Drop It Like It's Hot: Lost Endorsement Deals

Lil Wayne isn't the first star to get dropped by a brand.

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Drop It Like It's Hot: Lost Endorsement Deals - It's been a rough week for your favorite rappers' favorite (read; lucrative) Mountain Dew endorsement deals. Weeks after the family of Emmett Till criticized Lil Wayne for vulgar lyrics about the slain civil rights martyr on the remix to Future's "Karate Chop," Mountain Dew parent company Pepsico announced today (May 3) that it had dropped the Cash Money star as a spokesperson. Meanwhile, Mountain Dew also pulled an ad directed by Odd Future rapper Tyler, the Creator after commentator Boyce Watkins and others called it racist. Both musicians have frequently had rocky rides as company spokespeople. And when brands and bands divorce, it's never pretty. Read on to see other music stars who've lost endorsement deals. —Alex Gale (Photos from left: Jason Merritt/Getty Images, Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

The Bawse Joins The 'Roc Boys - In 2009, friend and frequent collaborator Diddy signed Rick Ross to his Ciroc Entertainment management firm. Under Diddy's watchful eye, Ross is learning from the best when it comes to being a true Bawse.   (Photo: Moses Robinson/Getty Images)

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Rick Ross - Reebok dropped Rick Ross like a hot potato last month following a controversy over lyrics on his guest verse to Rocko's "U.O.E.N.O.," which appeared condone date rape. (Photo: Moses Robinson/Getty Images)

A Changed Mane - Luda cut his cornrows six years into the game. His Release Therapy album is the first one to be released without his trademark look.(Photo: Evan Agostini/Getty Images)

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Ludacris - In 2002, Fox News rabble-rouser Bill O'Reilly disturbed Ludacris' piece of the pie when he criticized his huge endorsement deal with Pepsi. After months of protests over their new spokesman's supposedly "violent" and "sexist" lyrics, Pepsi bowed to the pressure and deaded Luda. (Photo: Evan Agostini/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Evan Agostini/Getty Images

All Falls Down - Tip had his day of reckoning in 2009, when he was sentenced to a year in jail for his 2007 arrest on weapons charges.  (Photo: Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images)

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T.I. - T.I. lost his endorsement deal with General Motors after his 2007 arrest — and eventual conviction — for weapons charges.   (Photo: Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images)

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T.I. (Again) - T.I.'s pocketbook took another hit in 2010, when both Rémy Martin Cognac and Axe Body Spray nixed endorsement deals with him in the wake of a probation violation that sent him back to prison for the second time in two years. (Photo: Prince Williams/FilmMagic)

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Akon - Verizon canceled a contract with Akon after he dry-humped a 14-year-old girl onstage at a concert in Trinidad in 2007. (He later said he thought she was over 18.)   (Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Park City Live)

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Akon - Verizon canceled a contract with Akon after he dry-humped a 14-year-old girl onstage at a concert in Trinidad in 2007. (He later said he thought she was over 18.) (Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Park City Live)

Photo By Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Park City Live

Madonna - In 1989, Pepsi killed a $5 million deal with an in-her-prime Madonna due to protests over her controversial video for "Like a Prayer," which included scenes of burning crosses, a romantic relationship with a saint-like figure and other edgy images.  (Photo: Warner Brothers Records)

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Madonna - In 1989, Pepsi killed a $5 million deal with an in-her-prime Madonna due to protests over her controversial video for "Like a Prayer," which included scenes of burning crosses, a romantic relationship with a saint-like figure and other edgy images. (Photo: Warner Brothers Records)

Keyshia Cole - Keyshia found some food for the soul!  TWEET: "I love writing my own music. It's healing to the soul."(Photo: Mychal Watts/PictureGroup)

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Keyshia Cole - Letoya Luckett replaced Keyshia Cole as the face of hair-care company Luster's Smooth Touch Line in 2010, reportedly because Cole was demanding too much money for a contract renewal. (Photo: Mychal Watts/PictureGroup)

Photo By Photo: Mychal Watts/PictureGroup

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Rihanna - Rihanna lost her huge deal with Nivea last year. "I do not understand how to bring the core brand of Nivea in conjunction with Rihanna," Stefan Heidenreich, the new CEO of the cosmetic giant's parent company, Beiersdorf, explained. "Nivea is a company which stands for trust, family and reliability." Rihanna responded by tweeting a pic of Heidenreich with the words, "No caption necessary." (Photo: FameFlynet, Inc - Beverly Hills, CA, USA)

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Chris Brown - Speaking of Rihanna: After Chris Brown's infamous assault on her on Grammy night in 2009, he was dropped by gum-maker Wrigley, who had just signed him to a five-year deal. (Photo: Hall/Pena, PacificCoastNews.com)

Photo By Hall/Pena