Spotify’s RapCaviar Pantheon Tribute Honors Hip-Hop’s Cultural Disruptors

To commemorate a person with a statue is one of the oldest forms of tribute in history. When made well, they can withstand thousands of years, carrying the stories of those who they’re honoring through the ages. Similarly, hip-hop has the same cultural effect. Beats, samples, and styles have such a pervasive, cross-genre influence that hearing a young creative today reference The Sugarhill Gang might not be so surprising. If an artist can cause a significant cultural shift, then it’s only fitting that any tribute to them has the same lasting power. Last year, one of Spotify’s most established playlists, RapCaviar, created Pantheon, an Ancient Greece-inspired installation of actual life-sized statues meant to celebrate the year’s biggest breakthrough talents or those who they consider “cultural disruptors.” Previous honorees included SZA, 21 Savage, and Metro Boomin. Under the guidance of creative director Ibra Ake, this year’s inductees feature Cardi B., Jaden Smith, Juice WRLD and Gunna. [kickout id="1"] The Pantheon is currently on display at the Brooklyn Museum in New York for a limited run that will last until Apr. 7. [kickout id="2"] For years, Spotify has worked to distinguish itself from other music streaming platforms by maintaining a focus on curation via celebrity playlists and special events, like last year’s pop-up museum celebrating Ariana Grande’s album Sweetener. The Pantheon is another example of a brand that not only aims to preserve music but to also establish themselves as the go-to source of unconventional artist appreciation. “Spotify is committed to supporting young, innovative artists who also have a positive impact on the music industry, culture, and society,” said Carl Chery, Spotify’s hip-hop curator and head of RapCaviar. "These four bold and fearless artists are striving to make changes with their music, and we're thrilled to induct them into the program.” CREDITS: Spotify VP, Global Brand: Alexandra Tanguay VP, Global Executive Creative Director: Alex Bodman Global Head of Design Brand: Rasmus Wangelin Global Director, Brand Strategy: Zach Pentel Creative Director: Cecilia Azcarate, Heather Brodie, Tal Midyan Design Director: Felipe Rocha Director, Integrated Production: Belinda Lopez Producer: Tara Fraser Senior Experiential Marketing Manager: Natalie Espinosa Global Brand Lead: Payman Kassaie Chief Content Officer: Dawn Ostroff VP, Music: Nick Holmsten Global Head of Artist & Label Marketing: Marian Dicus Head of North America, Artist & Label Marketing: Rosa Asciolla Manager, Artist & Label Marketing: Sydney Lopes Head of Urban Music: Carl Chery Senior Editor, Hip-Hop: Maxwell Adepoju Manager, PR & Communications: Tamika Young Associate Director, Artist Marketing: Amanda Butler Music Marketing Manager, Urban: Zainab Hasnain Associate Social Media Manager, Urban: Max Weinstein Partners: Co-Creative Director: Ibra Ake BTS photography: Keith Oshiro Production partner: Mamag Studios Fabrication partner: Pretty in Plastic 3D design and animation: unfun Event production: Trevanna Entertainment, Inc. Experiential consultant: PVTL Museum photography: Anthony Cotsifas Retouching: Rob Willingham

Experiential Marketing

Spotify’s RapCaviar Pantheon Tribute Honors Hip-Hop’s Cultural Disruptors

Statues of this year’s honorees include Cardi B. and Jaden Smith

Shannon Miller

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