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The Rise Of Hip Hop’s Coffee Culture: Inside The Brewing Obsession
Photo: Grindin
The entrepreneurial spirit is as Hip Hop as fat laces and Adidas shell toe sneakers. From RUN DMC’s legendary sneaker partnership to Jay Z’s Ace of Spades, rappers have proven their penchant for products countless times over the years. Fans are accustomed to rapper-owned sneakers, streetwear labels, and alcohol brands, but in recent years, several artists have stepped further into the untapped realm of food and beverage.
Coffee seems to be the latest business venture capturing the attention of rappers, with Snoop Dogg, Ghostface Killah, Pusha T, and Jadakiss all stepping into the coffee game. Unlike the typical Hip Hop-centric marketing associated with sneakers or streetwear, these brewing ventures feature elevated branding aimed at both discerning fans and the broader coffee community. Surprisingly, Jadakiss, not traditionally known for product ventures, was the first to kick off this trend.
With four rapper-owned coffee brands emerging in just a few short years, it seems this movement is only gaining steam.
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JADAKISS - KISS CAFE COFFEE
Jadakiss (Jason Phillips), member of legendary rap group The Lox, teamed with his father (Bob Phillips) and son (Jaewon Phillips) to launch Kiss Kiss Cafe. His father happens to have 20 years experience as CEO of Caturra Corps., an international import/export firm for green coffees, so it was a natural expansion for Jadakiss. The brand’s first product is “Beijo” beans, a medium-dark roast Arabica blend sourced from Central America. You can purchase it today in ground or whole bean form.
Killah Koffee is a coffee shop owned by Ghostface Killah, member of Wu Tang Clan, located on Staten Island. It initially launched online, but after a year of success, Ghostface decided to open an official brick-and-mortar. The brand specializes in brewing the finest arabica coffee beans, offering unique flavors like Shaolin Cannoli, Marble Cake, Vanilla Milkshake, and more. Located at 828 Castleton Ave Staten Island, New York, stop by for a freshly brewed cup and store-branded merchandise.
Easily the most surprising of the four rapper-owned coffee brands, Snoop Dogg teamed with an Indonesian coffee entrepreneur named Michael Riady to release INDOxyz. Dubbed a “lifestyle coffee brand,” INDOxyz uses coffee beans sourced from the Indonesian islands of Bali, Java, Sulawesi, and Sumatra. Coffee lovers will recognize these names, as they are known for producing quality beans. The company currently sells Sumatra Gayo Organic Whole Bean, which has a dark chocolate flavor, and two ready-to-drink options: Organic Cold Brew and Espresso Martini.
