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Air Force Ones

Date: Feb 10 2003

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

Cool shoes are an essential part of a cool wardrobe. In fact, cool shoes are so important that the famous rapper Nelly wrote a song about them. “Air Force Ones” is a song about Nike Air Force Ones, which are extremely popular with hip-hop musicians and athletes.
Nike Air Force Ones are basketball shoes that were originally released in the 1980’s, but have since become popular again. Retro clothes and shoes are hot right now, so people are wearing old athletic shoes and old sports jerseys from the 70’s and 80’s.
In “Air Force Ones” Nelly and his crew rap about the way they like to wear their shoes. Read on to learn more.

Dialog

1. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Nelly performs “Air Force Ones” with several of his friends. Each of them describes the style and color of Air Force Ones he thinks is the best. For example, Murpy Lee says:
We up in Foot Locker I’m looking like I need those
Ten and a half and if you got ‘em give me two of those
I can tell she never seen Murphy Lee befo’
‘Cause she’s just standin’ there as if I’m shootin free throws
I said excuse me Miss I only wanna buy shoes
She said I love you Murph, especially in the white in blue
I said the white in blue sound nice, make it twice
and I signed an autograph
“Thanks for the advice”
Then, the chorus goes:
I said give me two pair
‘Cause I need two pair
So I can get to stompin in my Air Force Ones
Stompin in my Air Force Ones

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Discussion

It’s rare that a hit song is about shoes. Popular songs are most often about love, pain associated with love, or looking for love. Nelly changes things up a bit with “Air Force Ones.” He and his pals have fun rapping about their favorite shoes. I dig the song. It’s got a catchy beat and a sing along chorus, so it’s fun to listen to.
If you’re a fan of hip-hop, you’ll definitely like “Air Force Ones.” Check it out!
Rock on,
Migs