sneakers
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Source: Nike / NIke
After a lukewarm rollout in 2019, Nike has decided to fallback and retire their “revolutionary” auto-lacing Nike Adapt sneakers that no one asked for and fewer people even wanted.
According to Sneaker News, the Nike Adapt will be retired in 2024 as the innovative silhouette never really took off in popularity as they might’ve expected. Having launched in 2019 with an accompanying app, Nike announced on their FAQ pages that they would no longer be dropping new versions of the sneaker going forward. Unfortunately, for Nike, the Adapt will not be missed (no shots).
Sneaker News reports:
The first self-lacing sneaker available to the larger market was the HyperAdapt 1.0 in late 2016; with an MSRP of $720, this state-of-the-art sneaker came housed in premium packaging came with an AC adapter, charging pucks for the internal motor that ignites the automatic lacing system, and a handy quick-start manual so you’ll know how to use the brand new tech. From that point on, several different colorways of the HyperAdapt 1.0 were brought to market until its final documented release in late Spring 2018.
Nike quickly pivoted to bringing Adapt tech to performance basketball with the Adapt BB 1.0 in early 2019. This performance basketball shoe was fully capable on the court, but featured the same hands-free technology and even a companion App that allowed for remote control of the lacing, the lightning, and power on/off capability.
Nike plans on removing the Adapt App from Apple and Android stores by Aug. 6.
What this does for resale value is anyone’s guess, but truth be told, we weren’t mad at the sneakers. Just seemed a bit too high maintenance for our taste.
What do y’all think about Nike ditching their Adapt silhouette? Will you miss them or nah? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Source: @wutangclan / Nike Sportswear
With sneaker companies dropping so many retros, a criticism is that the novelty of an OG shoe’s rarity and the feelings they evoke are now being lost. One shoe that has managed to duck the re-release treatment for years, and thus had its legend only exponentially grow is the famed Wu-Tang Clan x Nike Dunk.
Well, the black and yellow basketball shoe is finally getting the retro treatment. On Sunday, June 30, the official Wu-Tang Clan Instagram account (and Nike Sportwear’s) teased the return of the ultra grail-level sneaker with the caption “BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ” and a shoe covered in bees. Originally released in 1999, the Wu-Tang x Dunk High LE was gifted strictly to friends and family of the Staten Island Hip-Hop group. The shoe is a high top Nike Dunk in a yellow and black colorway (release sneakers consider it the “Iowa” colorway), with the familiar Wu-Tang Clan logo on the heel.
Word is only about 100 pairs of the sneaker were ever created. Finding a deadstock pair has become increasingly rare, and pricey—for example, an alleged deadstock promo sample is going for a smooth $45,000 on eBay right now.
The retro will cost less coin, but depending on how many Nike decides to actually manufacture, you can bet the aftermarket price will skyrocket since resellers and bots will be itching to get their hands on as many pairs as possible to cash out. Meanwhile, sneaker civilians will pray for the best via raffles and quick fingers, and strong wi-fi, on drop day.
No word on a proper release date, yet (and surely it will be sometime in the Fall), but I need two pairs, at least.
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Source: AAron Ontiveroz / Getty
Donald Trump’s attempt to court black and brown voters by dropping limited edition gold sneakers might’ve failed miserably as mostly white MAGA cult members purchased the $400 bricks. It seems like one of his most loyal followers in Congress couldn’t get herself a pair and was relegated to copping a pair of bootlegs.
According to Raw Story, controversial congresswoman Lauren Boebert recently celebrated her surprise Republican primary win in Denver, Colorado by wearing a pair of the MAGA grails, but interestingly enough she admitted they weren’t an authentic pair. Apparently Donald Trump had no problem endorsing her for the 4th Congressional District in eastern Colorado, but stopped short of blessing her with an official pair of “Air Con’s.”
Still, her devotion to her orange overlord is so deep she felt the need to rock a pair by any means necessary on her “big” night and settled for a pair of fugazi “Insurrection 6’s.” Now as disturbing as that is, it pales in comparison to the fact that this transphobic/Beetlejuice “enthusiast” continues to convince swaths of people to keep her employed as a congresswoman of the United States of America. But that’s neither here nor there.
Raw Story reports:
“These are very China, but I’m okay with that,” Boebert said, laughing. “If I could’ve bought the OGs, I would have.”
The originals have already sold out, according to GetTrumpSneakers.com, and remain on pre-order status with an estimated shipping date of sometime next month.
