Update: T.I.’s Akoo Billboard Controversy

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T.I.’s Akoo clothing billboard has ruffled some feathers in Newark, New Jersey. The ad posted in a busy intersection has a woman kneeling to a pair of unzipped jeans. Mayor Cory Booker questions the advertisement’s message. “So often when I am out in the community I see kids wearing their pants too low and others using inappropriate language in public,” he said. I will work with my city council to see if we can address it so we don’t see these types of advertisements displayed in our city in the near future.”

Five years ago, Akademiks faced a similar controversy when their “Read Books, Get Brain” campaign was banned from New York City trains and buses.

Heads Up: FSL

UPDATE: Akoo issued this statement:

The AKOO brand has always aimed to inspire individualism and creativity. Our advertising campaign was not created to offend or insult anyone but to simply provoke dialogue and thought regarding male/female sexuality within urban culture.

We hope that as more of the campaign is debuted, people will see the multifaceted personality of AKOO.

Dr. Jays

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  1. DARKAQUA says:

    INTERESTING AD INDEED…LOOKS LIKE OL’ GURL PUT IN A HARD DAY WORK ON HER KNEES

    DEFINITELY GRABS YOUR ATTENTION…

    JUST SAYIN…THAT’S ALL I’M SAYIN’

  2. IMjusSAYIN' says:

    meh. this bs will never stop. a “suggestive” billboard (that noone even noticed until the media pointed it out lol), is getting all of this attention while music, movies, tv, newspapers,…..THE WORLD continues to carry on like sodom and Gomorrah? lol.

    (in allen iverson voice) IT’S A BILLBOARD! I MEAN IT’S NOT LIKE WE TALKING ABOUT ANYTHING SERIOUS? ITS A BILLBOARD?! A BILLBOARD?!?

  3. Elemer Fudd says:

    HOW DO WE KNOW no one noticed? Just cause the news claim 2-3 people didn’t noticed doesn’t mean people didn;t notice.
    I mean, if the company didn’t think people will notice they would use that image to get attention, and paid thousands to get it out there.

    You right, we are in Soddom and Gomorrah

  4. Interscope Employee says:

    hating ass motherfuckers. stop complaining and go get yourselves some money. smh

  5. nina says:

    Well it’s a win for TI. I’m sure they were aiming for controversy. Just like AP, Calvin Klein, D & G and others. Ruffle feathers and get free press.

  6. That_Josh says:

    All these teens are already fucking & reproducing now a days.

  7. JohnBlack says:

    What the fuck does ” kids wearing their pants too low and others using inappropriate language in public” have to do with a jeans add which suggest a guy is about to have sex? Is Mayor Booker implying that by wearing my jeans to low and using inappropriate language I’m more likely to have sex. And that the resulting increase in sexual activity is somehow affecting the perception of the city. Nigga needs to focus on some real issues plaguing the city: bad schools, drug related problems, housing, lack of jobs etc.

  8. 3Stacks says:

    A storm in a teacup,Much ado about nothing.If they really wanna help the community then campaign about real issues like proliferation of butt implants ,strip clubs and mediocre ambitions of being video hoes.

  9. Noles506 says:

    Doesn’t offend me as much as TI’s Crime Stoppers commercial, then he puts out albums pretending to be a gangsta….Hip Hop Is no different than WWE.

  10. So Icy Boi! says:

    Yea dis bullshit you see half naked white girls on billboard ads and dey trippin about dis

  11. In fairness to the mayor, he does focus on all of the real issues that were mentioned. But I agree, this is “much ado about nothing”. TI’s clothing line in general, is the real distasteful thing. Has anybody looked at the clothes? And the name… What the f*** is an AKOO? A KING OF ONE’S SELF?

  12. mistahzee says:

    Hahahahaha these comments made ny day hahahaha.

  13. […] pulling a guys’ jeans down. Controversy? What controversy? Peep the video for more. Via: RapRadar Related Posts:VIDEO: Inside T.I.’s AKOO Clothing line […]

  14. Tiiz says:

    UPDATE: Niggas still won’t buy that shit.

  15. Elemer Fudd says:

    @Tiiz says:
    Monday, March 01 2010 at 5:07 PM EST
    UPDATE: Niggas still won’t buy that shit.

    LOlL, that’s what I’ saying.

    The heck is a Akoo? please

  16. Bugatti B says:

    I see nothing wrong with this honestly.. Its jus a marketing scheme to advertise and sell the brand..ever heard of sex sales? exactly why nicki minaj blew up cuz of that picture wit the lollipop..

  17. Sin says:

    DEFINITELY GRABS YOUR ATTENTION

    ^

    a la “the point”

  18. mac DIESEL says:

    @ Mayor Cook

    THAT’S FASHION!!!! ALWAYS PUSHIN’ THE ENVELOPE N ALWAYS USIN’ SHOCK VALUE!!!! GET OVER IT MAYOR COOK!!!! LIL SHORTIES BEEN POPPIN’ BABIES BEFORE THIS BILLBOARD!!!! WHY DON’T U DO YOUR JOB THAT TAX PAYERS ARE PAYIN’ U TO DO!!!! DAMN POLITICIANS!!!!!

    DON’T HATE ON MY OPINION!!!!

  19. Gordan Gekko says:

    GTFOH

    THERES MUCH BIGGER ISSUES IN THE WORLD

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