Lil’ Wayne – Strapped Condoms

Monday, 10 August 2009 08:00 B-Lady

STRAPPED CONDOMS is a product by a black-owned company based in Texas, which has a website that promotes their product.

Rap superstar Lil’ Wayne is in one of their condom ads about a year ago. In the ad, there’s an all black background with Lil’ Wayne being held down over a car by a fake CHiPS looking like cop. His possessions are on all the hood of the car: money, bling, and something that looks like a deck of cards, but are actually condoms. It also has a quote at the bottom of their ad that reads, “GO DOWN STRAPPED”, along with url to their website.

On first glance, I this doesn't look like a condom ad; it’s not as effective as it should be, and it’s not detailed enough. “STRAPPED”, the word at the bottom should be larger, so people can see, and be more profound. The word CONDOM should be there in bold face type, something that sticks out, rather than its gangster-style font. I do grasp the concept of the cop pulling Lil’ Wayne over, but nothing about this works, and he’s not even dressed as a real police officer. Also, why is the cop needed to promote condom use anyway? It seems like "oh no", he’s about to take my “STRAP” from me, my condoms. Are they serious?

This ad is supposed to be aimed toward youth and urban adults and probably anyone who is sexually active, and the awareness of using condoms, but I did not know that until it was explained to me. I showed this ad to my mother and younger brother, and my mother asked me what it was about, she had no clue either. As for my brother, all he could say was,” STRAPPED?” what do I need a gun for? Really, he said that, LOL.

As a young HIV positive young woman of color, I can dig Lil’ Wayne, a rap artist and sex symbol advocating safe sex. But this ad completely MISSED the mark.

For Beyond the Odds, I'm B-Lady.

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