In this week's "How did anyone sit through an actual business meeting about this product with a straight face?" news, Pharrell Williams announced that he wasn't quite content to rest on his laurels as a Grammy-winning rapper, producer, composer, and fashion designer. Like all business-savvy celebrities, Williams knows the real money is where, um, other people's mouths are: the liquor business.
Yes, it's Qream, a new vodka-infused specialty cream liqueur "inspired by royalty," marketed explicitly at women, with a consistency that's similar to, but lighter than, a milkshake. At 12.5 percent ABV, it comes in strawberry ("opens up like melted strawberry ice cream on a hot summer day") and peach ("a clean, sublimely juicy cream finish"). Also, the website encourages you to try baking it into cupcakes. You guys, it's like he knows exactly what we want!
On that note, here are 10 other ridiculous instances of musician sponsorship and/or corporate shilling that should never, ever be forgotten.
ODB Rap Snacks Sour Cream & Onion Potato Chips
Rap Snacks, "The Official Snack of Hip Hop," is a 17-year-old company based on the idea of putting rappers on snack food bags, along with positive messages like "respect your elders" (Warren G., "Cheezie Nacho" flavor) or "start your own business" (Master P., "Platinum Bar-B-Que" flavor). Reportedly purchased by Lil' Romeo in 2007 but the website isn't looking too hot these days. Regardless, the late great ODB's flavor clearly wins. Positive message: "think responsibly."
The Bill Wyman Signature Metal Detector
The Rolling Stones' onetime bass player cashed in on his former identity -- he owns the Sticky Fingers Café, a London bistro that serves "American-style" food in a rock 'n' roll setting -- and quickly moved on to his true love: treasure hunting, with a metal detector, à la that crazy guy at the beach. Not convinced? "Metal detectorists have been described by Minister for Culture David Lammy as 'the unsung heroes of Britain's heritage,'" said Wyman in his 2007 press release. Okay!
