Wale has shared a preview of new song “Ghetto Speak” as part of his long-awaited collaboration with Nike.
The Washington, D.C. rapper, who famously professed his love of the brand on 2008’s “Nike Boots,” is the face of the sportswear giant’s DMV Cherry Blossom Foamposite One campaign.
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As well as starring in the commercial for the sneaker, Wale soundtracks it with a snippet of a never-before-heard song called “Ghetto Speak,” which is an ode to his hometown.
On the track, he raps: “From a land that far too well comprehends universal madness / Not too far from the symbolic architecture that masks it / But all is fair, I guess / ‘Cause broken glass, cherry blossoms, them bullet fragments don’t look as fantastic on the pamphlet.”
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The ad also features a cameo appearance from local underground legend Big Lordy.
It is not known if “Ghetto Speak” will receive a commercial release or was made exclusively for the campaign.
Wale is known for his enormous collection of Nike sneakers and has spoken openly in the past about wanting to collaborate with the iconic sportswear brand.
During an Instagram Live in 2018, Wale said while holding a Nike Air Mag and using it as a phone: “When is Nike going to play fair, man? Just call me. Hello? They ain’t on the phone, they givin’ everybody else deals and shit.”
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The “Lotus Flower Bomb” lyricist isn’t the only Hip Hop star looking to get into bed with Nike, with Wu-Tang Clan recently teasing the return of a fan-favorite sneaker.
In late June, the athletic company shared a joint post with the seminal rap group’s Instagram that showed a swarm of bees gathered around a hi-top shoe.
While the Nike check was partially covered by the insects, the Wu’s signature black and yellow were clearly visible.
According to Footwear News, the post teased the return of the “Wu-Tang” Nike High Dunks, which originally hit shelves in 1999.
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The rare kicks were a redesign of a University of Iowa-colored version of the shoes, to which the Wu’s logo was added to the tongue and heel.
The original release only saw a total of 100 pairs made available to the public. However, the collaboration has become such a legendary moment that fans even created the narrative that only 36 “Wu-Tang” Nike High Dunks were ever made, as an ode to their classic debut album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers).
