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3 min read

Lute x McDonald's

Lute x McDonald's
Lute x McDonald's
5:08

Discover how authenticity, music, and a passion for classic cars blend as smoothly as a McDonald’s Iced Coffee in this fresh collaboration between McDonald’s and rising rap star Lute.

Muscle Cars, Music, and McDonald's

Let’s talk about the importance of authenticity in music partnerships. This is especially crucial when working with an iconic brand like McDonald’s. Authenticity is much easier to achieve when you run campaigns with a regional focus. For this campaign, we’re zeroing in on the Southeast—specifically North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. The objective? To promote the MyMcDonald’s Rewards App and feature McDonald’s Iced Coffee in the creative.

Lute x McDonald's | In the studioWe wanted an artist who was not only local to the area but whose music was deeply rooted in its cultural influences, someone with a strong fanbase and a compelling personal story to bring into the creative. Enter Lute—a platinum-selling rapper signed to J. Cole’s record label, Dreamville, with over 2 million monthly listeners on Spotify. But there’s more to Lute than just his music; he’s a passionate car enthusiast who was immersed in the car scene long before he entered the music world. This love for cars became a fantastic element to incorporate into the campaign.

Lute brings an authentic charisma to the ad creative, showcasing his absolutely beautiful classic muscle car. And no, I'm not naming the car brand or model—this is a McDonald's campaign, after all. If you're curious, go watch the content! But seeing him drive up, lay down a track in the studio, and sip on a McDonald's Iced Coffee? It makes me want to grab a McDonald’s Iced Coffee for my own late-night . . . blog writing! Not quite as cool, I know—but hey, I never claimed to be, so stop staring and keep reading.

A Life Lived Authentically

For a deeper dive into Lute’s world, check out this video showcasing his car obsession, then listen to a few of his top songs on Spotify. Trust me, this will give you a fuller appreciation of the creative and storytelling behind the campaign content.

And here’s a treat for Lute’s fans: the campaign features an unreleased song, “92 Vette.” Yes, you heard that right! The only place to hear this track is in the McDonald’s campaign content. Fun fact: I just realized there’s a Corvette in that car video I told you to check out...and it looked like it was in the early stages of restoration—could “92 Vette” be inspired by that very car? I guess we’ll need to do some digging and write a follow-up article once I find out!

Lute’s music carries an unexpected soulfulness. His beats are fresh and distinct, guaranteed to get you vibing, but it’s his lyrics that truly stand out—stripping away any pretense or bravado to go straight to the heart. As he puts it in one of the campaign videos, he wants “to be as honest with my music as what you see in person.” And that’s exactly how his songs feel—like an open conversation about his life set to a sick beat. To get a sense of his style, I’d suggest starting with “GED (Gettin Every Dolla)” and “Sleep Deprived.” But if I had to pick a personal favorite, it would be “Be Okay” from his Gold Mouf album. It’s raw and real, and when the chorus hits with those layered vocals, it feels like a community lifting you up. It definitely gives me all the feels.

The Partnership of Destiny

73E72F8E-F627-47C7-8F8D-A8C836AE5CB7Here’s the ultimate Easter egg that proves this partnership with Lute was meant to be. If you’ve been following MAX for a while, you might have noticed MAX had a bit of a makeover this year—a glow-up, if you will. We shifted the focus from the “X” in MAX to the “A,” which stands for “Audience.” Because, at the end of the day, it’s all about reaching the fans that matter most—whether it’s for brands or artists.

So there I was, doing a bit of social media sleuthing (yes, on my computer—keeping it profesh). Suddenly, I stopped mid-scroll. Lute was in the middle of a killer freestyle, wearing a hat that practically screamed, “This collab was meant to be!” I won’t spoil the surprise—though that GIF might give you a hint—but trust me, it’s worth checking out. Go ahead, watch the video clip of Lute freestyling—I’ll wait right here. And don’t worry, the link opens in a new tab. You’re welcome!

giphy

Right?! How crazy is that? I told you—it was meant to be!

Get to Know Lute

Lute is a rapper from Charlotte, North Carolina. Lute is signed to Dreamville and is a platinum-selling artist. Lute’s subject matter consists of his love of cars, mental health, and life in general. Lute’s style outside the studio is also nothing to turn a blind eye to, as the rapper was found on Vogue’s “Best Dressed Men at the Grammys” list and also landed a spot on Refinery29’s best-dressed list. Lute's most streamed single to date, "Under The Sun (with J. Cole & Lute feat. DaBaby)," has garnered over 351M streams on Spotify. Lute has over 2.2M Spotify Monthly Listeners and more than 25M views on YouTube. He recently released his 2024 single "Ma Boy"with Dreamville and JID.

 

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