It’s no secret – an almost magical effect takes place when one of the famous names with a past suddenly appears in a song. Whether it is a celeb crush, dropping names over designer labels, or just giving a shout-out to the drink in your hand, these name-drops are more than just clever-sounding – they are pop culture lightning rods that are instantly recallable and forever quotable. Some of them even go so far as to radically change the fate of brands within a matter of hours. Here is a list of the top 10 most legendary name-drops in music history, with no particular order, going from the most celebrity references to the products and fashion labels that became immortalized by a single line.
10. Channing Tatum (Drake – “Pop Style”)
Drake invented a pop culture moment with “Got so many chains they call me Chaining Tatum.” Dad-joke energy is at its peak with Drake, and it took off. Even Jenna Dewan Tatum joined in with a shot of her husband wearing chains. Sometimes the silliest name-drops are the ones that endure the longest.
9. Dom Pérignon (Taylor Swift – “Champagne Problems”)
Taylor Swift gets a narrative in one line. Dom Pérignon in “Champagne Problems” isn’t just an alcoholic drink—but heartache in a bottle: “Dom Pérignon, you brought it / No crowd of friends applauded.” Opulence and despair in vintage Swift, and a brand can be a character on its own.
8. Belvedere Vodka (Missy Elliott – “Work It”)
Missy Elliott introduced Belvedere Vodka as smooth as silk in her rhyme: “See the Belvedere playin’ tricks on ya.” During the early 2000s, this phrase rendered Belvedere the party choice vodka, proving how one line has the ability to boost the cool factor of a brand.
7. Rihanna (A$AP Rocky – “Fashion Killa”)
Before they were a power couple, A$AP Rocky freestyled about “an attitude Rihanna.” The lyric has aged like fine wine—years on, they’re still partners, parents, and fashion royalty. Occasionally, a name-check isn’t just witty—it’s clairvoyant.
6. D’Ussé (Beyoncé ft. Jay-Z – “Drunk in Love”)
Jay-Z doesn’t just rhyme about D’Ussé Cognac—he is half-owner of it. “That D’USSÉ is the sh*t if I do say so myself” is both a rap braggadocio and an entrepreneurial triumph. It’s product placement done to perfection: Jay wins, D’Ussé wins, and Beyoncé puts it on ice in a number-one hit single.
5. Maya Angelou (Drake – “Is There More”)
Drake goes literary with a Maya Angelou shout-out: “Still I rise, Maya Angelou vibes.” It’s not only a nod—a shout-out to resilience, Black excellence, and the power of poetry. One line connects personal struggle to cultural heritage.
4. Christian Louboutin (Cardi B – “Bodak Yellow”)
Cardi B’s “Bodak Yellow” drove Louboutin sales over the top: “These expensive, these are red bottoms, these are bloody shoes.” The lyric was reported to have sent millions of media value and online search volumes 200%+. A single overnight shout-out revived the brand.
3. Monica Lewinsky (Beyoncé – “Partition”)
Beyoncé politicized the pop culture moment with, “He Monica Lewinsky’d all on my gown.” Blunt, brassy, and unforgettable, the line snagged headlines and cemented the song’s theme of individual empowerment rendered visible.
2. Seagram’s & Tanqueray (Snoop Dogg – “Gin and Juice”)
Snoop Dogg’s West Coast warfare anthem didn’t just toast gin—it enshrined it. Menus of “Now that I got me some Seagram’s gin” and Tanqueray shout-outs made those brands, in turn, the embodiment of hip-hop culture. Sometimes the proper lyric can render a drink legendary.
1. Adidas (Run-DMC – “My Adidas”)
Before product placement as a marketing tradition, Run-DMC made it iconic with “My Adidas.” Fans stood on their kicks at concerts, and Adidas paid attention—signing the group to a million-dollar deal. The album didn’t just sell more sneakers; it changed the relationship between music and branding forever.
From playful puns to strategic flexes, these name-drops are not only intelligent—they’re cultural references. Whether they endorse brands, get people talking, or make us laugh, they prove that in music, one word can leave a lasting impact.