Fresh off the 20-year anniversary of the chart-topping hit, It Wasn't Me, dancehall megastar Shaggy has linked up with Cheetos to bring some nostalgic feels to Super Bowl LV.
The ad features Shaggy alongside celeb couple Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis in a comedic rendition of the classic hit centered around Cheetos' new Crunch Pop Mix. The Boombastic rapper told Cheddar that it's been an amazing ride to be able to celebrate a song that has stayed relevant for two decades, especially on such a massive stage like the Super Bowl.
"The thing about this song is it's relatable. I think that's what really did it," he told Cheddar.
"It's big because this is arguably one of the biggest Super Bowls in decades because of the fact that for the first time it's during COVID, of course," he added.
Much like the NFL pressing on through the pandemic, Shaggy said he hasn't let the impact of the virus lower the volume on his mic. Last year, he released Hot Shot 2020, a re-recording of the 2000 release.
This year also is shaping up to be a good one for the rapper as he gears up for a new release. "I just did an amazing record with my friend Anthony Hamilton that I'm really, really proud of," he said.
When it comes to adapting to the times, the proof is in the pudding, Shaggy explained, and he attributed his keeping a finger on the pulse of the culture by connecting with young creatives. He also touted championing artist empowerment and the new age of music discovery on social media apps like TikTok.
"It's amazing to watch, amazing to be a part of and to have gone through the journey from when it was cassettes all the way to CDs, to downloads, to ringtones, to streaming," he said. "We have seen music gone back into the hands of the artist, where a lot of it is controlled by the artist interaction with their fan base and that determines them getting on playlists and stuff like that."
Shaggy also shared similar sentiments circulating among musicians in regards to what many of them deem as unfair practices on the part of the record labels when it comes to fair payment in the age of streaming.
"Of course we're hoping legislation comes down to really bring a lot more money to streaming for a lot of these artists. These record companies have been having a field day for quite a while, and I've seen throughout this pandemic, where artists didn't get to tour a lot, especially [when] they were really counting on their streaming income," he said.
At-home medical labs company Getlabs raised $20 million in a Series A round, led by Emerson Collective and the Minderoo Foundation. Getlabs aims to be the boots-on-the-ground partner to telehealth. The company says more than 70% of medical decisions still require collecting diagnostic tests in person, and that it fills that void by delivering health care directly to their patients' homes. Founder & CEO of Getlabs Kyle Michelson joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
The White House laid out plans for a $5 billion investment into a national network of charging stations to ease EV driving anxiety. Bruce Brimacombe, CEO of EV infrastructure GOe3 joined Cheddar News to discuss how much needs to be done for drivers to get over the fear of running out of energy. "People need to be able to do what they're doing now," he said. "But that is the way that if you're going to buy an electric car, you got to feel like you're not changing your world." Brimacombe noted that building out the infrastructure between cities was GOe3's own focus.
U.S. automakers are saying that the blockade of the Ambassador Bridge, a crucial border crossing between the U.S. and Canada, is affecting their production lines. Michelle Krebs of Cox Automotive warns that the disruption "couldn't come at a worst time," amid chip and labor shortages in Detroit.
AND DETROIT-BASED AUTO MAKERS SAY THEY ARE SHUTTING DOWN PLANTS OR SCALING BACK PRODUCTION BECAUSE OF PARTS SHORTAGES.
Sonos reported better than expected Q1 earnings amid chip shortage with the release of its Roam product. CFO Brittany Bagley joined Cheddar News to discuss the smart speaker maker's successful report and its plans to hit its 2024 targets as people leave their homes as pandemic restrictions ease. "Even as people head out in the world, it doesn't mean they don't like to listen to music at home or watch a streaming movie at home," she said. "So there's still a real role for us and our products in peoples lives, sort of, no matter what else they're doing."
Lynn Martin, president of the NYSE Group, explains why investors at the New York Stock Exchange should still feel confident despite the recent Wall Street volatility and discusses the landscape for 2022 when it comes to IPOs and retail investors.
The merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery received Justice Department approval on Wednesday, and Patty Hirsch, EVP of consumer and digital platforms at WarnerMedia, joined Cheddar News to discuss current and future offerings from the media conglomerate that will control both HBO Max and Discovery+. "Content really drives so much, and CNN has always had a very long history of creating an incredible documentaries, incredible content … and this service I think is going to ultimately provide the kind of content consumers want and the kind of content that consumers are going are going to pay for," she said. Hirsch also discussed NFTs in use through its Turner Sports and DC brands.
Black entrepreneurs lead the way in the creation of new businesses, but they often cannot get the necessary funding to get their business off the ground. The Fearless Fund is on a mission to change that, and help Black business owners get venture capital. The fund also offers a unique grant program meant to help entrepreneurs with growth, peer coaching, and more, including grants between $10,000 and $20,000. Arian Simone, Co-Founder and General Partner of Fearless Fund, joins Closing Bell to discuss the Fund's mission, how it helps Black entrepreneurs, and more.
Multinational food company Kellogg’s reported an earnings beat amid supply chain issues and an extended labor strike. Kellogg’s Chairman and CEO c joined Cheddar News to discuss overcoming the obstacles and what's to come for the company. "The first half of the year is really going to be one about rebuilding inventory, and into the second quarter, starting to reestablish promotional activity for our customers and our consumers," Cahillane said. "And then the back half of the year, obviously, we're really much more back in business, and we expect to exit the year with our business in cereal being just as strong as it's ever been."
Sting has sold his catalog of more than 600 songs for $300 million to Universal Music. The deal gives the label the rights to all of his work, including “Every Breath You Take," as well as all future royalties.
Miller Lite is opening the first branded bar in the metaverse, by way of Decentraland, as a way to advertise during the Super Bowl this year without buying an expensive TV commercial slot. Sofia Colucci, global vice president of Miller Family of Brands, joined Cheddar to talk about the new marketing concept. "We have a lot of great partnerships with NFL teams throughout the year but were shut out of advertising during the Super Bowl game, so this pushes us to think creatively and also think of what feels really relevant right now," Colucci said. "There's no question that there's a lot of excitement with the metaverse, and we wanted to participate but in a way that felt right for Miller Lite."
