Nike

**Nike, Inc.** is an American multinational corporation that is engaged in the design, development, manufacturing, and worldwide marketing and sales of footwear, apparel, equipment, accessories, and services.

## Background

In 2008, as part of the Nike+ Original Run series, A-Trak and Fiasco were enlisted for an original song, which turned out to be "Me and My Sneakers." Ultimately clearance issues kept Fiasco off the track, which resulted in Kid Cudi being the replacement. That same year, it was reported of a pair of Nike Air Force 1 iD's designed by Fiasco exclusively for his fashion line, Fallacy of Rome. Only four pairs were made available, retailing for $2000. It featured AF1 Low's, a custom shoetag 'IV,' and black and gold colorway, with primary material being patent leather.

In 2009, Fiasco participated in Nike Basketball's 2009 MVP musical comedy commercials where he performs as Blitzen, one of the reindeer who talks smack about Kris Kringle, Kobe Bryant, and James LeBron. Followed by this is a diss response from Santa Clause, which then leads to a basketball match where Kris, alongside Kobe and LeBron, annihilate the reindeer on court.

## Gallery

* Video

"AFIV""AFIV"
## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
**[1/3]**

[Intro: KRS-One]

*What up?*

[Verse: Lupe Fiasco]

*Yeah, you know who this is*

*The number one reindeer in the world, Blitzen, ya heard?*

*You know there's a lot of talk in the streets about this dude Kris Kringle*

*AKA supposed to be my boss*

*Tell him he can ball, 'cause he runnin' around with Kobe and LeBron*

*Man, that don't mean nothin'*

B to the L-I T-Z

Three suckers plus one me equals too easy

Believe me, the top of your wish list better read a chance to beat me

'Cause you never got that, and you never will

The thrill of victory is something that you'll never feel, something elves can't build

Uh, and shout-out to the workshop

You can get the first, second, and the third shot

Don't mean nothin' when the rein get to jumpin'

And the deer get to dunkin'

See the fear in your frontin'

Santa lookin' shook, Kobe lookin' shook, LeBron lookin' shook

I throw your ball on the roof

[Outro: Commentator/DJ]

Kobe, LeBron, y'all hearing this man!

Blitzen talking mad stuff

It's about to go down, baby

**[2/3]**

[Intro: Lupe Fiasco]

I hope you're all ready to get served

'Cause beating Blitzen is gonna take a miracle

And last time I checked, this wasn't 34th street

[Verse: KRS-One]

Yo

How you callin' me an old-timer

An old rhymer when I'm gettin' it in, in 09-some

Y'all got issues and I'm not a subscriber

You the reindeer, I'm the driver

Kris Kringle, the gift's in my saliva

I got every address in the hood, I'll find ya

Y'all dudes are minor

Kris Kringle is major

It's a good thing it's Christmas, you're gonna need a savior

You ain't even \*\*\*\* your nose is black

And that last rhyme you kicked, you know is wack

I'll be flying around the hood crusin' fast

My sleigh be moving snow, you eatin' grass

Think fast, stay in line, you know me well

Keep talkin', I'mma ring your jingle bell

I got work to do, I can't flirt with you

Kris Kringle, I'm out!

[Outro: Commentator/DJ]

Kobe, LeBron, Kris Kringle, Blitzen and the Hoof Gang

It's going down, man

**[3/3]**

[Verse 1: KRS-One, *Lupe Fiasco*]

1, 2, 1, 2

King James and Kobe too

Yeah, it was the day before Christmas day

I just put brand new rims on my sleigh

Been in the kitchen, cookin', eggs and hash

I got a call from Blitzen, talkin' some trash sayin'—

*Old Saint Nicky, don't you see?*

*You and your boys, you'll never beat me*

*So you can tell Kobe and tell LeBron*

*That they can meet me on the court, it'll be o-o-on*

[Verse 2: KRS-One, *Kobe*, **LeBron**]

Now Blitz eyes really like put 'em up

It ain't take long for Kobe to shut him up

*Alright Blitz, the game is to ten*

*LeBron check it up, show him how we get it in*

Now he all nervous, tension brewin'

Vixen was tryna talk some sense into him

LeBron threw the ball and began to giggle, like—

**Look at this reindeer! He can barely dribble**

*Come on 'Bron, show some respect*

*He got hooves, not hands, what the heck you expect?*

Kobe stole the ball and crossed them up

Ran around his back, tossed it up

Vixen cryin' to Blitz like—

"Oh no, LeBron took one from behind the free throw"

LeBron rose up, looked at him again, said—

**"Merry Christmas Blitz!"**

And shattered the rim

[Outro]

The game is over, the game is over

The game is over, the game is over

Hey, hey!

Dunkin' on the reindeer, dunkin' on the reindeer

Dunk-dunk-dunk-dunkin' on the reindeer

The game is over, the game is over

Where am I!

The game is over, the game is over

Hey, hey!

Dunkin' on the reindeer, dunkin' on the reindeer

Dunk-dunk-dunk-dunkin' on the reindeer

Merry Christmas kids, and just so you know, no reindeer were harmed in the making of this video

But they were dunked though

Yeah, in the words of the reindeer— *euggh*!

And we out!

## References

1. ↑ Howe, Brian (July 2, 2008). "Running Man: Nike+ Original Run". *Pitchfork*.
2. ↑ "Fall of Rome x Nike Air Force 1 Lows "AFIV"". *Hypebeast*. June 23, 2008.
3. ↑ Chang, Emily (December 21, 2009). "Nike Basketball - MVPuppets: Blitzen Raps (Featuring Lupe Fiasco) | Video". *Freshness Mag*.
4. ↑ "Blitzen Talks Trash to LeBron, Kobe and Santa, Gets Dunked On". *Animal New York*. December 24, 2009. Archived from the original on December 24, 2009.