DETROIT, United States (AFP) - Move over Mercedes-Benz, Caddy is this month's king of cool, according to Americas trend-setting rappers and musicians.
While the German luxury brand was the favoured status-symbol of rappers last year, a review of the top 20 best-selling records in the United States in January shows that Cadillac was the hottest set of wheels this month -- at least in the eyes of America's music-makers.
"Don't want to meet your daddy, just want you in my Caddy," runs a line from "Hey Ya!" a tune by hip-hop band Outkast.
"If you ain't got no man, hop up on my Brougham, I keep it pimpin like an old man," says rapper Twista in Slow Jamz.
General Motors Corp.'s Cadillac Escalade sport-utility has long been a hit with young, wealthy, black athletes and rappers, and now the brand appears to be flavour of the month with the hip-hop community.
The home-grown luxury brand got more namechecks than any other car brand in the lyrics of the top 20 tunes on the Billboard charts, according to Agenda Inc., a San Francisco, California, consulting firm.
"Cars are the ultimate status symbol," said Agenda's president, Lucian James, who explained that the hip hop community's love affair with all things bling-bling -- status symbols such as Hennessey liquor and Gucci clothing -- extends to 50,000 dollar vehicles.
In 2003, DaimlerChrysler Corp.s Mercedes-Benz had the most street-credibility of any brand, as measured by the Billboard barometer of popular culture. Cadillac placed a distant fourth.
The German automaker was quick to capitalise on its street creds, partnering with top rap artist Jay-Z in a promotion in November, using some of his lyrics in its advertising, and providing some of hip-hop's other biggest names with new cars for flashy music videos.
And while Cadillac may be top of the pile right now, Mercedes-Benz will remain top dog in the long run, James said.
"Mercedes touches more of the pop culture, because it reflects a more expensive lifestyle. It became a great metaphor of success all the way back in the early 90s when a popular rap group "N.W.A." sang about rolling in my Benzo.'"
DETROIT, United States (AFP) - Move over Mercedes-Benz, Caddy is this month's king of cool, according to Americas trend-setting rappers and musicians. 
