American rapper Pusha T has released a new remix of Melle Mel’s 1983 classic anti-drugs anthem ‘White Lines (Don’t Do It)’, a bold move considering the rapper called himself “Cocaine’s Dr Seuss” on his 2022 album It’s Almost Dry.
The cover is featured on the soundtrack to the upcoming film Cocaine Bear, the directorial debut of American actor Elizabeth Banks. Starring Keri Russell, Margo Martindale, Ray Liotta and more, it tells the story of a black bear who ingests $15 million worth of Columbian cocaine and goes on a murderous rampage.
During a conversation with Variety, screenwriter Jimmy Warden explained how he came across the true story of ‘Pablo Escobear: the cocaine bear’ while scrolling through Twitter. “I was like, ‘What the fuck is that?'” Warden recalled. “I went down a complete rabbit hole, just clicking and clicking and clicking.”
Warden subsequently learned about the death of a drug trafficker called Andrew Thornton II, who had died in a parachute accident in September 1985 during a drug drop over the Appalachian Mountains. When the authorities found his body in a driveway in Knoxville, they discovered nearly $15million worth of cocaine strapped to his jacket. When the remains of a black bear were found alongside 40 opened packages from that same drop four months later, it didn’t take much to put two and two together.
Following the release of Pusha T’s fourth studio album, It’s Almost Dry, in April, the rapper once again lashed out at McDonalds, for whom he co-wrote the song ‘I’m Lovin It’ in 2003. After claiming he was paid a one-time fee for what has become perhaps the longest-running marketing campaign in the company’s history, the rapper released a promotional diss-track on behalf of rival fast food outlet Arby’s titled ‘Rib Roast’.
“I am solely responsible for the’ I’m Lovin’ It’ swag and the jingle of that company,” he told Rolling Stone. “That’s just real. I am the reason. Now I gotta crush it.” You can listen to Pusha’s cover of ‘White Lines (Don’t Do It)’ below.
