Watch the Stove (stylized in all caps) is the debut EP album by food brand Hamburger Helper under the alias Helper. It was released on April 1, 2016, through SoundCloud.[1]
Background and release
The idea of a Hamburger Helper album came from a tweet in 2014, where the brand jokingly stated the mascot would release a mixtape. It became the brand's most-favorited tweet.[2]
The EP was released as an April Fools joke by General Mills in collaboration with marketing agency Ketchum Inc.[3] The title references the Jay-Z and Kanye West album Watch the Throne. It subsequently went viral on Twitter.[4] Within a week, the album had 5 million streams on SoundCloud.[5]
Production
The EP was produced by a team at the McNally Smith College of Music and local Minneapolis artists.[6] Two music videos were shot.[7] Songs were required to be family-appropriate and contain no swear words.[8]
Track listing
See also
- We Beefin?
References
- WATCH THE STOVE SoundCloud, retrieved 7 December 2021^
- Hugh McIntyre. The Hamburger Helper Mixtape: The Story Behind A Surprise Hit Forbes, 21 April 2016, retrieved 7 December 2021^
- Parker Herren. An ode to Hamburger Helper Ad Age, 24 November 2021, retrieved 7 December 2021^
- Ben Collins. Meet the College Kids Behind 'Watch the Stove,' the Year's Hottest Hamburger Mixtape The Daily Beast, 1 April 2016, retrieved 7 December 2021^
- Sidney Madden. 20 of Hip-Hop's Funniest Moments in 2016 - XXL XXL Mag, 12 December 2016, retrieved 7 December 2021^
- Jau Boller. Hamburger Helper drops Watch the Stove mixtape featuring Bobby Raps, DJ Tiiiiiiiiiip City Pages, 1 April 2016^
- Morgan Greenwald. Hamburger Helper Enters the Rap Scene With (Shockingly Great) 'Watch the Stove' Mixtape Billboard, 1 April 2016, retrieved 7 December 2021^
- Jessica Roy. The unbelievably true story behind the April Fools' Day Hamburger Helper mixtape Los Angeles Times, 2016-04-02, retrieved 2021-12-07^