sneakers
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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.
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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.
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Source: Southern District of New York / DOJ
We think it’s become pretty clear that when Nike sues you for copyright infringement, you’re going to lose as they’ve been shutting down any and everyone banking off of their classic silhouettes and now Kool Kyi has become the latest person to fall to the might swoosh brand and their team of high-powered attorneys.
Almost a year after Nike and Kool Kyi reached a settlement in their original copyright infringement lawsuit, as reported by Kari aka @sneakerphetish, a judge ordered Kool Kyi to cough up a cool million dollars in damages while shutting down their By Kyi sneaker line as it bares a striking resemblance to the classic Air Jordan 1 silhouette.
While some may feel that the Kool Kyi sneakers were just knockoffs of the Air Jordan 1’s, the sneakers did gain popularity over the years and it got to the point that Nike did take notice and decided to put an end to their run ASAP.
Now that Kool Kyi has been ordered to cease production of their sneakers and pay Nike $1 million for their troubles, we wonder if they’ll just return with a new and original silhouette of their own or give up on the sneaker game altogether.
What do y’all think Kool Kyi should do? Sound off in the comments section below.
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Source: Robin L Marshall / Getty
A former diversity manager for both Facebook and Nike just learned that crime doesn’t pay and that freedom is indeed priceless. Barbara Furlow-Smiles was just sentenced to five years in prison for robbing both companies of millions of dollars.
According to CNBC, Furlow-Smiles pleaded guilty to wire fraud back in December of 2023 after being accused of stealing $4.9 million from Facebook by using fake invoices, fraudulent vendors and even cash kickbacks while working for the company. Interestingly enough she continued to partake in such practices when she got herself a new gig over at Nike as their DEI but only made off with a little more than $100,000. Chicken feed when compared to the millions she syphoned off of Facebook but still a lot of money.
Prosecutors in the case asked the judge to sentence her to 6 and a half years as she used the money to fund a pretty lavish lifestyle in California, Georgia and Oregon, but “luckily” for Smiles, the judge overseeing the case decided to cut the sentence down to five years for her transgressions and ordered her to repay Facebook $4.8 million and Nike $121,000.
CNBC reports:
Prosecutors in their sentencing memo said that in addition to the money Furlow-Smiles stole from the company, Meta lost more than $4.5 million “in addition to other expenses, such as attorney’s fees, which were incurred as a result of Meta having to uncover and investigate her fraud scheme.”
“As Meta notes, ‘the harm from [Furlow-Smiles’] criminal conduct cannot be measured purely in financial terms,‘” prosecutors recounted in their memo. “Her ‘crimes also resulted in anguish amongst those employees that worked closely with her.’”
Nike told prosecutors that she was “entrusted as a leader for [the] company, that she would embody the value of ‘Doing the Right Thing’ which is one of NIKE’s key maxims,” the prosecutor said in their memo. “As Nike explains, ‘[t]o say that Ms. Furlow-Smiles violated our trust would be an understatement. The fraud committed by Ms. Furlow-Smiles violated the trust of and devastated the employees who managed and worked with her.’ ”
We’re just surprised that she continued her scheme at Nike after getting fired from Facebook. Did they not call her past employers for references or anything?
What do y’all think of this multi-million dollar scheme? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Source: adidas / adidas
adidas still has Yeezy’s stashed to sell off?!
Apparently they do as Sneakerbar Detroit is reporting that Adidas is preparing for yet another Yeezy Day restock later this year and it’ll feature quite a few silhouettes that were pretty hard to come by back when Yeezy didn’t alienate most of his fans with his antics and out of pocket social-political comments.
It’s been a few years since Adidas split from Kanye West following his antisemitic comments and halted any further production of new Yeezy products, but with a half a billion worth of Yeezy products sitting in warehouses, Adidas wasn’t going to hold that big of an “L” and has been selling off it’s remaining inventory since. Needless to say Yeezy’s remain a hot commodity for sneakerheads and even though Kanye told his followers not to buy them as he gets nothing from the sales and doesn’t want them banking off his name.
Now that there’s more product to be sold, we wonder if fans still have a hankering for Yeezy Boosts, Slides, and Foam Runners as resale prices have tanked over time.
While the original Yeezy Day restock dates were set for the end of this month and beginning of June, it seems like their might’ve been a change of plans as word got out about the event.
Sneakerbar Detroit reports:
According to brandon1an, Adidas has removed all Yeezy releases from their calendar. It’s unclear whether this is due to rescheduling, cancellation, or simply a desire to keep the information private. Consequently, any release lists you see might change, and no SKU should be anticipated to restock until it appears on Adidas CONFIRMED. The restock was initially expected to start on May 27th and conclude on June 13th, 2024. Stay tuned for further updates.
We gotta wonder what went wrong. Though Adidas has canceled release dates before, they always eventually come back with a new one because like we said, they’re not holding a multi-million dollar “L” for no one.
What do y’all think about another Yeezy Day? Are y’all looking to copp any of those kicks? Let us know in the comments section below.