Entertainment
Nike Taps RZA as part of the Wu-Tang Clan Dunk High re-release
To rejoice the twenty fifth anniversary of the 1999 release of the Wu-Tang Clan Dunk High, Nike enlisted Wu-Tang founder and producer RZA will star in a brand new Nike industrial narrated by member Raekwon celebrating the official return of kicks.
“The Hive” features RZA performing his duties as a beekeeper, while Raekwon talks about the importance of bees in our natural environment.
“The ancient Egyptians believed that bees were servants of the gods and carved beekeeping instructions in the chambers of the pyramids,” Raekwon says in Latin announcing the presence of a killer bee. “A single bee couldn’t survive without a hive, just as humanity couldn’t survive without bees.”
“We are all connected to the same chain,” Raekwon continues. “The black and yellow patterns serve as a warning to any predator that they are not to be fucked with.”
As RZA shows off his recent, revamped sneakers, New York Knicks starters Josh Hart, Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges also appear, watching the hip-hop legend from afar through binoculars. RZA then takes off his beekeeper hat to look directly into the camera and remind the world that it’s “Wu-Tang Forever” as bees create the group’s iconic yellow and black logo in the sky.
The ad draws inspiration from the Wu-Tang Clan’s nickname “Killa Bees” and the group’s quite a few nods to killer bees of their music. Nike senior global creative director Kimou Meyer got here up with the idea to include this iconic motif into the spot, and director Ben Solomon brought that vision to life with the final concept titled “The Hive.”
“We all knew we wanted to create something that was true to the language, energy and culture of Nike and Wu-Tang Clan, but without feeling retro” – Solomon he said .
The original sneakers paid homage to Wu-Tang’s 1993 debut album, releasing only 36 pairs that were gifted to the group’s members, their relations and several other Nike employees. Now the re-release is out there on the Nike SNKRS app and retails for $150.