A Timeline of Drake's History With Nike

Image via Complex Original

Date: 2013-2018

Key Products: Air Jordan 10, Air Jordan 12, Air Jordan 8

The official Drake x Nike relationship started back in December 2013 under the Swoosh’s notable sub-label, Jordan Brand. Drake took to social media to flaunt two colorways of the Air Jordan 10. Tonal white and black versions featured shiny stingray leather overlays, semi-translucent outsoles, and gold OVO owls stamped on each insole. Initially believed to be exclusive PEs made for the 6 God, the shoes would actually drop in 2015 during NBA All-Star Weekend in Toronto. The black, white, and gold OVO x Air Jordan drops would stay consistent in the following years with the most obscure being a Trunner LX that dropped in limited quantities in conjunction with the opening of Jordan Brand’s new Toronto flagship in 2017. A Jordan 12 in 2017 and 8 in February 2018 also arrived in similar colorways to the 10, just ahead of rumors that Drake would be jumping ship for one of Nike’s biggest competitors. More on that later.

Date: 2013-2018

Key Products: "Calipari" Air Jordan 8s, "Hot 100" Air Jordan 6 Low, "Snakeskin" Air Jordan 11s

While OVO x Jordan Brand’s retail releases mostly stuck to the owl brand's signature black, white, and gold color palette, the exclusives cooked up for Drizzy were a bit more creative. Over the course of the roughly five-year partnership, notable PEs included a “Kentucky” pack of Air Jordan 8s gifted to then-UK basketball coach John Calipari, Air Jordan 3s with sunburst-colored laces worn by Drizzy throughout the Drake vs. Lil Wayne tour in 2014, and a white Air Jordan 6 Low celebrating the release of Views that never saw the light of day. Some of the craziest pairs Jordan Brand created for him were the white Air Jordan 11s with pink and grey snakeskin mudguards, and a pair that answers the question, “If Charles Oakley had an Air Jordan 8 PE as a Toronto Raptor, what would it look like?”

Date: 2018

Key Products: Adidas tracksuits, Ultra Boosts, and Yeezys

There was a minor hiccup in the Drake x Nike timeline. Shortly after the OVO x Air Jordan 8 release in February 2018, talks began to surface that Drake was unhappy with his current endorsement deal with the Jumpman and moving over to Adidas. The rumors were fueled by the man himself as Drake began to frequently rock Adidas track pants, Ultra Boosts, and various Yeezy models over the next few months. Apparently, Drake was destined to reveal an apparel line and extensive partnership with the Three Stripes later that year until...

Date: August 2018

Key Products: Nike Air Max Plus "For Stage Use"

Let’s be honest. Drake wearing Adidas never made much sense anyway. By the end of Summer 2018, he was back supporting the Swoosh family. And they quickly rewarded him with special versions of the Air Max Plus. Dubbed by Drake as being “for stage use” on Instagram, the black runner’s were tweaked with the addition of thick rope lacing and an elongated heel pull tab. He rocked a handful of colorways on stage throughout his Aubrey and the Three Migos tour. Sadly, these remained exclusives for the Boy and never made their way to retailers. 

Date: March 2019

Key Products: Nike Zoom Vomero 5

The “For Stage Use” Air Max Plus wasn’t the only retro runner that Nike gave Drake on tour. During a stop in Paris for his European Assassination Vacation tour, he was also spotted in a special colorway of the Zoom Vomero 5. Just like the aforementioned Air Max Pluses, this all-black color scheme with subtle red detailing never received an official release.

Date: June 2019

Key Products: Air Jordan 4 "Raptors"

We all know Travis Scott’s Houston Oilers-themed Air Jordan 4 collaboration from 2018. Well, apparently Travis wasn’t the only rapper who was supposed to release his own Air Jordan 4 that year. Before the brief falling out between the two parties, a Raptors-themed Air Jordan 4 was also scheduled to arrive bearing Drake’s signature on the tongue tag. Before the release was fully realized, Drake was already wearing Three Stripes apparel. His signature was stripped from the tongue and the pair was released sans Drake ties in August 2018. But as we all know, Drake and Nike rekindled their relationship. To celebrate the Raptors’ 2019 NBA Finals run, Jordan Brand would shock drop more pairs of the “Raptors” 4, complete with Drake’s signature this time, before Game 2 of the NBA Finals. They don’t quite get the same level of praise as the aforementioned colorway from Travis, but it’s still cool that they eventually made their way to customers in the end.

Date: February 2020

Key Products: N/A

By 2020, Drake was comfortably settled in as a member of the Swoosh family once again. Nike sweatsuits and running caps were part of his daily uniform—he often wore Air Maxes. There was no questioning where his sportswear allegiance lied. So, it came as no surprise that Drake was one of the many All-Star caliber attendants at Nike’s 2020 Forum during New York Fashion Week. He sat beside Rosalia and Virgil Abloh throughout the presentation. He and Abloh, who would go on to become frequent collaborators on everything from private jets to watches, also shared a memorable photo op later that night with each of them wearing matching camouflage Arc’Teryx jackets. Drake wasn’t just an avid Swoosh rocker, he was officially part of the team. If there was still anything questioning that, this appearance among the brand’s most important collaborators cemented it. 

