When did Lexus (and to a lesser extent, Acura) fall out of favor with Hip Hop?

[Whips-n-Chains]

Lexus and Ac Viggors were staples of Hip Hop until about....98/99? Biggie was still rapping bout Lex's on LAD, Pun had the Packin-a-mack-in-da-back-of-da-Ac skit in 98...but it's like one day brehs woke up and realized that these are made by Toyota and Honda and dropped them out the lexicon completely.

I'm trying to remember Hov having any Lex name drops on Vol. 2 and beyond, but I think that was kinda the start of it, then Cash Money w/ the Bling Era and it was a wrap...everything moved to bentleys and Rolls etc.

(I do remember a line or too on 400 Degreez about ES300s)

Kinda the same how everyone stopped rocked gold in ~98 for platinum and that lasted a long time too.

These brands still get referenced but more in the "back in the day I pushed a Lex..." type of way, not in the "we made it, just copped the lex off the floor" type way

 

[Ghostface Trillah]

When real rap money started coming in and made Lexus and Acuras looking like regular cat luxury cars.

The lex land cruiser should have never went out of style though. They were hard but if they weren't so shytty on gas mileage I'd buy one right now

 

[Slim Charles]

Reminds me of Nas in If I Ruled the world saying ‘Sky’s the limit, I push the q-45 infinit’

 

[FromBillionsCameOne]

Bentley and Maybach.

 

[Diondon]

Cause they're middle class whips now and not baller status

 

[Whips-n-Chains]

Cause they're middle class whips now and not baller status

They still rap about Beamers and Benz tho. Granted they're not talking about 3 Series and E Class, but you year plenty of references to BMW & Mercedes.

 

[Whips-n-Chains]

Cause they're middle class whips now and not baller status

wouldn't let me insert Dave Chappelle "BALLER" gif

 

[Sackballions]

At the end of the week, I’m buying you an L, Lexus nikka!

 

[Whips-n-Chains]

At the end of the week, I’m buying you an L, Lexus nikka!

Kurupt had one "I'm rollin Lexus, fukk a benz!"

 

[O.G.B]

When Lexus & Acura started trying to pass off dressed up front wheel drive Toyota's & Honda's as true luxury vehicles.

 

[O.G.B]

Lexus and Ac Viggors were staples of Hip Hop until about....98/99? Biggie was still rapping bout Lex's on LAD, Pun had the Packin-a-mack-in-da-back-of-da-Ac skit in 98...but it's like one day brehs woke up and realized that these are made by Toyota and Honda and dropped them out the lexicon completely.

I'm trying to remember Hov having any Lex name drops on Vol. 2 and beyond, but I think that was kinda the start of it, then Cash Money w/ the Bling Era and it was a wrap...everything moved to bentleys and Rolls etc.

(I do remember a line or too on 400 Degreez about ES300s)

Kinda the same how everyone stopped rocked gold in ~98 for platinum and that lasted a long time too.

These brands still get referenced but more in the "back in the day I pushed a Lex..." type of way, not in the "we made it, just copped the lex off the floor" type way

"And Smooth in that Lexus coupe, peace to Salt N Pepa cause you make me wanna Shoop"

 

[revan]

When Lexus & Acura started trying to pass off dressed up front wheel drive Toyota's & Honda's as true luxury vehicles.

This is a good answer, even though they've always been that - Acura specifically lost their way design wise. Lexus embraced the stealth wealth identity and became less brag worthy.

 

[RennisDeynolds]

Rappers got more money and needed to stunt harder so they bought more expensive euro cars

 

[Whips-n-Chains]

Reminds me of Nas in If I Ruled the world saying ‘Sky’s the limit, I push the q-45 infinit’

Birdman was repping that hideous Infiniti SUV in the early-mid 2000s too...what video was that?

 

[O.G.B]

This is a good answer, even though they've always been that - Acura specifically lost their way design wise. Lexus embraced the stealth wealth identity and became less brag worthy.

This is partly correct, as Lexus primary lineup of vehicles were mostly RWD oriented until the early 2000s when Lexus began transitioning from primarily RWD models to FWD models.