Nelly‘s Apple Bottoms and Bubly teamed up for a fashionable collaboration feuled by nostalgic fun and seasonal joy. The two have united as the denim company continues its return, while the beverage brand brings back its limited-edition apple flavor. For the St. Louis-bred rapper, working with Bubly just made sense.

“They wanted to bring back their green apple. Obviously, seeing what we’re able to do, and just the ideas of both teams started kicking around. And this was something that we came up with that’s like, ‘Yo, okay, well they’re doing the green apple. Maybe we can do the green stitching,” elaborated the 50-year-old to VIBE on a Zoom call ahead of the drop. “It was kind of a no-brainer when you think about it.”

He continued, “It was chemistry… I said it, ‘I F**k with it. Let’s do it.’ You got to get lucky with those types of scenarios too, because when it looks like it fits perfectly… Things had to align and come together. This is one of those situations, because we were able to come up with something that perfectly fits. It’s not an outreach for them. It’s not an outreach for us. It’s them celebrating something that was very successful for them, and it’s us celebrating something that was very successful for us.”

The limited-edition drop includes the “Apple Bubly Jeans,” which features green, “Apple Bubly” stitched back pockets designed to hold a can of Bubly.

“Long before the peach emoji, Apple Bottoms made curves cheeky and iconic. This partnership is our gift to fans: the return of Apple Bubly, made with a playfully refreshing Y2K denim twist, and the perfect excuse to drop it low, low, low this season,” explained Katelyn Meola, Brand Marketing Director for Bubly sparkling water in a press statement.

Available on the official website in sizes 0-24, the curated collab box that includes an Apple-flavored Bubly with a denim-designed can, as well as a themed tank top, keychain, mini denim clutch, and an iron-on patch, described as an opportunity for fans to customize their denim look for the fall season with a nod to nostalgia.   

“To be able to partner with Bubly, and it’s kind of strange,” reflected the rapper. “They were able to see a place and creatively take a hold of something and become iconic themselves,” adding, “We’re thankful that they reached out and we were able to come up with something that shows not just our legacy and their legacy, but why we’re together.”

Nelly initiated the return of Apple Bottoms last year and is steadily rebuilding its presence as a top streetwear brand for curvy women. Before the Bubly launch, Atlanta rapper Latto was enlisted for a collaboration, uniting the Gen-X, and millennial cemented brand with new Gen-Z audiences.

“Basically, [for] 26, almost 27 years, I’ve been fortunate enough to still have a voice somewhat in this business and still have people supporting me and things that I’m doing. That’s the only thing you can hope for and wish for definitely because we know how this business can be, and everybody does not have the opportunity to be able to have somewhat of some longevity.”

“Apple Bottoms was one of those things that in the beginning of my career, a lot of people… Well, not a lot of people…The female fan base… Well, I can’t say that the fellas didn’t. [laughs].. I’m sure they liked it too. But for my female fan base, this was something that I specifically carved out of what I was doing for them.”

Shop the Apple Bottoms and Bubly drop on the official website.