Trying to Be Hip and Edgy, Ads Become Offensive

Some of the biggest names in marketing have had to apologize after consumers objected to ads that hinged on race, rape and suicide.

    

Critic’s Notebook: Lil Wayne and Other Rappers Run Afoul of Propriety

Recent embarrassments involving rappers and their product endorsements highlight the conflicting values and public images of hip-hop artists and mainstream corporations.