through a series of hardships in 1996 and early 1997, living in object poverty, working shitty 9-to-5s. It lands him in a really sour and dark place. And he responds to that by inventing the Slim Shady character. And this is his unfiltered id. It is him deciding, I would rather leave it on the floor and walk away from this thing and at least know that it did not work out, not because I didn’t try the hardest”.
Talking about Dr. Dre’s role in shaping Eminem’s career, the Complex writer points to the care with which Dre showcased Marshall’s lyrical genius, betting first and foremost on his storytelling. “The genius of Dre is in being able to coach Marshall. To look at him and like, ‘Okay, I have this brilliant lyricist. How do I create something with him that is going to break through’”.
Finally, Noah Callahan-Bever summarises the song’s appeal, which does not seem to fade. “It is still funny, the drums still knock, it is an incredibly well-produced song with an ear-worm of a hook. It also articulates Eminem’s worldview. You cannot hear that record and not be transported back to the first time you heard it”.
A limited release
The idea behind the Sprite campaign is not just to honour hip hop lyricism but also to boost consumer interest. One of the campaign slogans is “Drink. Debate. Collect”, encouraging fans to collect all 26 designs. Meanwhile, outside the US even finding the Eminem design may prove difficult. All these collectible designs will be available at US retail starting in July and through September 2026.