Inspired by history, but decided by data. Antiquity meets robotic arms. Streaming numbers meet human curation. 21 Savage meets Brooklyn Museum. This is a project that challenges traditional representations and breaks down boundaries in a very real way, in a time when that feels very necessary.

In 2017, three artists—SZA, Metro Boomin, and 21 Savage—emerged as icons who deserve to be remembered in the mythology of rap. The RapCaviar Pantheon honored them with life-size sculptures that celebrated their lasting contributions to music. Each statue draws from history, with tiny details that nod to both the artists and classic antiquities. The intention was to pay respect with such authenticity that a community of fans and artists would understand our commitment to the genre.

The campaign launched on December 7, 2017 with the official announcement of the 3 artists who would be immortalized as statues. Hip-hop fans (regardless of whether they used Spotify) were targeted primarily through digital media.

A film of the sculpture-making process was directed by hero of hip hop Director X and narrated by the iconic Pharrell Williams. Over 3.5 million fans watched 2 titans of the genre welcoming the newest arrivals to rap’s Pantheon, as we distributed the video across social channels and YouTube.

The opening at the Brooklyn Museum was attended by hundreds of influencers, who were invited to hear a panel discussion led my RapCaviar curator Tuma Basa and Director X. The event, featured by 24 media outlets, resulted in 70 million+ digital impressions. It became an official Twitter Moment, and was posted by the artists themselves to their millions of fans.

When 3 young rap artists are selected to stand proudly as icons of culture, people are going to take note. And in a year when statues were coming down around the country, RapCaviar inviting hip-hop fans to a historic museum to see an unveiling of statues of their own icons, is a powerful statement.

The sculptures that were created speak to the America of today and underscore the qualities we seek in our modern-day heroes. Metro Boomin's talent and humility shaped the sound of a generation. 21 Savage transformed a lifetime of struggle into art without ever compromising his truth. SZA won over millions with a voice that is uniquely her own.

Lists of dominant rappers come out every year, but seeing these artists forever etched in stone does more than glorify their achievements. It brings us closer to who we are and what we want to be.