Microsoft dug deep into the 90’s hip-hop scene and located promotion of new HTC Cellular Phones, which offer Microsoft Mobile technology, via Naughty By Nature. The campaign with HTC Wireless Phones is simply a month long opportunity to sign up to win a free HTC Mobile Telephones fully customized by Naughty By Nature. In addition the winner will win a trip to see Naughty By Nature live in Los Angeles, California at the Nokia Theatre, all expenses paid, and also a 100 % free download of their new single “Get To Know Me Better.” The song is all about Unlocked Cell Phones; ha ha ha, no not really. Did you believe me?
The deal is interesting as Naughty By Nature are past their prime. However they were a very popular group in the nineties and this could be the beginning of a comeback for the Hip Hop Trio. After all, Hip Hop continues to see a growing fan base and the now legendary nineties rappers like Q-Tip are making comebacks, so it definitely seems logical. Either way both parties seem delighted with Vinnie Brown of Naughty By Nature saying “As a fan of Microsoft products, I’m super pumped about Naughty’s promotion with Windows Mobile. I’m a Windows Mobile power user and eager to educate others about the future of mobile computing
. This is just the beginning.”
So this definitely seems like an honest endorsement by the group, not a just a money making deal. Whatever the case may be the winner will receive a cell phone offering zero-wait push internet and the Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional system, which is said to be the perfect cellular phone for the business person on the go. It is a mix of tech savvy wiz and music loving, making a great cellular phone for a wide variety of consumers. And this is not the only time Microsoft has hooked up in a hip-hop manner, in 2008 they hooked up with Common, a rapper based out of Chicago, to launch a clothing line known as Softwear.
We shall see where this deal heads but it seems a safe bet for both sides. While Naughty By Nature gets to please fans and get hooked up with cool handsets Microsoft is connecting not only to Hip Hop but to old school Hip Hop. And they are hitting a specific niche, demonstrating they know that more is out there that just what is played on the radio today and quite frankly, they deserve credit for that. Rarely do you see a corporation of that stature go the underground route. Very good choice, it will pay off for them, Naughty By Nature and HTC Cellular Telephones.