Sprite and Genius Launch The Living Tracklist to Celebrate Six Decades of Hip-Hop
When you crack open a Sprite in July, you might also crack open a slice of hip‑hop history.
Sprite, the iconic Coca‑Cola beverage, and Genius, the lyrics‑annotation platform, have teamed up for a summer‑long campaign called The Living Tracklist. The partnership, unveiled in early June 2026, brings 50 landmark hip‑hop songs from the 1970s to the 2020s to consumers via QR codes printed on Sprite bottles and cans. Beginning July 1, a limited‑edition line of packaging—featuring six hand‑drawn illustrations—will hit retail shelves.
Sprite’s marketing pedigree includes a long run of music‑centric campaigns, while Genius launched in 2009 as Rap Genius before expanding to cover all genres and media. The collaboration seeks to honor hip‑hop’s evolution, a genre that germinated in New York City block parties in the early 1970s and has since become a global cultural force. The tracklist showcases classics such as “The Payback,” “Rapper’s Delight,” “Lyte As A Rock,” “Don’t Sweat The Technique,” “Juicy,” and “Regulate,” spanning six decades of sound.
A panel of seven journalists and tastemakers sifted through potential tracks, debating which songs had the most lasting influence on hip‑hop and pop culture. The resulting list is not intended to be definitive but to spark conversation. Genius’s microsite hosts stories behind each track, the full lyrics with annotations, and contextual insights, allowing users to explore the evolution of the genre.
Every Sprite bottle and can carries a QR code that, when scanned, directs consumers to the microsite. The code also unlocks exclusive digital content, including behind‑the‑scenes videos and a sweepstakes for signed merchandise. The limited‑edition packaging, released in early July, features six unique illustrations, each designed by a different artist to reflect hip‑hop’s visual evolution from the 1970s to the present. Sprite’s marketing team has emphasized that the designs are hand‑crafted and not generated by artificial intelligence.
According to reports, the campaign includes out‑of‑home elements, social‑media promotion, and audio placements on streaming platforms. The partnership leverages Genius’s community of users who annotate and discuss songs, while Sprite’s brand reaches a broad consumer base. The campaign aligns with the broader trend of beverage brands engaging younger audiences through music and digital experiences.
The Living Tracklist is currently available to consumers who purchase Sprite in participating markets. The campaign is slated to continue through the summer, with the limited‑edition bottles remaining in stores until the end of August. Both Sprite and Genius have indicated that the partnership will be evaluated based on consumer engagement metrics and the reach of the microsite.
