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$ave Dat Money: Legal Lessons From Lil' Dickey's Video

By Ephrat Livni, Esq. on May 13, 2016 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

You never know what you can learn from a rap video, and that is just one reason not to be a snob. For example, Lil' Dickey's hit $ave Dat Money (yes, that dollar-sign-S is deliberate) is in fact a tutorial on savings ... and the law.

It may even have inspired a recent lawsuit claiming Starbucks overcharges iced beverage drinkers. Pay attention to the dramatic breakdown mid-way through Dickey's instructive clip on getting a lot done with a little bit before you scoff.

The Evidence (Educational but NSFW)

Contractually Rapping

Not only is this comedic rapper's economic approach a relief in a greedy society, but Lil' Dickey offers legal lessons. He signs up for free gym trial memberships but he never gets hooked into a contract, for example. How is that? He's paying attention to the fine print.

But some of Lil Dickey's lessons are cautionary tales, and counsel cannot advise you to do as he says in all areas. The rapper avails himself of other people's passwords to download entertainment. That is theft and not an advisable practice.

Still, don't dismiss Lil' Dickey. This guy shot a whole video without paying people for property use or props or actors, and appropriately blocking the faces of anyone who didn't sign a release it seems. He's not a total scofflaw.

So go for it -- be creative. Just remember to do as Dickey does. Ask politely.

Inspired Economics

It is said that certain notions enter the zeitgeist simultaneously, and that people everywhere have the same ideas at once when the collective unconscious is ready. Maybe that is what happened with Lil' Dickey and his ice economics breakdown.

Or maybe he actually did inspire a class action lawsuit on behalf of Starbucks iced beverage drinkers with his skit about iced coffee. Regardless, as far as timing is concerned, life certainly imitated art here.

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