Nelly rapped “I would like two pair” in his 2002 hit Air Force Ones, which declared his love for the classic Nike shoe. Now nearly 20 years later it’s being reported that he believes his song is the rationale for significant uptick in popularity and price of the classic piece of footwear.

“Everybody that got Nike shoe deals should be thanking us straight away,” he said in an interview with Complex’s Sneaker Shopping series. “We opened Nike’s eyes to numerous that. At the moment, they weren’t doing it. They were principally on some ‘they’re gon’ win regardless.’”

For a long time, the Air Force One was the signature shoe for the rapper, and even snagged the brand as a reputation sponsor for his Nellyville Tour.

The Air Force 1 Low was released in mid to late-90s and for years was priced at around $60, Complex points out. Now they sit at $110/pair. Nelly is saying it’s due to his influence.

“Once we first began rocking Air Force Ones, they were $59.99. We did the song. Eight months later, they were $100 […] and we ain’t get no residuals.”

This isn’t an atypical grievance from the Black community.

Among the many tens of millions of self-professed Black consumers are the important thing drivers of revenue throughout the $70 billion industry as of 2020, in keeping with the market research company Statista.

What’s much more concerning, only 5 percent of sneaker retailers in America are Black.

“It’s a white boys’ club, like most things,” said James Whitner, in an interview with CNBC. “There are people aware of it, but their privilege doesn’t force them to should change it.”

He added: “My saving grace was I had a superb ecosystem of a number of Black individuals who taught me the ropes. But on the opposite side are white gatekeepers who’re keeping us out. Changing it’s a person alternative, especially for white Americans because they’re a part of a system that has been created to maintain us out.”