Notorious B.I.G., Drake Lyrics Coming To Sprite Cans And Bottles This Summer

The Notorious B.I.G. is among superstar rap artists who will have some of their lyrics featured on upcoming versions of cans and bottles of Sprite this summer.

A press release from the Coca-Cola company said the artists chosen for this campaign were picked “based on their reputation for being true to themselves through their music and advancing the culture.” Though Notorious B.I.G. passed away in 1997, his music has been a continual influential in the rap and R&B scene.

The cans will feature lyrics from songs from the likes of Notorious B.I.G., Drake, Nas, and Rakim. Sprite is temporarily replacing its “Obey Your Thirst” campaign with the “Obey Your Verse” twist and encourages people to take the advice from the inspirational quotes that were selected.

Examples of song lyrics that are used include, “The world is yours” from Nas’s song of the same name, “Know yourself, know your worth” from Drake’s “0 to 100,” and “Lyrically I’m supposed to represent” from The Notorious B.I.G.’s “One More Chance.”

Though The Notorious B.I.G. hasn’t been around to pen new lyrics in nearly two decades, his music influenced a generation. Sprite hopes people follow in the footsteps of these “artists that remain true to themselves.” The first edition of the special edition cans and bottles will feature 16 different quotes from hip-hop songs. The Notorious B.I.G. is featured once, with five lyrics each from Drake, Nas, and Rakim.

Nas was excited to see his lyrics being used in a new and unique way.

“Legacy means everything to me. When I wrote these lyrics, I never imagined my fans would someday have the opportunity to enjoy a can of Sprite and experience my art in a totally original way.”

Sprite began aligning itself with the hip-hop community nearly 30 years ago when it partnered with rapper Kurtis Blow for a television commercial. The company has held on to those roots over the last three decades and is celebrating accomplishments by the likes of the Notorious B.I.G., who was gunned down outside a Vibe Magazine party in March of 1997. His second album, Life After Death, was released two weeks later.

Sprite hopes the campaign will raise awareness for people like the Notorious B.I.G. who are simply unafraid be themselves.

“By honoring and recognizing great lyricism from some of the genre’s biggest icons on our product packaging, we’re demonstrating how Sprite continues to support hip-hop artists that remain true to themselves.”

The full list of lyrics is available below.

[Images via Business Wire]