BEAVERTON, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr. 27, 2009-- From Nike (NYSE:NKE), the world's leading sports brand, comes an exclusive release by De La Soul, one of the most influential hip hop bands of the last two decades. Commemorating the 20th Anniversary of 3 Feet High and Rising, De La Soul’s groundbreaking debut record, ARE YOU IN?: Nike+ Original Run is the groups’ first-released original material in five-years. The record is only available through iTunes, and is part of a continuing series of releases through the "Nike+ Sport Music" section of the store.

With additional production by Chicago-based DJ/Production-duo Flosstradamus, ARE YOU IN?: Nike+ Original Run is a unique album written specifically for runners, but its allure extends to all music fans. Posdnuos of De La Soul explains, “When we first heard about this project we were psyched on the challenge. We pride ourselves on being able to get bodies moving, so it was cool to do it with a specific goal in mind – giving runners the sonic fuel to clock some miles.”

ARE YOU IN?: Nike+ Original Run is a continuous full-length body of music that reflects the arc a runner experiences during a run. Commissioned by Nike, this is the fifth release in the Nike+ Original Run series following releases by artists such as A-Trak, Aesop Rock, LCD Soundsystem and Crystal Method.

The release also features cover artwork by famed designer Joe Buckingham and an exclusive single.

Runners and fans alike can buy De La Soul’s ARE YOU IN?: Nike+ Original Run at the Apple iTunes Music Store for $9.99. Download the album April 28^th at: www.itunes.com/nikedelasoul.

About Nike + iPod

Nike + iPod now provides motivation to runners in 180 countries around the world. The Nike + iPod Sport Kit allows Nike+ Running shoes to talk wirelessly to an iPod^® nano or an iPod^® touch. Information on time, distance, pace and calories burned is displayed on the nano or touch and can be easily stored on www.nikeplus.com. Runners can also stay motivated by setting goals, challenging others to virtual races or to reach specific goals, connecting with friends, and using the Nike+ Coach features on www.nikeplus.com.

As of January 2009, Nike+ members have logged more than 100 million miles, the equivalent of 200 trips to the moon. Since launch in July 2006 over 900,000 challenges (908,935 and counting) have been created, more than 1.7 million goals (1,732,653 and counting) have been created, and more than 140,000 training programs (141,819 and counting) have been launched on www.nikeplus.com.

About Nike SportMusic

Launched on June 29, 2006 by Nike, the Nike SportMusic store on iTunes is the definitive source of musical inspiration and audio coaching for athletes. It’s more than music. Nike + iPod Coaching Workouts feature star athletes like Lance Armstrong, Serena Williams, and artists like OKGO guiding you through a run or an exercise session while engineered PowerSongs rev you up. De La Soul’s ARE YOU IN?: Nike+ Original Run is the fifth release in the Original Run series, which includes exclusive workout albums by A-Trak, Aesop Rock, LCD Soundsystem and Crystal Method.

About The Artists

Posdnuos, Trugoy the Dove and Maseo formed De La Soul in the late 80s while still in high school. The band's debut album, 3 Feet High and Rising, was released in the spring of 1989 and garnered commercial and critical success, showcasing their unique lyrical style and writing with the sounds of funk, soul, pop, jazz, reggae, and psychedelia. Today De La Soul remains one of the most influential hip-hop groups of the past 20 years.

Flosstradamus, the oft-mentioned Chicago DJ duo comprised of J2K (Josh Young) and Autobot (Curt Cameruci) have been dominating the party scene nationwide with their tag-team DJ sets (3 turntables, 2 mixers) since 2005. Gathering vast influences from their respective backgrounds in punk and hip-hop, Flosstradamus have brought normally divided crowds together with their unique mixes of Baltimore club, hip-hop, house, obscure remixes, punk rock and juke. Flosstradamus have toured internationally with A-Trak, Chromeo, and Kid Sister, J2K's sister, who they also perform live with. Flosstradamus have produced and remixed original tracks for Kid Sister and have recently remixed Bloc Party, Mates of State, The Cool Kids, Matt and Kim, Heartsrevolution, Walter Meego and many more. They have also recently collaborated with Caroline Polachek of Chairlift for a Green Label Sound release.

For the past 20 years, designer Joe Buckingham has continued to design and create music packaging, sportswear graphics, web graphics, corporate identities, branding, and print and provides design consulting services through his company ArtilleryDS. Two of his most popular works, De La Soul is Dead and Saturdays, have became highly recognizable pieces of cover art and to this day are still considered iconic in the urban music genre to this day.

About Nike

NIKE, Inc. based near Beaverton, Oregon, is the world's leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Wholly-owned Nike subsidiaries include Cole Haan, which designs, markets and distributes luxury shoes, handbags, accessories and coats; Converse Inc., which designs, markets and distributes athletic footwear, apparel and accessories; Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes action sports and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories; and Umbro Ltd., a leading United Kingdom-based global football (soccer) brand. For more information, visit www.nikebiz.com.

For more information, including multi-media materials, please visit: www.nikemedia.com.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Journalists who intend to review the new Nike + SportMusic album from De La Soul, please contact at Nike or Cornerstone below.

Source: NIKE, Inc.

NIKE, Inc.
KeJuan Wilkins, 212-367-4412
KeJuan.Wilkins@nike.com
or
Cornerstone
Jeff Anderson, 212-652-9323
JAnderson@cornerstonepromotion.com