Hip hop fashion has always included sneakers, with Run-DMC popularizing Adidas Superstars in the 1980s. Nike’s Air Jordan and Air Force 1 also became popular, while Timberland boots and Converse Chuck Taylors were favored by East and West Coast rappers respectively. Sneakers remain the primary footwear in hip hop fashion, with customization allowing for individual expression.
Sneakers have always been associated with hip hop music thanks to rap artists of all eras choosing to wear these casual shoes as part of their standard attire. One of the main inspirations for hip hop fashion and hip hop shoes has been urban youth and street culture, a culture often influenced by athletics. Consequently, sportswear and sports shoes have always been a part of the hip hop image and lifestyle.
In the 1980s, Run-DMC helped establish the Adidas Superstar as the premier hip hop sneaker. The pioneering rap group was often seen in their signature style of hats, large glasses, and all-black outfits, highlighted by their white Adidas hip hop shoes. Classic basketball shoes were noted for the low-cut style that ended before the ankles and the rubber toe cap, which made the shoe more durable. Run-DMC typically wore their Adidas without laces, while other groups of the time often choose to pair their Adidas with oversized shoelaces. Run-DMC were such fans of the shoes that they even released a tribute song about their love of My Adidas slanted sneakers in 1986; his popularity and the success of the song would lead to an endorsement deal with the shoe company, the first of many profitable relationships between shoe brands and popular rappers.
Even as Adidas was enjoying success, a new competitor was gaining traction as hip hop’s eventual favorite sneaker. In 1985, Michael Jordan, a rookie for the Chicago Bulls, endorsed a line of Nike shoes called Air Jordan. The line would be extremely popular from the start and would be snapped up by the player’s illustrious fans, many of whom included top hip hop artists. However, even before the release of this iconic hip hop sneaker, Nike was already making a splash in hip hop culture thanks to the Nike Air Force 1. The shoe, noted for its full-length air sole, originally released in 1982 and They were used by the emergents. hip hop artists strutting straight from the streets of Brooklyn.
The 1990s are considered one of the most versatile periods in rap music. As hip hop artists experimented with different sounds and used music to express themselves, hip hop artists emerging from different regions of the United States brought their own hip hop and fashion shoes to public attention. On the East Coast, for example, Timberland boots, a brand of waterproof hiking boots, would become a go-to look for hip hop artists. Meanwhile, West Coast rappers choose to embrace Chuck Taylor’s high-top canvas sneakers from Converse. Often referred to as the Chuck Taylor All-Stars, the shoes were originally released in 1917 and were one of the first basketball shoes created.
As of 2011, sneakers are still the primary footwear worn in hip hop fashion. However, brands identified as part of the hip hop style have expanded their shoe offerings to include all types of shoes, such as sandals and flip-flops. Styles and colors for women and children have also become popular. Capitalizing on the huge profits associated with hip hop fashion, hip hop artists have increasingly been creating hip hop shoes for their own clothing labels or in association with established shoe brands. The increase in shoe customization has also allowed the individual to design their own unique look to express their individuality.
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