Trump announced the launch of 1,000 custom limited edition “Never Surrender High Tops,” which are reflective gold and feature American flag uppers, with metallic stars on the back and a “T” embossed in the leather, at Sneaker Con in Philadelphia in February.
Not for nothing but we feel like fake Trump sneakers are actually more in-tune with who the man actually is. MAGA hats made in China and fake Trump sneakers should be the everyday attire of his hardcore cult followers. Just sayin.’
What do y’all think of Lauren Boebert’s admission to rocking fake Trump kicks? Did she play herself or was she right on brand? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Source: @upscalecracc / Instagram
Sad news coming out of the sneaker community as well-known sneaker reseller to celebrities Javier Osorio-Mejia of Bayonne, NJ was reportedly shot and killed on Tuesday (June 25) in what police assume was a botched robbery attempt in New York City.
According to Fox5NY, the shooting occurred around 5:15 am on Greene Street in Soho and though it seems like a robbery attempt gone wrong, the men who accosted Meija shot him and fled the scene without taking any of his cash or his brand new Range Rover which was left behind at the scene. According to reports, Javier Osorio-Mejia was shot three times in the right leg before he was rushed to Bellevue Hospital where he passed away.
Known for selling exclusive high-end sneakers to celebrities and everyday sneakerheads alike, Meija built a name for himself over the years in the sneaker community, so when news of his shooting hit the internet, many eyebrows were raised and hearts broken.
Fox5NY reports:
NYPD detectives and crime scene investigators spent many hours going over the scene in search of clues. Sources told FOX 5 NY’s Lisa Evers significant ballistic evidence was recovered from the apparent ambush.
Detectives also recovered cash that was left on the ground, along with the victim’s trademark lime green Nike sneakers.
“I’m just devastated and I just want everyone to know he was a good person. He wasnt involved in no foul stuff, he was a humble dude, he helped a lot of people,” one of Osorio-Mejia’s friends said.
No arrests have been made. The motive behind the shooting was unknown at the time.
As detectives continued their work, friends gathered to mourn the loss of a rising businessman and support each other.
When news of his passing hit social media many of Meija’s friends and colleagues in the sneaker community took to his last post to express their love and condolences as he was beloved by many in the game.
Rest In Power, King.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Snoop Dogg’s hit album Doggystyle, Skechers is launching a limited-edition Skechers x Snoop Dogg signature style slip-on sneakers, available exclusively on the Skechers website starting today.
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For Snoop Dogg fans and sneaker collectors, these exclusive kicks offered in both high-top and low-profile versions, featuring the renowned Doggystyle album artwork printed across the shoes infuses Snoop Dogg’s signature West Coast style with Skechers’ renowned comfort. With these one of a kind hands-free slip-in Skechers, you’ll feel completely secure without the traditional shoe laces.
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If that’s not enough, these sneakers deliver high-quality cushioning and support for everyday activities with its air-cooling memory foam insoles. For those looking to simplify your footwear and avoid the hassle of dealing with shoe laces, you’re in the right place.
The Skechers x Snoop Dogg collab is available now at Skechers.com.
Keep scrolling to shop your favorites.
Courtesy of Skechers
Skechers Slip-Ins: Snoop One Doggy Style
For those looking to add to your sneaker collection, consider adding this slip-in Doggy style pair. These unique hands-free sneakers are easy to put on and take off. You just slip them in and you’re good to go. According to the brand, this pair provides “flexible traction outsole,” referring to the bottom part of the shoe providing grip, stability, and ultimate comfort. This pair is covered in Doggystyle artwork from top to bottom, the design continues at sole of the shoe with its one of a kind Snoop Dogg-inspired “Doggy Dogg” print.
Skechers
Skechers Slip-ins: Snoop One Low Dogg Canvas
If you are looking for a more subtle design, consider these Snoop One Low Dogg Canvas Slip-on Skechers. You can get these in White, Tan, Navy, or Black. These shoes also come with a “Doggy Dogg” art-inspired print at the bottom of the shoe. Hurry, before they run out.
Skechers
Skechers Slip-in: Snoop One Low-G Leather
Add these alternative Slip-in Skechers to your sneaker collection. You can get this pair in Black/Green or White/Red. This pair features a low-profile premium leather upper, stretch laces, and a leopard print heel. The brand calls it the “Just Slip In, Snoop style.”
For more product recommendations, check out these Nike sneakers, these Hoka Ora Recovery Slides, and alternative slip-on footwear.