Date: October 2020-August 2021

Key Products: “CLB” hoodie, “CLB” hat, and “CLB” socks

On Oct. 26, 2020, Drake’s highly-anticipated Certified Lover Boy merch collection with Nike finally released to the world. They offered the capsule via a newly-launched website titled DrakeRelated. Along with the “CLB” hoodies everyone was after, the drop also included white caps with red lipstick kiss stains on the brim, socks, and a series of graphic T-shirts that included Cupid in a ski mask. The memorable bomber jackets were also listed on the site, but were designated as a friends and family exclusive to the chagrin of many. More CLB merch surfaced just days ahead of the album’s release in September 2021. The collection of black T-shirts featured small Nike Swooshes intertwined with pink roses on the center of the chest with album-related phrases like “I Don’t Miss…Let Alone Miss You” across the back. One of the funnier options saw Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Nike Freak logo repurposed to read “I Need a Freak.” These shirts didn’t see as wide of a release as the initial collection, but some lucky fans in Toronto did get blessed by OVO Mark.

Date: December 2020-Present

Key Products: Sunset puffer jacket, NOCTA Tech Fleece, Mountain View Pullover

Drake and Nike’s apparel drops in 2020 weren’t limited to just Certified Lover Boy promo merch. On Nov. 22, Drake posted a teaser video on his Instagram that pegged Dec. 18, 2020 as a date of interest. The post announced the release date for Drake’s official apparel line with Nike, NOCTA. The name is said to be a nod to his “nocturnal creative process.” The cozy-centric line aligns perfectly with Drake’s wardrobe with its bubble coats, sweatsuits, and socks in both black and yellow color schemes. In an official press release from Nike announcing the project, Drake says, “I mean, growing up Nike was everything. It felt like every shoe I wanted, every athlete I liked, everything I owned was Nike. It didn’t mean anything unless it had a Swoosh.” 

Since its initial capsule, a handful of other NOCTA collections have hit retailers. Some have simply offered the same minimally-branded hoodies and sweatpants in new colorways. We've gotten Tech Fleece sweatsuits in various colors. There was a NOCTA Golf line that released in September 2021 that was inspired by Drake’s uncle. Select items were even worn on the course by pros like Brooks Koepka. Kevin Durant has starred in campaigns to promote a basketball-themed collection. Drake's even used his favorite vacation spot, Turks and Caicos, as inspiration to release some souvenir T-shirts bearing graphics by Cactus Plant Flea Market. 

Overall, NOCTA may not be as hyped-up as you'd expect a line from the biggest rapper on the planet to be, but it's certainly stayed consistent. The best part, it doesn't feel too merch-y. Yes, most people will know NOCTA is Drake's brand, but his likeness isn't all over it. You can get away with wearing some pieces without looking like an OVO stan. That isn't always the case when big artists drop clothing. 

Date: March 2022-Present

Key Products: Nike NOCTA Hot Step, "Love You Forever" Air Force 1, Hot Step 2

On March 3, 2022, NOCTA dropped its first sneakers, black and white colorways of the Hot Step. The original silhouette complete with details like 3M piping and colorful Air units is meant to nod to trainers from late ‘90s. It even borrows the sole from 1999’s Air Terra Humara, albeit with slight modifications. More lively options like featured python print or lavender followed, but the market never really fully latched onto them. Subsequent silhouettes like the Zoom Drive and Glide have been met with a similar level of fanfare. The latter even got some special University of Kentucky PE pairs and an ad that previewed the then-unreleased, Yeat-assisted track "IDGAF," but still didn't move the needle all that much.  

Arguably the best NOCTA sneaker, so far, has been the most simplistic. The "Love You Forever" Air Force 1 gave premium tweaks to the iconic white low-top in the form of more supple leather, "Love You Forever" written on the midsole, and a heart-shaped tread pattern. The most recent release, 2024's bright orange Hot Step 2, also seems promising. The sequel to the OG Hot Step features a molded upper and chrome details. We're eager to see more colorways, but it looks like the NOCTA footwear lineup is definitely taking a step in the right direction. 

Date: April 2024

Key Products: Bala Tech Jacket, L'Art Racing Jacket

For its first collaboration, NOCTA tapped luxury car dealer and "On BS" collaborator (remember the Frenchman talking his shit on the outro of the Her Loss track?) Arthur Kar. The collaborative apparel capsule with Kar's brand, L'Art De L'Automobile, first surfaced in March 2024. Drake even pulled up to a Houston Rockets game and sat courtside rocking the hero item from the drop, a royal blue racing jacket covered in co-branded patches to drum up some more hype. He also got some help from his good friend Lil Yachty to preview the collab. Yachty rocked the yellow Bala Tech Jacket and Apex Tech Pants from the NOCTA x KAR drop to rock the stage at Dreamville Fest 2024. It's a bit surprising that it took roughly four years until we finally saw NOCTA linking up with some of Drake's buddies to release some gear, but this was worth the wait. Kar delivered.