Hit rapper and Kentucky native Jack Harlow partnered with KFC to curate a combo meal that’s been available at KFCs nationwide, on their website and mobile app since June 6. A line of limited-edition, co-branded merch is in the works as well.

Music from Jack Harlow’s latest album was blasted from a giant KFC bucket featuring the rapper’s face, during a recent promotion where the celebrity also worked a shift at the drive-through.

Harlow sampled the entire menu at KFC in Louisville and selected a mix of KFC classics and some of his childhood favorites. The meal includes a spicy chicken sandwich, fries, mac and cheese, a side of ranch and a lemonade, all served in custom packaging. The KFC app will alert fans when the merch line is available and provide other exclusive Jack Harlow content.

Fans in Georgia got the first taste on June 4 when Harlow spent the day at an Atlanta-area KFC working the drive-through and surprising fans as his new album blared through a giant Jack Harlow-imprinted KFC bucket speaker. Harlow showed his commitment to the partnership as he got his hands dirty, wearing an official KFC uniform and talking to customers.

Jack Harlow at KFC. pic.twitter.com/HhRU9Yrceq

— Jack Harlow Daily (@JackharlowDaily) June 5, 2022

Harlow’s latest album, “Come Home the Kids Miss You,” released on May 5, features many hits including “First Class,” which sat on top Billboard’s Hot 100 list. The collaboration with KFC follows his recent success as he prepares to start his nationwide tour in September.

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A post shared by Jack Harlow (@jackharlow)

As a part of this collaboration, Harlow announced in December that he and KFC will donate $250,000 to the American Red Cross to provide relief for those affected by the tornado that swept through western Kentucky in 2021.

Harlow’s collab with KFC follows a long tradition of celebrity fast-food mashups, starting with Michael Jordan’s partnership with McDonald’s in 1992. But the most recent partnerships go beyond simply implementing exclusive meals to incorporate an array of coveted branded merch, including apparel, bags and toys – showing off the power of promotional products to help reach new audiences and expand brands. Popeyes paired up with Megan Thee Stallion last year to drop a line of merch referred to as Thee Heat, which included bikinis, dog toys, tumblers and more. Fans could gain access to the limited-edition items by becoming a Popeyes Rewards member, enticing more customers to download its mobile app. This strategy was also implemented in the KFC x Jack Harlow collab.

Harlow’s pairing with KFC spoke to his roots in Kentucky, creating a match made in heaven. Justin Bieber’s partnership with Tim Hortons similarly connected the campaign to Bieber’s Canadian origin. The pair released three new flavors of Timbits, also known as doughnut holes, as well as limited-edition merch including a beanie, fanny pack and tote bag in 2021.

These kinds of collaborations help to simultaneously promote an artist’s work and broaden the appeal of a fast-food brand, with limited-edition branded merch drops building excitement among fans. For promotional products distributors, it’s worth keeping an eye on the types of merch deployed in such collaborations, since they’re likely to reflect the latest trends and consumer desires.