There was a familiar voice during the much-anticipated Super Bowl LIV commercials on Sunday night, and we’re not referring to the roar of a Ravens’ Ray Lewis cameo in the NFL’s own ad.
In the second quarter, tax software company TurboTax launched its brand-new campaign, “All People Are Tax People,” with a viral dance video and infectious theme song by none other than Baltimore’s own TT The Artist.
Directed by Calmatic, who just won the Best Music Video Grammy for Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road,” and choreographed by Sherrie Silver, the mind behind Childish Gambino’s “This is America,” the video featured a diverse mix of people doing everyday tasks while also demonstrating the same wobbly legged dance moves. All the while, TT, aka Tedra Wilson, sings about W2s and CPAs.
The longtime Baltimore artist produced and recorded the song, which was inspired by the New Orleans bounce genre and club music culture in general, the latter of which she has worked to promote, particularly in the realm of Baltimore Club music, for over a decade.
“I didn’t find out it was for a Super Bowl commercial until after the song was completed,” says Wilson, who is now based in Los Angeles. “It was exciting to just see it. I’m an independent artist, and it was something I created myself…For me, it was just about representing black music and culture.”
Though this was her first Super Bowl spot, TT’s music has appeared in film and on television for shows like HBO’s Insecure and Comedy Central’s Broad City. She is currently working on new music for her female-focused label, Club Queen Records, as well as preparing for the official world premiere of her forthcoming music documentary, Dark City: Beneath the Beat.