New Jaguar XJ – the Rap Star

The Jaguar XJ on the set of the Jay-Z Video

We’ve all seen Rap videos. Some things are constant and required: the ‘Hoes’; the ‘Bling’ and the ‘Cars’. The more exotic the better. Which is why – as well as the bling and the birds – you will always get the best there is on four wheels. Often pimped to with an inch of their lives they do, however, impact on the perception of the cars.

So if you’ve looked at a Rap video lately (you haven’t? We have them running all day) you’ll see cars like the Pagani Zonda or a tasty Bentley or an Aston Martin or Phantom or a Maybach and any number of huge, pimped Stateside SUVs. Cars of Dreams, is the constant theme. So, despite the obvious  chance that some staid buyers may be put off by the fact that a Rapper loves the car, Jaguar must be pretty chuffed that Jay-Z has seen fit to use the new Jaguar XJ in a video for “On to the Next One”, a track on his new album ‘The Blueprint 3′.

Mr & Mrs Carter (Jay-Z and Beyonce, don’t you know) are as shrewd as it comes when trends and money collide. So the fact the Jay-Z is not just a Rapper but also a successful businessman (he has clothing ranges, owns a Basketball Team and founded Def Jam and Roc-A-Fella Records) and philanthropist (he did a ‘Water for Africa’ thing with the UN and gave the Red Cross $1M after Hurricane Katrina hit) probably make him the Rapper-of-Choice for any product placement.

Unfortunately, the nice Mr Z doesn’t want us to show you the video before it’s released. Which is fair enough. The man needs to make a few bob to sustain the lifestyle (although Beyonce could probably manage that on her own these days) and we wouldn’t want to deprive him of royalties. So all you see at the top is a still from the set.

But actually, it’s a good track and a decent video (yes, we’re one of the privileged - we’ve seen a ‘Making Of’ clip) and it certainly won’t do Jaguar anything but good.

By Cars UK