Culture Blues

Unicorn Kicks: Jay-Z Unleashes Ultra Limited ABE Air Force 1s

Time to empty the 401k?

When I saw that Jay-Z was partnering with Nike to produce a limited edition sneaker, I pounded my knees in joy. But I knew there was no way that I could do this story justice, so I asked our sneakerhead correspondent The Visible Man to fill us all in.

“Sneakers and rappers have gone together since the beginning of rap itself. Back in the day Run DMC had kids holding up adidas with no laces at their concerts. What started off as a little collecting hobby for most has spiraled into an obsession for a few.  Who better to personify this new obsession of the elite than Mr. S. Carter…Jay-Z. The man once bragged on a song that his “watch was a one of one, none before it and none to come,” so of course his sneakers are limited too. A lot of people know about the S. Carter collection Jay-Z did with Reebok (the company’s best selling shoe ever, sold out within hours of release) but few know about Jay-Z’s partnership with Nike. In 2004, Hov had the nice people at Nike make him and his crew Air Force 1s with the Roc-A-Fella logo on them….and sneakerheads went crazy trying to get their hands on a pair. Jay-Z has decided to get back into the shoe game while adding to his new ABE movement. What’s ABE? Let’s just say we ain’t talking Lincoln.

Around a year ago Jay-Z made a bold statement. No, not the proclamation that autotune was dead, but that the man “might wear black for a year straight.” Wouldn’t you know it, Hov actually backed it up. He keeps the “All Black Everything” party going strong by teaming up with the World Basketball Festival in NYC this weekend. The WBF is a way for Nike and Jordan Brand to get more money out of me a four day festival to celebrate the performance and culture of basketball. Jay-Z opens up the festival with a performance at Radio City Music Hall on August 12^th and is also auctioning off SUPER limited edition Nike Air Force 1’s for each of the 5 countries represented. Yep, you guessed it - each shoe is ABE – “ALL BLACK EVERYTHING.” Each country gets two pairs, one for Jay-Z and one for the winner of the auction. If you are feeling lucky and have some money to blow (the USA is currently the biggest earner at over $2,000), go over to eBay and place some bids on these “murdered out” joints. Don’t worry, no need to feel bad, the proceeds go to the Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation. Help the kiddies and stay fresh?!?! FTW!“

Wow. Shoes that only you and Shawn Carter own. That might be the most ballin’ shit I’ve ever heard of.