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Source: GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT / Getty
The Nike Air Force 1 is without a doubt Nike’s most recognizable and iconic silhouette, but can NIGO bring some hype and attention to their Air Force 3?
According to Hypebeast, the founder of A Bathing Ape (BAPE) stepped out in some unreleased Air Force 3s, and while no one knows when these will officially drop, don’t be surprised if they become must-have’s by the time they do. The bright colorway caught many eyes as NIGO walked out to close KENZO’s SS25 runway at Paris Fashion Week. Buzz has already started growing around the silhouette as it’s something new and original in a game that’s growing bored of the old and remixed.
Per Hypebeast:
It was first reported in April 2023 that NIGO and Nike had a collaborative shoe in the works. In November, NIGO was spotted in New York wearing a pair of Nike Air Force 3 Lows with mocha brown details, seemingly inspired by 1988’s Air Force 3 High “Escape.”
At Kenzo, NIGO rocked a totally different Nike Air Force 3 Low, albeit still with a retro-inspired design. Spotted by @stevenvictor, the crisp white shoes featured multi-colored panels – with shades of pink, yellow, green, red, purple and black – as well as a red Swoosh.
NIGO also reworked the tongue on the shoes, which reads “AIRFORCE” at the top, along with another logo that was partially concealed by the laces.
We’re not gonna lie, we’re low-key feeling these joints.
The NIGO x Nike Air Force 3s are expected to release some time this coming fall for a reasonable $160.
Will you be trying to cop a pair? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Source: Jordan Brand / Jordan Brand
The hype and hoopla that used to surround the Saturday releases of Air Jordan sneakers might be dead and gone, but best believe that sneakerheads love themselves some OG colorways and later this year a classic silhouette returns in its original form.
According to Sneakernews, the beloved Air Jordan 3 “Black Cement” is set to release later this year on November 23rd and luckily for the true blue sneaker aficionados, it’s said to be a massive general release. Though these sneakers have been retro’d six times since it originally released in 1988, they’re basically guaranteed sellouts as these are one of the few Air Jordan silhouettes considered to be timeless grails amongst the sneaker community.
Still, the seventh iteration of the classic won’t be a spot-on recreation of the other releases so it should be interesting to see the kind of complaints sneakerheads lob at Nike and Jordan Brand for switching it up a bit.
Sneakernews reports:
The upcoming 2024 version of the Black Cement Jordans feature the same base colorway, but with “Sail” tinted midsoles. This means that the white midsole pictured above will have the slightest hint of yellowing. As of the publishing of this article, a first look at the 2024 Black Cement Jordans have not yet been revealed.
In other words, the sneakers will have that vintage look similar to the “Reimagined” Air Jordan 3 “White Cement”‘s that released last year. While that little detail turned off many sneakerheads, we weren’t mad at them.
As to how many pairs of the “Black Cement” 3’s are set to release, that’s anyone’s guess so far but we wouldn’t be surprised if that number surpasses 1 million pairs as Nike and Jordan Brand is all about their bread.
Will you be copping a pair of the Air Jordan 3 “Black Cement” come November? Is the sail color midsole a dealbreaker? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Source: Maddie Meyer / Getty
So far there’s only been two official colorway releases of Travis Scott’s “Jumpman Jack” Jordan sneaker line, and though more have been promised in the near future, the “Highest In The Room” rapper teased a new colorway that may or may not see the light of day.
Recently the Houston representative was spotted at Game 2 of the NBA Finals in Boston and in an apparent show of support for the Beantown team, Scott was rocking a never-before-seen Celtic green and black colorway of his popular “Jumpman Jack” sneakers. According to Sneakernews this particular pair isn’t scheduled to release anytime soon (if ever), but don’t be surprised if these joints end up being one of the many unreleased Travis Scott x Jordan colorways that have turned to grail status as only a select few have had the honor of being blessed with a pair.
Per Sneakernews:
While the emerald tones front-and-center on this shoe are certainly fit for the occasion, that design choice presents a bit of a curveball in La Flame’s lineage. His neutral-toned takes on the Air Jordan 1are well documented at this point, but even on the Jumpman Jack, an edition without any earthy tones whatsoever is noteworthy. There’s also a switch-up materially; luxe suede marks the underlays, typically composed of mesh on both past releases and those we’ve gotten an early preview of.
It’s entirely unclear whether this is a sample pair afforded to or conceived by La Flame, or if this is an early preview of a colorway that’ll hit shelves later in the shoe’s run. Releases for the Jordan Jumpman Jack “Mocha” and Jordan Jumpman Jack “Thunder” will almost undoubtedly precede this pair, leaving this edition’s potential debut a bit down the road regardless.
