'Anchorman' sequel: Why hip-hop loves Will Ferrell

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For years, it was Eddie Murphy and his comedies that were oft-quoted by your favorite rappers. Now that the highly anticipated sequel to the cult 2004 hit Anchorman has been announced, it seems to be a worthy moment to look at how Will Ferrell became the most referenced comedian in hip-hop right now.

Hip-hop tracks can sometimes be just as silly as they are often serious. Prior to Ferrell, celebrated comics like Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, or Chris Rock, have all been sampled and referenced by rappers to assist with a punchline here and there. Arguably the most quoted comedy of all time, when it comes to rap, is Murphy’s 1988 blockbuster Coming to America.

The story of Prince Akeem has influenced album songs like Ludacris’ “Coming 2 America” and dope music videos like Hype Williams’ “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See.” While still a classic, Coming To America is 24 years old, and may be not be as memorable for newcomers to the rap genre.

Based in 1970s San Diego, Anchorman tells the story of the legendary reporter and egomaniac Ron Burgundy. The character has arguably become Will Ferrell’s most iconic, and many ways embodies the quintessential hip-hop persona.

In the vein of rap CEOs like Diddy or Rick Ross, Burgundy is the breadwinner who runs a successful team — the Channel 4 evening news Sqaud. He is wealthy, loves a good glass of scotch, lives in a fly bachelor’s pad (with his faithful dog Baxter), and the ladies love him. He also has tons of braggadocio to spare.

How could a rapper not love Ron Burgundy?

For example: when Kanye West was embroiled in controversy following his behavior towards Taylor Swift at the Video Music Awards back in 2010, he compared himself to the fictional, blowhard anchor.

“Remember in Anchor Man when Ron Burgundy cursed on air and the entire city turned on him? But this wasn’t a joke. This was & is my real life,” West tweeted.

And that’s not all. If you dig through your favorite rapper’s lyrics, you’d be surprised how many have borrowed lines from the Saturday Night Live veteran. From legends like Nas (“Me real bonkers like Will Ferrell on cat tranquilizer”) to newcomers like Big Sean, (“I be at the parties where you stuck outside and can’t come in. Call me Ron Burgundy y’all the other anchormen.”) — the Will Ferrell brand has become a popular fad in the hip-hop culture. Dropping a line from the Old School star could help an album reach new heights. Canadian rapper K-os even structured an entire mixtape around soundbites from Anchorman.

The best example of the Will Ferrell effect was his inclusion in last year’s biggest rap single, Kanye and Jay-Z’s “Ni**as In Paris.” Already a great track on its own, the signature moment from the song had nothing to do with the powerhouse rap lead duo. A skit from the buddy comedy Blades of Glory appears mid-way through the song and steals the show, giving the track to a whole new level of popularity.

“Kanye reached out to me and I said, ‘Of course,’” Ferrell told MTV News last year, “I was completely flattered when they asked if they could sample me into the song…and when I heard it for the first time, I just started to laugh because it felt so surreal. But I really did like the song.”

If Anchorman 2 can top the success of its predecessor, it will ensure the staying power of the Ferrell brand in music — and it will be kind of a big deal.

Follow Kyle Harvey on Twitter at @HarveyWins