Beats' All-Star Lineup: Messi, Ohtani, LeBron, RZA

A pitch from the heart

Here’s a campaign that trades in familiar tropes, but still doesn’t miss a beat.

Shohei Ohtani, Lionel Messi and LeBron James headline Translation’s two-minute film backing Beats by Dre’s latest wireless earbuds. We watch the megastars prep for battle in their respective sports, working their magic across a soccer pitch, hoops court and batting cage.

Meanwhile, Wu-Tang rapper RZA provides rapid-fire narration—as the voice of these fiery competitors’ hearts.

On the one hand, it’s badly cliched: heartbeats for emphasis, a quick-cut-dramatic-build up, famous athletes hyper-focused on winning, etc.

That said, it works magnificently. Each and every frame.

The star power is, well, stellar, obvi. Putting three generational giants from different sports in a single spot just slams.

Plus, the action is narrated by a certain vital, blood-pumping organ—so the beats on the soundtrack make sense. And RZA sounds as badass as ever.

“Powerbeats Pro 2 is the most impressive product in Beats’ history—developed to withstand intense training sessions and equipped with our most innovative technology and powerful sound,” says Oliver Schusser, Apple’s VP of music, sports and Beats.

Adds Ohtani: “Tapping into your heart is important whether you’re an athlete on the biggest stage or just getting started, and I’m excited to partner with Beats to help deliver that message.”