“It didn’t mean anything unless it had a Swoosh.”
This is what Nike meant to Drake while growing up. Since entering the spotlight back in 2009, he’s certainly made his love for the Swoosh known. He shouts out the brand in his lyrics. He regularly wears Nike tracksuits and Air Maxes when he’s on tour or moving around during his off time. And over the past decade he’s made various products with the company, which has culminated in NOCTA, his sub-label of apparel that includes bubble coats and sweatsuits with reflective trim. He’s even filmed a music video on the Nike campus in Beaverton.
With Drake’s Hot Step sneaker finally hitting retailers today, take a look back at Drake’s long history with Nike. From OVO-branded Air Jordans to his NOCTA apparel line, check out a detailed look at the Drake x Nike collaborative history below.
OVO x Jordan Brand
OVO x Jordan Brand (The Exclusives)
Stripes Over Checks?
Date: May 2018
Key Products: N/A
Pusha T spoiled it. Amid a heated back-and-forth between both rappers, Pusha T dropped his response to Drake’s “Duppy Freestyle'' titled “The Story of Adidon.” Roughly two minutes into the freestyle over Jay-Z’s “The Story of O.J.,” Push raps, “Adonis is ya son, and he deserves more than an Adidas press run.” The lyric alluded to Drake’s apparent Adidas line that was scheduled to be announced, Adidon, which was named after his then-yet-to-be-revealed son, Adonis. Obviously, the potential Adidas deal soured after the track’s release. Drake x Adidas never was. By August of that year, Drake was a proud member of the Swoosh once again, pledging his allegiance during his guest verse on Travis Scott’s now-diamond smash hit “Sicko Mode” by rapping, “Checks over stripes, that’s what I like.”