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Is the fast food industry too woke? Mcdonald’s rapper meals we still need
The McDonald’s rapper meals have captured the public’s attention, just as planned for the fast food titan.
It comes to no ones surprise that fast-food giant McDonald’s could go above and beyond to stay culturally relevant. In fact, for years, they have been tackling culturally significant issues just to stay ahead of the curve.
After more than 7 years of decline, it looks like McDonald’s has rejuvenated its brand with collaborations with cultural icons Travis Scott and J Balvin. Ever since its first collaboration with Scott in September, the corporation’s stocks have risen more than 6 percent.
Not only does this prove McDonald’s is willing to make moves to stay relevant. But it hinders the corporation’s savage efforts to cover claims of systematic racism and discrimination.
The cactus jack meal
The cactus jack meal is $6 meal, curated by the one and only Travis Scott. This meal gives consumers a quarter Pounder with cheese, bacon, lettuce, and medium fries with barbecue dipping sauce, along with a Sprite.
If you wonder why none of this sounds especially unique, it’s probably because that’s true. The cactus jack meal looks like it could be a generic order for anyone stepping through Mickey D’s doors at any given time.
But this just garners additional evidence to the fact that this was nothing more than a marketing ploy for McDonald’s and Travis Scott, and we’re not hating on them for it.
J Balvin meal
Shortly after the cactus jack meal was released, J Balvin launched his very own collaboration with McDonald’s. Meaning we got a second McDonald’s rapper meal just shortly after the first.
In addition to the meal, which includes a Big Mac, fries with ketchup, and an Oreo McFlurry, Balvin also released a full range of merchandise.
However, fans of the McFlurry were disappointed to see similar McDonald’s malfunctions rearing their ugly heads again, like that “the ice cream machine is broke.”
Balvin was especially proud that his name is mentioned in the same breath as Michael Jordan and Travis Scott, two previous collaborators with the fast food giant.
“And the fact that I’m Latino… I consider myself a global citizen, but I’m from Medellín, Colombia, and this is the first time they’re working with a Latino. It’s a big campaign, so I feel really proud of it. And yeah, I can’t wait to see people who wait in line and buy the J Balvin meal and support the culture. It’s really dope.”
J Balvin
Quavo and other McDonald’s rapper meals
Quavo seems to be picking up on the bags and free press Scott and Balvin are getting from their McDonald’s collabs. Here he is lobbying for Mickey D’s to create a new meal centered around him.
View this post on InstagramDouble Cheeseburger Plain New Spicy Nuggets Medium Fries BBQ Sauce (Hot N Fresh) What U Want ???
“Double Cheeseburger Plain New Spicy Nuggets Medium Fries BBQ Sauce (Hot N Fresh) What U want ???” he writes on Instagram.
Audacious Quavo, we’ll give you that, but this got us thinking. What other rappers’ McDonald’s meal would be hot and tasty?
Trippie Redd? SahBabii? Cardi B? Coi Leray? The options are endless and specifically intriguing with the aforementioned four rappers because of their unique styles. What could they bring to the table, culinary and marketing-wise?
With how funny these meals are and the memes that they create, and how emblematic they are of the zeitgeist of this early millennium, it’s easy to forget more pressing news.
Questions remain about whether these recent collaborations had nefarious intentions, in that McDonald’s wanted to divert attention away from racial discrimination lawsuits.
The lawsuits
The Travis Scott and J Balvin McDonald’s meals were clear attempts at boosting the company’s stock price, sales, and overall public relations. But they also overshadowed two large lawsuits filed in January and September, respectively.
The first suit claimed the company “conducted a ruthless purge” of its Black leaders and fostered a “hostile and abusive work environment.” The second suit was filed by a group of 52 Black franchise owners who claimed McDonald’s subjected them to “systematic and covert racial discrimination” spanning decades.
Even though we are extremely excited about other rappers possibly collaborating with McDonald’s, and deservingly getting a bag for it, it’s important to stay woke and realize the smart yet sinister PR ploys from companies of this stature.
McDonald’s, like most companies, cares about its bottom line above all else. Let’s stay up with the news so that we’re not just buyers in a consumerist world with no justice.
Additional reporting by Conrad Hoyt