Master P takes Google to task for mixing it up with Luther Vandross
Master P wants to speak to Google after the search giant recently mistook him for Luther Vandross.
The ‘Burbons and Lacs’ rapper made headlines last week when Questlove and others noticed a photo of Master P – aka Percy Miller – popping up on Google searches for ‘Never Too Much’ crooner Vandross.
“I know everyone stumbles. Google thought it was funny confusing me. I understand,” said Master P TMZ on Sunday.
“Hey Google,” he added. “You all have to do it right.”
Always a businessman, Master P also took advantage of the increased media attention to promote his cereal brand alongside fellow rapper Snoop Dogg, Snoop Cereal (formerly Snoop Loopz). Speaking to TMZ in a grocery store parking lot, the “Ghetto D” artist proudly displayed a box of Fruity Hoopz with marshmallows featuring Snoop Cereal mascot Captain Ace.
“Drop the picture [of Vandross], Google,” said Master P. “Stop letting AI run your business. There should have been a picture of Captain Ace. I look more like Captain Ace.”
“They created a lot of excitement and that made the whole thing go viral,” he continued. “But I’m like, ‘Here, make this viral because we need to put money back into our community and our culture.’ … They’ve been trying to distract people, but we’re disrupting the cereal business.”
Despite the Vandross mix-up, Master P mentioned a Google search result that he might be behind.
“If you Google, ‘Who is the first black-owned grain company, what comes to mind?'” he said. “[Snoop Cereal parent company] Broadus Foods.”
For the record: Snoop Cereal was billed as the first black-owned cereal brand with a nationwide distribution deal. But acc forbeswas previously founded by black entrepreneur Nic King Proud puffs – a vegan, gluten-free, chocolate-flavored muesli.
When asked if he had ever met Vandross, who died in 2005, Master P replied that he hadn’t, but added: “A house isn’t a home unless Snoop Cereal is in it” – a nod to Vandross’s famous one Cover of Dionne Warwick’s “A House Is No Home.”
The hip-hop musician also told TMZ that he doesn’t plan to sue Google, but he did encourage the conglomerate to help promote its cereal projects to make up for Vandross’ failure.
In a statement to The Times last week, a Google spokesperson said, “We source images for knowledge panels from a number of sources, including licensed image providers.” In this case, unfortunately, the image we received was mislabeled. The provider has updated the image metadata and our systems now reflect this update.”
