VIDEO: Pontiac places G8 and G6 GXP in rap video
You can't really blame Pontiac for giving its rear-wheel-drive G8 Concept and G6 GXP to rapper 50 Cent to use in his video for the song "Amusement Park". After all, pick a premium nameplate like Bentley, Rolls Royce, Lamborghini or Ferrari and one could find at least half a dozen (or more) music videos in which each marque has been featured prominently. At the same time, we must remember these are Pontiacs, and so we're asked to suspend disbelief and accept that given the choice, Fifty and his entourage would roll in one of these two vehicles before a Bentley Continental GTC, Rolls Royce Phantom, Lamborghini Gallardo or Ferrari Enzo.
Note: If you're not into rap and want to get to the goods, fast forward to 2:00 in and you'll have your prize, though the Pontiacs only get 4 seconds of screen time.
[Source: YouTube via GMInsideNews]
Get a WordPress.com Blog
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Aprime 8:11PM (5/16/2007)
Skeet.
Reply
keston 8:12PM (5/16/2007)
i seen this video earlier really smart that gm got 50 to use htese pontiacs in his first video off his new album but i think they couldve left the g6 out of it and use two g8's the red one we saw pics of and the green showcar.
Reply
Mike G 8:30PM (5/16/2007)
Doesn't it strike anyone at GM as a problem that you have one great looking car (G8) and one ugly one (G6 GXP) in the same brand portfolio - can't they just hire a plastic surgeon to hack those buck teeth off the G6?
Reply
Deezee 8:40PM (5/16/2007)
Good move by GM.
Reply
MrMorix 8:45PM (5/16/2007)
The comments for this story got so bad on Left Lane New that they had to shut down the comments. I hope the people here are more civil than those at LLN. #3 I agree that grill on the G6 GXP is gnarly! and I drive a G6 GT
Reply
dan 8:44PM (5/16/2007)
This felonious thug makes his living "singing" about carjacking, raping women, killing police, dealing cocaine, ad nauseum. This is the sort of spokesman a supposedly reputable corporate entity should contribute towards?
Reply
MrMorix 9:02PM (5/16/2007)
And it's starting already....
Reply
iQuack 9:07PM (5/16/2007)
Nasty comments about this classless crap are well deserved. Shame on Pontiac and GM for pandering to slobs and creeps.
Reply
djbango 9:14PM (5/16/2007)
So when Hollywood places products in movies that cater to senseless violence, I wonder where the uproar is.
If anything, hip hop stars have had more support for American automotive products than most celebrities.
Reply
Evan 9:17PM (5/16/2007)
Looks like Glaceau Vitamin Water shelled out to get in the video too. I forgot that I was watching a music video for a second and thought I was sitting through some commercials...
Reply
Chet 9:20PM (5/16/2007)
I don't think GM should be ashamed for wanting to associate with a popular commercial artist.
I do think GM should be ashamed for thinking such blatant product placement is going to work.
Reply
jgp 9:35PM (5/16/2007)
I have just lost a massive amount of respect for GM for associating with this thug.
Reply
F451 9:35PM (5/16/2007)
GM lost respect from me with the Hannity "Your a Great American Car Giveaway" and now this. Both are in the same league: Trashy, no redeeming value, and full of themselves. The more foolishness GM does—the further I stay away.
Reply
Q 9:42PM (5/16/2007)
If this is a marketing move and I believe it is, it's a bad one. If it isn't, then why.....
Reply
Michael 9:55PM (5/16/2007)
QUOTE: Dan
[This felonious thug makes his living "singing" about carjacking, raping women, killing police, dealing cocaine, ad nauseum. This is the sort of spokesman a supposedly reputable corporate entity should contribute towards?]
Shut up, lol. You sound mad, very mad over nothing. Stop displaying your feelings over the interent, cry baby.
Reply
MrMorix 10:02PM (5/16/2007)
Ok here it is, I'm going to put my two cents in, I'm not going to be disrespectful like some of you are doing and call people trash and such. 50 cent is a total gimmick, he isn't a thug he is a product. Is he a role model? Heck no, and far from it. What I can't stand is how some of you say that you've lost respect for GM for product placement. What about the Ozzy & his family with Pepsi? Carl's Jr with Paris Hilton. None of those people are role models either. They may not be rappers but they are just as guilty as 49 cent. Why should rap get a black eye when some of these idiots does something stupid and how about judging these people individually? The number of positive rap artist out weigh the negative ones just like the number of positive artist of other genres artist out weigh the coke/crack heads. Now unlike most people I enjoy all types of music but it seems like rap gets the shaft. People equate rap to thugs, guns, drugs, etc... That's not what all rap music is about and it's not what rap was based upon when it was created. If you are one of those people then I suggest you turn off Fox News and try to learn more about the culture. Toyota has begun to do product placement in the tv show 24. Has anyone counted the number of dead bodies that pile up in a one hour episode? The number of guns and gun shots going off in an episode? But no one is calling for a boycott of Fox or Toyota. Please be fair and keep an open mind.
***Off my soapbox***
#10 49.5 Cent own part of the Glaceau Vitamin Water Corp. Ever hear of Formula 50? (it tastes like crap thou) Essentially he's promoting his own company.
I think any exposure of the upcoming G8 is excellent. I think this will be a good seller for Pontiac and help shake the image of cheap rental car image. Hey, it's a start.
Reply
Ekow 10:04PM (5/16/2007)
I'm not quite sure why this would be construed as a bad move...who the hell do you think buys Pontiacs. Lower to Middle Income Americans many of which probably watch MTV/BET. You are getting awareness out about your product before it (the G8) is launched and it is being coveted by one of the most popular artists out there right now.
You folks need to get your heads out of your arses. The General needs to sell some cars, and quite honestly they need to sell them to whoever they can get. Sitting around and whining about their target is pretty meaningless when the brand and the firm as a whole is going down the toilet. IF you guys have a better way to target potential buyers throw it out there...maybe they will use the idea until then keep the comments to yourself...at least they are trying.
Lastly where the hell are all you people when the same guy is rolling in a Ferrari or Lambo, if anything that is a MUCH stupider marketing ploy.
Reply
TheGambled 9:59PM (5/16/2007)
Whats the big deal? At this point, anything GM can do to move metal short of pointing a gun to someones head works for me.
Reply
3cubedminus3squared 9:59PM (5/16/2007)
50cent is nothing but a poser now. He didn't even get shot nine times, they found out it was only three. He's not even as good as he used to be. They should of done this at the start of his career.
Reply
Arnie 10:00PM (5/16/2007)
Associating with thugs and criminals - a brilliant idea. Why not get the KKK or Al Quaeda to star in Pontiac commercials? "This message from Osama brought to you by Pontiac." This makes me sick.
Reply