Nikes (song)

Last updated

"Nikes"
Single by Frank Ocean
from the album Blonde
ReleasedAugust 20, 2016 (2016-08-20)
Studio Abbey Road Studios (London)
Genre
Length5:14
Label Boys Don't Cry
Songwriters
Producers
Frank Ocean singles chronology
"Super Rich Kids"
(2013)		"Nikes"
(2016)		"Slide"
(2017)
Music video
"Nikes" on Apple Music

"Nikes" is a song recorded by American singer Frank Ocean. It was released on August 20, 2016, as the lead single from his second studio album, Blonde (2016), accompanied by a music video directed by Tyrone Lebon, exclusive to Apple Music. [2] It is Ocean's first single since "Super Rich Kids", which was released in 2013. [3] Ocean wrote the song with James Blake, producing it alongside Malay Ho and Om'Mas Keith. [4] [5] Former Dirty Projectors vocalist Amber Coffman contributed additional vocals. [6] An extended version of the song featuring Japanese rapper Kohh was included on the physical CD release of Blonde. [7]

Contents

Critical reception

"Nikes" is a futuristic R&B song. [8]

Billboard ranked "Nikes" at number 28 on their "100 Best Pop Songs of 2016" list: "As the first song on the most highly-anticipated album since D'Angelo re-emerged with Black Messiah , "Nikes" was always going to be heavily scrutinized—but as a re-introduction, it worked brilliantly. Its first three minutes are delivered in a pitched-up approximation of a child's voice, picking apart the hidden motives behind the wants and desires of his subject with a sweetly-concealed irony, as a musical dreamscape gently glides underneath. It serves almost as a lullaby of sorts—which makes the transition to his "real" voice, arriving suddenly for the second verse, that much more effective. "Nikes" proved that Frank Ocean was back, and with a whole new set of emotions to get off his chest." [9]

Pitchfork listed "Nikes" on their ranking of the 100 best songs of 2016 at number 25. [10]

Music video

The music video was released exclusively on Apple Music on August 20, 2016. [11] It explores the concept of duality. Ocean's winged eye shadow evokes a queer aesthetic while the cars symbolize masculinity. [12] [13] While talking about the video in an interview with The Fader , director Tyrone Lebon said; "The visuals came immediately when I first heard the song - they all follow from the music and Frank's lyrics." [14] The video features a cameo appearance from American rapper ASAP Rocky holding a picture of the late ASAP Yams. [15] It also pays tribute to Pimp C and Trayvon Martin. [15] NPR named it as one of the best music videos of 2016. [16]

Personnel

Charts

Chart (2016)Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [17] 77
New Zealand Heatseekers (Recorded Music NZ) [18] 3
UK Singles (OCC) [19] 93
US Billboard Hot 100 [20] 79
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [21] 27

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [22] Gold45,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ) [23] Platinum30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) [24] Gold400,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

RegionDateFormatLabelRef.
VariousAugust 20, 2016 Digital download Boys Don't Cry [15]

References

  1. ↑ "New Music". The Drainage. Archived from the original on October 3, 2016. Retrieved September 29, 2016.
  2. ↑ King, Jason (August 22, 2016). "Detangling Frank Ocean's 'Blonde': What It Is And Isn't". NPR. Archived from the original on December 14, 2016. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  3. ↑ "R.Kelly & Justin Bieber Hang Out Like Besties + Prince Drops New Music "Screwdriver" + Frank Ocean's Next Single "Super Rich Kids"". Archived from the original on March 9, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  4. ↑ "BMI Songview". BMI. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Here Are the Full Credits for Frank Ocean's 'Blonde'". Complex. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  6. ↑ Snapes, Laura (June 2, 2017). "Amber Coffman on life after Dirty Projectors: 'Being on my own was pretty heavy'". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077. Archived from the original on August 19, 2018. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  7. ↑ Kim, Michelle (July 30, 2016). "Meet KOHH, The Japanese Rapper Featured On The Extended Cut Of Frank Ocean's "Nikes"". The Fader. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  8. ↑ "The 250 Greatest Albums of the 21st Century So Far". Rolling Stone . January 10, 2025. Archived from the original on January 10, 2025. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Billboard's 100 Best Pop Songs of 2016: Critics' Picks". Billboard. December 25, 2016. Archived from the original on December 13, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  10. ↑ "The 100 Best Songs of 2016". Pitchfork Media. December 12, 2016. Archived from the original on December 13, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Watch "Nikes" posted by Frank Ocean on Apple Music. - iTunes - Apple". iTunes . Archived from the original on August 20, 2016. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  12. ↑ Mikelle Street (August 20, 2016). "A Breakdown of the Powerful Cultural References in Frank Ocean's "Nikes"". Complex. Archived from the original on March 1, 2018. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Frank Ocean and the cars of Blonde". The Verge . August 25, 2016. Archived from the original on June 2, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Meet Tyrone Lebon, The Director Behind Frank Ocean's "Nikes" Video". The Fader . August 20, 2016. Archived from the original on July 10, 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
  15. 1 2 3 "Watch Frank Ocean's Astounding 'Nikes' Video". Rolling Stone . August 20, 2016. Archived from the original on October 14, 2017. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
  16. ↑ "Best Music Videos Of 2016". NPR . December 20, 2016. Archived from the original on October 14, 2017. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
  17. ↑ "Frank Ocean Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
  18. ↑ "NZ Heatseeker Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. August 29, 2016. Archived from the original on September 23, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  20. ↑ "Frank Ocean Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Frank Ocean Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
  22. ↑ "Danish single certifications – Frank Ocean – Nikes". IFPI Danmark . Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  23. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Frank Ocean – Nikes". Radioscope. Retrieved December 15, 2025.Type Nikes in the "Search:" fieldand press Enter.
  24. ↑ "British single certifications – Frank Ocean – Nikes". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved August 2, 2025.
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