Kanye will not be pleased! Drake finds himself in the firing line of hotheaded West as he signs on to be spokesperson for Nike after Yeezus star severs ties with company

By Daily Mail Reporter

PUBLISHED: 10:52 EST, 5 December 2013 | UPDATED: 12:29 EST, 5 December 2013


He propelled himself into a six minute onstage rant at the end of the last month, blasting Nike after severing ties with the company when they failed to offer him royalties on his Air Yeezy shoe.

And it may well be that fellow rapper Drake is next to find himself in Kanye West's firing line.

For the Take Care singer has now become the sports apparel company's new rapper du jour after signing on to become a spokesperson for their Air Jordan range. 

Ready for a rant? Drake has become Nike's new spokesperson after Kanye West recently severed ties with the sports apparel company
Ready for a rant? Drake has become Nike's new spokesperson after Kanye West recently severed ties with the sports apparel company

Ready for a rant? Drake has become Nike's new spokesperson after Kanye West recently severed ties with the sports apparel company

Drake proudly announced that he had partnered up with Nike and former basketballer Michael Jordan during his concert in Portland on Wednesday night.

The company's headquarters are located in the Oregon city, and the 27-year-old thought it was fitting to share his happy news at the show.

And he's certainly thrilled, calling Wednesday one of the 'best days of his life.'

'Today I came to Portland, and I officially became inducted into the Team Jordan family,' he excitedly told the crowd.

Big announcement: Drake made the big announcement about the deal onstage during his concert in Portland, Oregon on Wednesday night

Big announcement: Drake made the big announcement about the deal onstage during his concert in Portland, Oregon on Wednesday night

He followed up the announcement by posting a picture of his collection of special OVO Air Jordans on his Instagram page.

The new deal with Drake comes after Kanye severed ties with Nike earlier this year after designing a range of Air Yeezy sneakers for them, launching the first pair in 2009.

But he recently became irate when he discovered that Eminem and Pharrell Williams were also designing kicks for the company as well.

When Nike proposed a new partnership with Kanye, the rapper insisted on royalties, however he was promptly informed that the company only give them to professional athletes, such as Jordan.

Kanye, of course, fired back, ranting: 'I'll go to Madison Square Garden and play one-on-no-one! I'm a performance athlete.'

Shoe wars: Drake is pictured wearing Nike shoes back in 2009; Kanye collaborated with Nike on his Air Yeezys, releasing the first pair in 2009
Shoe wars: Drake is pictured wearing Nike shoes back in 2009; Kanye collaborated with Nike on his Air Yeezys, releasing the first pair in 2009

Shoe wars: Drake is pictured wearing Nike shoes back in 2009; Kanye collaborated with Nike on his Air Yeezys, releasing the first pair in 2009

He once again let his feelings known about the failed partnership just days ago.

The rapper spent more than six minutes talking and singing about the company during his Yeezus Tour stop at the Bridgestone arena in Nashville, Tennessee.

Taking on the role of a preacher, Kanye talked to the crowd about following a dream, creativity and culture, alluding to the media and corporations who he feels have tried to keep him from expressing himself fully.

He then started to leave the stage, but returned to launch into a long discussion that was alternately esoteric, comic and emotional.

'Do you know who the head of Nike is?' Kanye asked the crowd as he prowled back on forth on an arrowhead-shaped stage in a white mask.

'No, well let me tell you who he is: His name is Mark Parker, and he just lost culture. Everyone at Nike, everyone at Nike, Mark Parker just let go of culture.'

Kanye has said in interviews recently that he's now partnering with Adidas after several years working with Nike.

His deal with Adidas is said to be worth $10 million.

Proud: Drake followed up his announcement by posting a picture of his collection of special OVO Air Jordans on his Instagram page

Proud: Drake followed up his announcement by posting a picture of his collection of special OVO Air Jordans on his Instagram page

He recently said during interviews at being categorised as just a musician, and told the crowd he has the Internet and the stage from which he can speak directly to his fans.

'I'm talking directly to you. No miscommunication,' he said.

'Did you not want the Yeezys? Nike would make you believe it was my fault that you couldn't get them, but that was not the case. I wanted there to be as many Yeezys as there was LeBrons, and I wanted them to be at a good price, but that was not my choice, and we're going to change everything. And ... I'm going to create more than you think that any musician in the history of time ever could have.'

Kanye also put his displeasure into song to the delight of the crowd, noting with the help of Auto Tune and piano in the background that even though Nike wouldn't take his call, other forward-thinking companies will.

'I talked to the head of Disney today,' Kanye sang.

'And I talked to the head of Louis Vuitton today. I swear to God on my life, I talked to them both today. I swear to God I talked to them both, and they wished me a Happy Thanksgiving. I said, "I want to talk about something that isn't turkey day. I want to talk about something different. I want to talk about dreaming."'

Onstage rant: Kanye propelled himself into a six minute onstage rant at the end of the last month, blasting Nike after severing ties with the company when they failed to offer him enough royalties on his Air Yeezy shoe

Onstage rant: Kanye propelled himself into a six minute onstage rant at the end of the last month, blasting Nike after severing ties with the company when they failed to offer him enough royalties on his Air Yeezy shoe

 



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Kanye looks increasingly like an fly waiting for the windshield on a freeway

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DM were making out like he got dropped but he dropped them so why he going to mad..DM is pathetic!

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DM need stop trying to make a story who ever gets mad at a replacement whether it is being a judge on a show, being a presenter etc..you can't be mad at the person replacing you, you should be mad at the company who decided to replace you! but anyway Kanye did this to himself, what he thought Kim would help his career she has ruined it I just saw he only sold 4,500 tickets for a concert when the show should of held 19,000 people..Kim ruins all mens careers#fact..just ask her ex husbands!

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Kanye? Hot-headed? Do me a favour! More like big-headed.

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I think its ok that kanye has opinions & voices them. history usually speaks fondly of people like that but if its all for personal gain, he will be viewed in history as a foolish individual who ruined a great career.. it will be up to the public whether they continue to follow him. I bought one of his CD's some years ago when it was up against 50 cents. I thought 50 was so negative & always throwing people under the bus so I wanted to pick what seemed to be the more positive...I wouldn't accept a kanye cd now if it were free.,,not b/c he has opinions but bc he seems completely self serving & b/c he's shoving kim kardashian further down our throats.

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"Kanye talked to the crowd about...alluding to the media and corporations who he feels have tried to keep him from expressing himself fully." Talk about biting the hand that feeds you. He wasn't complaining when they were handing him the big bucks did he..

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See, he told the WORLD last week he was the new NIKE BOY, well BOY....shot down again...

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Drake is the real deal... Unlike Kanye the self proclaimed prophet wannabe, he is a disgusting human being!

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Everyone should do a katie hopkins on Kanye and hopefully have him banned from everything. The man really needs taken down a peg or 50

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Kanye as some type of "spokes"person is like having Kim promote virtue, or modesty, or selfless acts, or choosing good men, or nurturing.....or skinny jeans. FOR GOSH SAKES!

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