Sneaker culture is not just about footwear. To insiders and enthusiasts alike, it represents a unique fusion of style, sports, music, and socio-cultural symbolism. No phrase perhaps encapsulates this amalgamation better than “checks over stripes”. This term, popularized by Canadian rap superstar Drake in his collaboration with Travis Scott on “Sicko Mode,” has served as a cultural catalyst, sparking conversations about brand loyalty, rap rivalries, and the intersection of street credibility and financial success.
Drake’s line, “Checks over stripes, that’s what I like,” ignited a brand war and was a clear acknowledgment of the ongoing rivalry between sportswear behemoths, Nike and Adidas. The “checks” symbolize Nike’s iconic swoosh, while the “stripes” represent Adidas’ distinguished three-stripe logo. At that time, Drake, holding a substantial endorsement deal with Nike, expressed a clear preference for his chosen brand over Adidas.
Travis Scott’s Viral Reaction to Checks Over Stripes
Adding another layer to the “checks over stripes” narrative, Complex released a clip from a Netflix documentary revealing Travis Scott hearing Drake’s contribution for the first time. Scott, plugged into his iPhone speakers, bubbles over with anticipation as Drake’s verse plays. His reaction is priceless as the now-infamous “checks over stripes” line hits the airwaves.
“Checks over stripes!” he shouts with contagious excitement. “We back! We back! Let’s get it!” Scott then proceeds to dart around his kitchen, jumping with sheer joy. This moment, captured for posterity, offers an authentic look into the immediate impact of the verse, as seen through the eyes of a fellow artist and sneaker culture enthusiast. Scott’s response further solidified the phrase’s significant place in cultural dialogues and fan reactions across the globe.
Checks, Stripes, and Rap Rivalries: The Nike-Adidas Saga and Beyond
The logo of Nike is a checkmark, while Adidas’ features three parallel stripes. Both Drake and Travis Scott have released sneaker collaborations under the Nike and Jordan brand umbrellas.
In early 2018, the rumblings began that Drake’s brand allegiance had shifted from Nike to Adidas. It was suspected he had an upcoming Adidas collection waiting to be unveiled. However, the course of this collection dramatically changed after the release of Pusha-T’s diss track “The Story of Adidon” in May. The track revealed Drake’s plans to introduce his son Adonis to the world with the “Adidon” collection. Merely a month later, Drake was spotted celebrating the release of ‘Scorpion’ in a Nike tracksuit, suggesting a rekindling of his relationship with the sportswear giant.
“Checks over stripes” may also imply the prioritization of wealth, represented by checks, over street credibility or “earning one’s stripes”. This could be interpreted as a subliminal diss towards Pusha T, who spoke about “earning stripes” in his song “If You Know You Know”:
“Where were you when Big Meech brought the tigers in? ‘Cause I was busy earnin’ stripes like a tiger’s skin”
Kanye West picked up on this line and in a December 2018 Twitter rant, pointed it out as a veiled jab at him. Drake confirmed this interpretation in his December 2019 Rap Radar interview. Thus, while the “checks over stripes” line became a potent symbol of brand rivalry, it also carried implications about priorities, allegiances, and rivalries within the rap community.
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