Sprite launched a campaign this month called the Living Tracklist, in which it took 26 lyrics from 26 hip-hop records and printed them on cans and bottles of Sprite and Sprite Zero nationwide. The Coca-Cola Company brand collaborated with lyrics website Genius and formed a panel that included such personalities as radio legend Angie Martinez and Complex’s Speedy Morman to come up with the 26 lyrics. Records featured include the Wu-Tang Clan’s “C.R.E.A.M.,” Ludacris’ “Southern Hospitality” and Cardi B’s “Bodak Yellow.”
The big “synergy” idea is that Sprite drinkers could interact with the lyrics via QR codes, taking them to a special microsite. There’s even a Spotify playlist that expands the list from 26 to 50 songs. But did Sprite anticipate consumers interacting with one of the 26 lyrics in an entirely different way?
One of the 26 lyrics selected to be printed on cans and bottles: “2-8-1-three-three-0-eight-zero-zero-four.” Most hip-hop heads and Houstonians instantly know this as the phone number for one Mike Jones, which he regularly exclaimed on his mixtapes and on his 2005 hit “Back Then.” Naturally, folks buying Sprites and getting the “Back Then” lyric have decided to reach out to 281-330-8004.
“What happens when u message 281-330-8004, u get a real person (NO GIMMICK) responding back to u showing love!!” wrote Mike Jones on Instagram Saturday morning. Jones took to social media to thank Sprite for bringing new attention to him and his famous number. Jones showed receipts in the form of screenshots:
“Hi, this phone number is on the sprite bottle I bought. Just curious what happens when I message it,” reads one text. “U get Mike Jones! Who? Mike Jones!! The 1 & only they can’t clone me!” responded Jones enthusiastically.
The texter responded with exclamation points and wrote, “My husband just shown me, I’ve definitely heard the song somewhere before I’m just not sure where but that’s very awesome!”
Another texter asked Jones if “you’re still in love with a stripper or if you’ve moved on?” In case you weren’t aware, that’s a reference to Jones’ feature on T-Pain’s 2005 hit “I’m N Luv (Wit A Stripper).”
Jones even included a Chron social media video in his post, which led Chron to text 281-330-8004 thanking him for the love. We’ll let y’all know if he responds, though one might imagine his phone is hotter than usual at the moment.