Although DJ Premier isn’t the first name that comes to mind when you think about sneaker afficionados, it’s no surprise that he got the opportunity to get his own “Air Ones”. With Hip Hop legends such as Bobbito & Clark Kent already laying out numerous pairs for public consumption, I’m glad to see one of my favourite producers of all-time get his own pair.
Without Hip Hop, there would be no Nike, no Jordans (sneakers), no Air Forces, no Dunks etc. There is no doubt in my mind that Hip Hop culture is the #1 influence when it comes to popularizing sneakers and launching urban brands. So in hindsight, Nike owes Hip Hop a lot more than a couple sneakers, but let’s not get into that!
Set for a limited release on January 9th 2010, the Nike x DJ Premier Air Force 1 Low is made up of a variety of premium materials, featuring a predominantly black leather base with a hint of Navy Blue and a touch of Orange (tab & stitching)
“DJ” on the left foot and “PREMIER” on the right
I’m not sure how I feel about the Orange tabs/stitching, but I think it’s a nice subtle touch to an otherwise black shoe.
“PREMIER” on the lacelocks adds to the sneaker, but I’m not really feeling the colour/material used. Partially because I think the word “Premier” has been misused/mispelled a lot, I would’ve preferred they printed “Primo” or one of his other nicknames.
I’ve always been a sucker for clear soles and I’m down with the tiny turntables on the sole as well, I’m glad they represented a huge part of DJ Premier’s life on the sneakers. I think an MPC would’ve been dope also!
“PREMIER” on the reinforced plastic lacetips is a small detail, but it goes a long way.
There is no retail price yet for the sneaker (that I’ve found) but, I’d expect it to be in the $135-165 USD range. I hope these hit Canada at some point, I gotta support the big homie! So far, it is a limited release in the USA, with most House of Hoops locations receiving a shipment.
Shouts to HYPEBEAST for the pics!
