Nike Partners With Grammy Winner For Kobe Byrant Tribute

Nike is on another farewell tour.

The athletic brand collaborated with two-time Grammy Award-winning jazz pianist Robert Glasper on film that pays tribute to Kobe Bryant. The L.A. Laker guard, who is in his 20th season, said he would retire later this year.

The 3-minute, 25-second video, dubbed “Be Courageous,” takes into account the ups and downs of Bryant’s lengthy career.

The story Glasper tells, which is composed in 4/4 and 6/8 time signatures, also inspired the Kobe 11 BHM 4468 shoe, which is part of Nike’s 2016 Black History Month Collection. (Nike’s Black History Month line is available now and includes 28 products across sports.)

The recent shoe from Kobe also includes an emblematic record on the sneaker’s tongue, as well as other musical touches.

For Nike, the tribute is the latest in a line of campaigns saying good-bye to its athletes.

In 2014, the Beaverton, Ore.-based company unveiled a star-studded, farewell commercial to New York Yankee captain Derek Jeter, a long-serving ambassador for Jordan Brand. The spot featured baseball fans — and even team rivals — showing their respect by tipping their hats.

And in similar fashion, last month Nike released “90’ Will Never Be Quite The Same Without You,” a tribute to how women’s soccer star Abby Wambach changed the sport.

Watch Nike’s tribute to Wambach here.