The Top 10 Sneaker Lyrics in Hip-Hop History
The 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop has been celebrated over the past week, culminating in an outdoor concert on Friday night where it all began. Important figures in Hip-Hop history made the trip to New York City, the birthplace of the quintessentially-American art form.
Over the past five decades, the rise of sneaker culture has gone hand-in-hand with the expansion of Hip-Hop. It is impossible to separate the two movements that have benefited greatly from each other.
Bars, shots, shout-outs, and complete songs about sneakers have influenced the style and shaped people's shopping habits worldwide. Today we celebrate genre by ranking the ten greatest sneaker references in Hip-Hop history.
10. Pound Cake/Paris Morton Music 2 - Drake featuring Jay-Z
Drake and Jay-Z are two of the most influential artists in Hip-History. The two rappers' reign spans the better part of two decades (with plenty of Kanye West connective tissue). Both have plenty of sneaker references in their discography. Still, Jay-Z's line "My eyes bloodshot but my jet don't lag. A pair of Jordan 3's tryna chase this cash" represents mixed emotions of fatigue, aspiration, and preening that is inherent in the genre.
9. Nikes on My Feet - Mac Miller
Mac Miller made his debut in 2007, but his 2010 song "Nikes on My Feet" was an earworm that served as an anthem for sneakerheads everywhere. The Pittsburgh native sampled a remix of Nas' "The World Is Yours" that provided an ultra-catchy chorus. Lines like "I got a closet filled with shoeboxes" and "Open up my closet to that new shoe smell" are feelings sneakerheads dream of experiencing one day.
8. The World is Yours - Nas
Speaking of Nas, the New York rapper has a way of remaining relevant without chasing headlines. His 1994 single "The World is Yours" topped out at 13 on the charts but is consistently ranked in the top ten greatest Hip-Hop songs of all time. The line "Suede Timb's on my feets makes my cipher complete" took Timberland boots (an NYC staple) into the mainstream.
7. Vans - The Pack
Backpack rap was at its height in 2007 when The Pack dropped "Vans." The robotic chorus, "Got my vans on, but they look like sneakers," is so melodious it almost covers up the numerous references to the skate shoe throughout the song. The Pack put out a hit at the exact right time for sneaker and skateboard culture.
6. Sicko Mode - Travis Scott featuring Drake
There is a lot to unpack from Travis Scott's 2018 hit "Sicko Mode" featuring Drake. Over the course of five minutes, listeners are blitzed with overt and subliminal references. Drake's line "checks over stripes" seems innocuous enough, but at the time, it set off a feud between him and Kanye West (not to mention loyal fanbases of the rappers and sneaker brands).
5. Buggin' Out - A Tribe Called Quest
Phife Dawg was only 5'3", but he spoke like a giant. The New York rapper blew the doors off the opening verse of A Tribe Called Quest's 1991 song "Buggin' Out." Phife Dawg's line "I sport New Balance sneakers to avoid a narrow path" made everyone want to go out and purchase the shoes from the Boston-based brand.
4. California Love - 2Pac
Before 2Pac's life was tragically cut short, the rapper/actor was an icon of the early 1990s. Arguably the west coast rapper's most popular song, "California Love," came out just a year before his murder. His line "In L.A. we wearing Chucks not Ballys" was a nod to the Converse Chuck Taylor's, which is a staple in every Californian sneakerhead's rotation.
3. My adidas - RUN DMC
RUN DMC is the granddaddies of Hip-Hop and sneaker culture. The New York rappers were trailblazers in both industries. Their partnership with adidas was solidified with the 1986 song "My adidas." It's been almost 40 years, but RUN DMC and adidas still make a mean team.
2. Air Force Ones - Nelly
I'm showing my age, but as a Millenial, it's hard to overstate the popularity of Nelly's 2002 smash hit "Air Force Ones." Over the course of five minutes, Nelly, Murphy Lee, Ali, Kyjuan, and company described the excitement of sneaker shopping for Nike's most iconic model. The Nike Air Force 1 is beloved by every generation, but Nelly's song stamped the sneaker into Hip-Hop history.
1. Facts (Charlie Heat Version) - Kanye West
2016 feels like such a long time ago for Kanye West. Sure, the controversial rapper was well-established in music and already had a robust catalog of sneakers. But the line "Yeezy just jumped over Jumpman" felt almost prophetic. Those lyrics stuck out the most during the three minutes of blistering shots fired at Drake, LeBron James, and others tied to Nike.
