How Doritos and Mountain Dew Created a Rap Battle for the Ages

In 2018, PepsiCo made history by introducing two new products—Doritos Blaze and Mountain Dew Ice—in the same Super Bowl ad. And not just any Super Bowl ad—one of the best ever made, featuring an epic rap throwdown between Peter Dinklage and Morgan Freeman, with cameos by Busta Rhymes and Missy Elliott. 

In our latest episode of the Clio Awards series “The Most Memorable Super Bowl Ads of All Time,” learn how the Goodby Silverstein & Partners spot came to be, with commentary from:

• Tyler Cameron, Television Personality and Model
• Danny Robinson, Chief Creative Officer, The Martin Agency
• Jai Rodriguez, Actor and Television Personality
• Yamaneika Saunders, Comedian and Writer
• Tim Nudd, Editor in Chief, Clio Awards and Muse by Clio
• Matt Wallaert, Behavioral Science Expert

This episode is one in a 16-part series looking at classic Super Bowl advertising. See more episodes below as they roll out:

Always ‘Like a Girl,’ From Online Viral Hit to Super Bowl Champion

The Sad, Somber Hilarity of Monster.com’s ‘When I Grow Up’

Chrysler and Eminem’s Epic Salute to Detroit and Its Auto Industry

The Enduring Charm of Coke’s Mean Joe Greene Ad

The Night Alexa Lost Her Voice but Spoke Louder Than Ever

Eli Manning on His NFL Ad and Those Sweet Dirty Dancing Moves

The NFL’s Epic Super Bowl Ad That Was 100 Years in the Making

When Every Ad Was a #TideAd: How P&G Hijacked the Super Bowl

Nothing but Net: Jordan and Bird’s Epic Showdown for McDonald’s

How Reebok’s Terry Tate Smashed His Way Into Super Bowl History

Cindy Crawford for Pepsi: Two Icons, One Perfect Super Bowl Ad

Budweiser’s ‘Puppy Love’ … the Cutest Super Bowl Ad Ever?

Betty White and Snickers: A Match Made in Super Bowl Heaven

CREDITS

Doritos Blaze vs. Mtn. Dew Ice

Agency: Goodby Silverstein & Partners
Chief Creative Officer: Margaret Johnson
Associate Creative Director: Rohan Cooke, Laura Petruccelli
Copywriter: Caroline Cappelli
Art Director: Ryan Tovani
Producer: Christina Wells

Production Company: Reset
Director: Nabil
Managing Director: David Morrison
Executive Producer: Deannie O’Neil
Producer: Jessica Lee
Line Producer: Doochy Moult

Editorial: Rock Paper Scissors
Executive Producer: Rana Martin
Editor: Damion Clayton
Producer: Dina Ciccotello
Edit Assist: Mike Spagnoli

VFX: The Mill
Executive Producer: Enca Kaul
Producer: Hillary Thomas
Production Coordinator: Mary Mondrus
Shoot Supervisor: Edward Shires, Tara DeMarco

VFX Creative: The Mill
Creative Director: Tara DeMarco
2D Lead Artist: Tara DeMarco
3D Lead Artist: Shaun Comly
2D Artist: Rob Winfield, Elad Offer, Mandy Sorenson, Peter Sidoriak, Yukiko Ishiwata, Chris Hunsberger, Christel Hazard, Kai Chun Tsai, Jake Maymudes, Tim Robbins, Patrick Dirks 
3D Artist: Daniel Stern, Charles Storniolo, Daniel Soo, Jason Kim, Benjamin Chan, Jinguang Huang, Lamarcus Harvey, Michael Lori, Danny Garcia, Alice Panek, Elizabeth Hammer
Matte Painting: Itai Muller, Bill Mather, Roger Kupelian, Elias Gonzales, Simon Brown