Vans (song)

"Vans"
Single by the Pack
from the EP Skateboards 2 Scrapers
ReleasedSeptember 12, 2006
Genre
Length4:15
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Young L
The Pack singles chronology
"Vans"
(2006) 		"I'm Shinin'"
(2006)
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

  1. ^ a b Liu, Marian (May 10, 2007). "Running with the Pack". The Mercury News. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Berkeley's The Pack Mellows Hyphy into "Based"". SF Weekly. October 17, 2007. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  3. ^ "The Pack - Vans (Music Video)". Hypebeast. August 10, 2006. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  4. ^ "The Pack's Video for "Vans" Banned". Rap-Up. August 15, 2006. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  5. ^ "The Pack's "Vans" Banned From MTV". Music Filter. 2007. Retrieved 2008-08-24.
  6. ^ "Vans - EP". Apple Music. September 12, 2006. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  7. ^ Best Songs of 2006, Rolling Stone, retrieved on 2024-03-16
  8. ^ "Skateboards 2 Scrapers". Apple Music. December 5, 2006. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Lil Wayne - Vans (Freestyle)". YouTube. April 23, 2007. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  10. ^ "Billboard Hot 100: Week of September 16, 2006". Billboard. Retrieved March 16, 2024.