| "Vans" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by The Pack | ||||
| from the EP Skateboards 2 Scrapers | ||||
| Released | September 12, 2006 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:15 | |||
| Label |
| |||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) | Young L | |||
| The Pack singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Vans (Main Version)" on YouTube | ||||
"Vans" is the debut single by American hip hop group The Pack, released in 2006 as the lead single from their EP Skateboards 2 Scrapers (2006). It is their most successful song, peaking at number 58 on the Billboard Hot 100. The title references the skate shoe brand of the same name.
Background
Young L created the beat for the song in five minutes. When Lil B heard the beat, he blurted out the lyrics that would become the chorus: "Got my Vans on but they look like sneakers." [1] The Pack first released the song on their MySpace page. [2] It became a surprise hit for them and caught the attention of rapper Too Short, who then signed the Pack to his Up All Nite label. [1] [2]
A music video for the song was released in August 2006 [3] and aired on BET, but MTV and MTV Jams refused to show the video because it promoted a consumer product. However, MTV aired an edited version of the video, in which the word "Vans" was censored throughout the song. [4] [5] The song was released to streaming services on September 12, 2006. [6]
Critical reception
The song was placed at number 5 on Rolling Stone's "Best Songs of 2006" list. [7]
Remixes
An official remix of the song featuring Too Short and rapper Mistah F.A.B. was released from Skateboards 2 Scrapers. [8] Rapper Lil Wayne also released a freestyle to the song. [9]
Charts
| Chart (2006) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 [10] | 58 |
References
- ^ a b Liu, Marian (May 10, 2007). "Running with the Pack". The Mercury News. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ a b "Berkeley's The Pack Mellows Hyphy into "Based"". SF Weekly. October 17, 2007. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ "The Pack - Vans (Music Video)". Hypebeast. August 10, 2006. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ "The Pack's Video for "Vans" Banned". Rap-Up. August 15, 2006. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ "The Pack's "Vans" Banned From MTV". Music Filter. 2007. Retrieved 2008-08-24.
- ^ "Vans - EP". Apple Music. September 12, 2006. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ Best Songs of 2006, Rolling Stone, retrieved on 2024-03-16
- ^ "Skateboards 2 Scrapers". Apple Music. December 5, 2006. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ "Lil Wayne - Vans (Freestyle)". YouTube. April 23, 2007. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ "Billboard Hot 100: Week of September 16, 2006". Billboard. Retrieved March 16, 2024.