These are cool and all, but us sneakerheads still rather see a release of the Travis Scott x Air Jordan 4 in the mocha colorway or purple and white that he was rocking a few years ago. Just sayin.’ Not sure why he and Jordan Brand likes to make us sneakerheads suffer like this.
What do y’all think of the black and green “Jumpman Jack” sneakers that Travis Scott rocked at the NBA Finals? Would you want to see these drop or rather one of his many other exclusive colorways? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Source: Reebok / Reebok
Last year, Reebok made some big waves when they announced that Shaquille O’Neal and Allen Iverson were tapped to be the president and vice president of its basketball division, and though some might have thought this was just another source of income for Shaq Diesel, the NBA legend is taking his new role very seriously.
In an interview with the New York Times, Shaquille O’Neal spoke about his new role at Reebok and made it very clear that he plans on making Reebok as popular a brand as Nike and adidas is out on these streets. With Reebok being the place where his signature line resided during his rookie and prime years in the NBA, it’s only right that the brand would tap their biggest star to run their basketball scene for the foreseeable future; Shaq seems more than up to the task.
During a brand summit for their business partners this past March, Shaquille O’Neal appeared next to Reebok’s chief executive, Todd Krinsky, and he let everyone in attendance know that he intends on making the sports brand a powerhouse once again if it’s the last thing he does.
The New York Time reports:
“Listen, we’re getting back into basketball,” Mr. O’Neal said. “And I want everyone in here to understand there are no excuses. Everyone needs to be 100 percent in on this, because I’m 100 percent in on this.”
He then doubled down on his personal commitment: “I’m not doing this because this is a hobby. I’m doing this because we have a rightful place in basketball.”
Knowing that he and the brand have a lot riding on the line, the NBA Hall of Famer bluntly stated, “If this doesn’t work, everyone’s leaving…Everyone’s going to get gone, including me.”
While Shaquille O’Neal, Allen Iverson and Shawn Kemp had some classic Reebok sneakers back in the day, it will be interesting to see how Shaq plans on returning the OG sports brand to glory. One step in the right direction would be to retro not only those particular silhouettes (which they have already) but also bring back the S. Carter’s that Jay-Z collaborated with Reebok on and the G-Unit sneakers that 50 Cent released in the early 2000s.
We’ll have to wait and see if any of those plans pan out, but the fact that Shaq and AI are considering it shows that they’re committed to making Reebok popular again.
How do you think Shaq can make Reebok a sneaker powerhouse again? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Source: @sneakerfreakermag / Instagram
For decades break dancers have been poppin’ and lockin’ in everything from Air Force 1s and shell toes to Timberland boots. Now, Nike is blessing them with a silhouette made specifically for their fancy footwork just in time for the Olympic games in Paris this summer.
According to GQ, the Swoosh brand has just introduced the first ever sneaker made for break dancers dubbed the Nike Jam as break dancers gear up for the competition that’s set to go down in Paris this coming July. The silhouette has been in the works for quite a few years and with the input of some world class B-boys and B-girls, Nike is ready to unleash their latest creation on the Hip-Hop world.
GQ reports:
The Nike Jam has been in development for over seven years, with on-the-ground research performed at the famed Nike Sports Research Lab in Beaverton, Oregon. The company invited pro breakers to demonstrate to Nike’s designers exactly how they like to move in their shoes, per Fast Company, and apparently even brought in a DJ to help set the appropriate mood. In film sessions, Nike analyzed the movement of the dancers and carefully measured the impact of their feet on the floor, looking for ways to maximize comfort and energy return. It resulted in a shoe that makes breakdancing as smooth and tactile as possible.
The silhouette itself is low and compact, made of a combination of leather and knit mesh and built atop a sizable gum sole. The heel tab and lace lock are reminiscent of the Nike Metcon, which is built for high-intensity interval workouts that include jump rope, burpees, and box jumps, all somewhat similar in terms of the need for agility and speed. But Nike didn’t neglect the style factor, either: the Jam are handsome enough to be worn casually, with pleasing retro quality that nods to breaking’s roots in ‘70s and ’80s street culture.
Expect to see these all over the hood as heads busts all kinds of moves from the corner to the park as the summer heat engulfs your city and gives heads a reason to dance all night long.
The Nike Jam is set to release sometime this summer for $120.
Check out pics of the kicks, and let us know if you’ll be picking up a pair in the comments section below.