Nikes
Frank Ocean * Track #1 On Blonde
Download "Nikes"
Album Blonde
- #1Nikes
Frank Ocean
- #2Ivy
Frank Ocean
- #3Pink + White
Frank Ocean
- #4Be Yourself
Frank Ocean
- #5Solo
Frank Ocean
- #6Skyline To
Frank Ocean
- #7Self Control
Frank Ocean
- #8Good Guy
Frank Ocean
- #9Nights
Frank Ocean
- #10Solo (Reprise)
Frank Ocean
- #11Pretty Sweet
Frank Ocean
- #12Facebook Story
Frank Ocean
- #13Close to You
Frank Ocean
- #14White Ferrari
Frank Ocean
- #15Seigfried
Frank Ocean
- #16Godspeed
Frank Ocean
- #17Futura Free
Frank Ocean
Nikes by Frank Ocean
Release Date
Performed by
Frank OceanWrited by
Frank OceanAbout
“Nikes” is a critique of the trappings of materialistic hedonism, with a frequent mention of Nike shoes, shiny gold and glitter, and fantasies of pleasure. The music video version features two competing voices (the album version does not), adding a sense of tension and conflict to the otherwise drea...
Nikes Lyrics
[Verse 1: Frank Ocean]
These bitches want Nikes
They looking for a check
Tell 'em it ain't likely
Said she need a ring like Carmelo
You must be on that white like Othello
All you want is Nikes, but the real ones
Just like you, just like me
I don't play, I don't make time
But if you need dick, I got you
And I yam from the line
Pour up for A$AP, R.I.P. Pimp C
R.I.P. Trayvon, that nigga look just like me
Woo, fuckin' buzzin', woo
That my little cousin, he got a little trade
His girl keep the scales, a little mermaid
We out by the pool, some little mermaids
Me and them gel like twigs with them bangs
Now that's a real mermaid
You been holding your breath, weighted down
Punk madre, punk papá
He don't care for me, but he cares for me
And that's good enough
We don't talk much or nothin'
But when we talkin' 'bout somethin'
We have good discussion
I met his friends last week
Feels like they're up to somethin'
That's good for us
[Verse 2: Frank Ocean]
We'll let you guys prophesy
We'll let you guys prophesy
We gon' see the future first
We'll let you guys prophesy
We gon' see the future first
Living so the last night feels like a past life
Speaking of the don't know what got into people
Devil be possessin' homies
Demons try to body-jump
Why you think I'm in this bitch wearing a fucking yarmulke?
Acid on me like the rain
Weed crumbles into glitter
Rain, glitter
We laid out on this wet floor
Away turf, no Astro
Mesmerized how the strobes glow
Look at all the people feet dance
I know that your nigga came witcha
But he ain't witcha
We only human and it's humid in these Balmains
I mean my balls sticking to my jeans
We breathin' pheromones, Amber Rose
Sippin' pink-gold lemonades
Feelin'
[Bridge: Frank Ocean]
I may be younger, but I'll look after you
We're not in love, but I'll make love to you
When you're not here, I'll save some for you
I'm not him, but I'll mean something to you
I'll mean something to you
I'll mean something to you
You got a roommate, he'll hear what we do
It's only awkward if you're fucking him too
[Verse 3: KOHH]
Nikes Q&A
Who wrote Nikes's ?
Nikes was written by Frank Ocean.
Who produced Nikes's ?
Nikes was produced by Frank Ocean & Malay & Om’Mas Keith.
When did Frank Ocean release Nikes?
Frank Ocean released Nikes on Sat Aug 20 2016.
Where was "Nikes" released?
The song was released on Apple Music’s Connect.
Why are there two different voices throughout the song?
At the beginning of the song, Frank says he has two versions. This could mean that there’s two versions to the story, one told by the higher-pitched voices, and one told by the lower-pitched voice. You can read more in this annotation.
Also, in the album version of this song, the lower-pitched voic...
Is there a second version of the song featuring Japanese rapper KOHH?
Yes—the version featuring KOHH was released on the CD found in the magazine. The lyrics to his verse, as taken from the Boys Don’t Cry magazine.
What do Nike shoes represent in this song?
Nikes represent being basic, or just following trends and having no unique style of your own.
Which Nike shoes does Frank wear in the video?
Frank wears the Nike Decades, famously worn by the Heaven’s Gate cult during their suicide pact. Frank recreates their uniform during the video.
Does anyone have the full script of the background voice from the vid is saying?
You can find that on this song page, transcribed from the video.
Why is the pitch changed in the first half?
The pitch is higher in the first verse because it is meant to sound fake or synthetic. This has to do with the song’s theme of materialism. In the second verse, the tone of shifts back to “reality,” as do the lyrics.
Is there a music video?
Yes, it was released exclusively on Apple Music on August 20th, 2016. It features a cameo from rapper A$AP Rocky.
In an interview with Fader, the director of the video Tyrone Lebon said:
I interpreted the song as a stream of Frank’s consciousness – rich with snippets of stories, emotions and ideas...
How did this track do amongst critics?
Pitchfork ranked it number 25 on their 100 best songs of 2016 list, saying:
Blonde opener “Nikes” encapsulates everything Ocean has been to us in his career: moody, elusive, mysterious, heartwarming. Pitched to a nearly chipmunk falsetto, the singer looks at himself and his environment, wondering w...
How did the track do on the charts?
“Nikes” debuted at #79 on the Billboard Hot 100 on the chart week of September 10, 2016.
Unused Single Artwork
At some point before the release of Blonde in August 2016, Frank Ocean commissioned London-based type designer Kia Tasbihgou to create artwork for a series of singles, including the songs “Nikes,” “White Ferrari,” “Ivy,” “Nights,” “Self Control,” and “Both Sides” (likely an early name for “Chanel,”...