For whatever reason—musical integrity, general disinterest, etc.—the origins of McDonald’s “I’m Lovin’ It” jingle have long been a semi-secret. There have been rumblings that Justin Timberlake and Pharrell Williams wrote the second-long earworm, but those were never really confirmed, even though the former sung a longer version of the song on a three-song EP produced by the latter. Now, new information has emerged linking Clipse member, GOOD Music president, and Re-Up Records founder Pusha T to the jingle, at least according to former record executive Steve Stoute.
Stoute, who claims to have brokered the deal, dropped the tidbit in an interview with Hot 97’s Ebro Darden, saying, “That’s crazy that Pusha T wrote the song to McDonald’s ‘I’m Lovin’ It.’ I can’t remember the money [received]. It was 11 years ago. Nobody was upset.” Indeed it is crazy, especially considering that the rapper has also written numerous odes to cocaine, including a song he dropped alongside Jay Z just last week called “Drug Dealers Anonymous.” Those McDonald’s fries are addictive, though.
Though Stoute is a pretty solid source on the song’s origins, Pusha T has yet to really confirm the information himself. He did, however, tweet a link to the story alongside a series of emoji: a burger, some french fries, and the cash faced emoji man.
“I’m Lovin’ It” has been one of McDonald’s most successful and long-running campaigns. It debuted in 2003, and has been translated into a number of different languages for use in dozens of other countries.
Pusha T’s latest record is Darkest Before Dawn, though he’s said to have another, King Push, on the way.
[via Pitchfork]