McDonald’s MY drops spicy hip-hop track with MK K-Clique and TUJU

McDonald’s Malaysia is turning up the heat with a new music video featuring local hip-hop artists MK K-Clique and TUJU, marking the launch of its latest Spicy Chicken and Spicy Lemon Chicken burgers.

Tapping into music and pop culture, the fast-food giant is looking to strike a chord with younger Malaysians, blending the fiery flavours of its signature burgers with the swagger of two of the country’s biggest rap names. In conversation with A+M, Chin Mei Lee, chief marketing officer at McDonald’s Malaysia, said the move is all about “celebrating the bold, spicy flavour our fans love, while turning up the heat with a collaboration that feels truly local and fresh.”

The spicy chicken McDeluxe has long been a fan favourite and, according to Chin, has earned its title as McDonald’s “No.1 burger” and “#YangHangat” over the years. The return of the spicy lemon chicken McDeluxe, with its zesty twist, was the perfect chance to “build on this heat with #DuoTerhangat,” she said.

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To bring that fire to life, McDonald’s teamed up with MK and Tuju - a pairing that fans have been waiting for. “MK and Tuju are incredibly talented artists who consistently create music that resonates with Malaysians,” said Chin. “When we approached them, Tuju — the creative force behind the track — immediately began envisioning the beat, flow and rhymes. A demo was ready in just a few days. That energy, speed and synergy confirmed we had something truly special.”

Fans can catch MK and TUJU dropping bars about the new menu items in a slick music video that doubles as an anthem for spice lovers and a reminder that McDonald’s is ready to compete for share-of-stomach in Malaysia’s fiercely competitive fried chicken space.

The collab first dropped as a teaser last week, with a hip-hop track highlighting just how spicy the burgers are, alongside visuals of key ingredients and models dramatically trying to cool down from the heat. In a nod to the 7.7 shopping frenzy, McDonald’s Malaysia even slashed the burgers’ prices from RM14.20 to RM7.70 for the day, building hype ahead of the full music video drop.

For McDonald’s Malaysia, music isn’t just background noise, but rather a way to speak Gen Z and millennial language. “Music is a powerful way to spark emotion, tell stories and build relevance,” Chin explained. “This collaboration allows us to engage this audience in a culturally meaningful way, while still showcasing their favourite burger in an unexpected format.”

The campaign is just getting started. Chin revealed that McDonald’s will soon bring the #DuoTerhangat experience to life with a special concert featuring MK and Tuju. Fans can expect VIP experiences, exclusive access, and more surprises from past collaborators. All of which are teased on McDonald’s social channels.

The fast-food chain is no stranger to riding the wave of music and pop culture to spark conversation online. In June, McDonald’s Malaysia teamed up with local group 3P to drop 'Fuyoohh tenders lagi' ('Whoa, more tenders') a song celebrating its ayam tenders in a mix of Mandarin, Malay and English, complete with choreography for fans to follow.

Across the border in Singapore, McDonald’s also leaned into rap, dropping bars about hash browns, eggs, ham and cheese to promote its new breakfast wraps. The playful video showed the wrap being made, with lyrics displayed on screen and a cheeky caption: “We did a rap about our wraps, because we were so excited about them. With scrambled eggs, cheese, hash browns and more folded in a tortilla, who wouldn’t be?”

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