From the Adidas Superstar to the Clark Wallabee, we're taking a look at hip hop's most notable footwear.

"Thank God for my Wallabee shoe. It done saved me," Ghostface Killah raps in "Stroke of Death."
Hip hop has served as a vessel for some of fashion's most recognizable trends. From the iconic Tommy Hilfiger monograms that were sported by the like of Aaliyah, to the baggy overall trends that ran the late '80s and early '90s, hip hop figures defined the style of the era.
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">Footwear has always been a flex in hip hop, and sneaker culture has become entwined with its music and style. From the Adidas Superstar to the Air Jordan 1,&nbsp;L'OFFICIEL looks at some of hip hop's most iconic shoes.

Photograph by David Corio/Getty Images

The Adidas Superstar has come in and out of fashion since its launch in 1970. Originally made as a basketball shoe, the Supersstar was taken over by hip hop artists. After releasing their song "My Adidas," Run DMC would wear all Adidas tracksuits and Superstars without laces during their performances. As their look became more popular and attracted more customers to Adidas, the sportswear company sponsored Run DMC. The collaboration between Adidas and Run DMC was one of the first times a sportswear brand has collaborated with musicians, and paved the way for the relationship between sportswear, hip hop, and sneakerheads we see today.

The Air Force 1s has always been one of hip-hop's go-to sneakers. Like Run DMC with "My Adidas," hip hop artist Nelly dropped one of the biggest sneaker anthems of the early 2000s with his song "Air Force Ones." The Air Force 1 is a classic shoe for any sneakerhead's collection. With rappers such as A$AP Rocky and Travias Scott wearing the sneaker, it's no secret that the Air Force One will always be a staple shoe in hip hop.

Getty Images

A shoe that needs no introduction, the Air Jordan 1. The first shoe to be created under Michael Jordan's collaboration with Nike, the Air Jordan 1 was the first sneaker to show a symbol of status. Not only did it take over the courts in the NBA, but the iconic sneaker took over the streets as well.
As men's fashion starting becoming more of a prominent topic in the 90s with the rise of hip-hop and streetwear fashion, the Jordan 1 was the sneaker that fit right into the aesthetic. It was a sporty shoe that held a hiearchy due to its celebrity status and rarity. It was one of the first basketball shoes that had a sleek shape and played aroung with color combinations.
Now the Air Jordan 1 has been used as a vessel to combine hip-hop with fashion and shoes. Hip-hop artists such as Travis Scott has collaborated with the brand to create exclusive designs, and other artists, such as Nas, and Teyana Taylor have modelled for the brand.

In the '80s and early '90s, the Timberland boot became the style of the choice. Artists such as Kanye West, the Notorious B.I.G, and Tupac wore the 6'' Timberland boots religiously.
Originally made for clue collar workers, Timberland boots were brought up by New York City locals due to their sturdiness and ability to stay dry no matter the weather. As more and more people began to jump on the Timberland bandwagon, the boot became more and more prominent in the hip hop scene in the Big Apple.
Now the Timberland boot is associated with debatably the best era for hip hop and R&amp;B music, and continues to remain popular in New York City and among hip hop lovers today.

Image: Ron Galella

Not as recognized in hip-hops culture today, the Clark Wallabee is an underrated staple for New York based hip-hop artists. Originally made for British Army men in the desert, the Clark Wallabee had high popularity with dancehall musicians in Jamaica. From Jamaica, the Wallabee found its way into New York City hip-hop thanks to the Wu-Tang Clan. Having worn their Wallabees on stage, in music videos, fans of Wu-Taang Clan were drawn to the shoe. Other rappers of the time, such as Ghostface Killah and Raekwon, rapped about their love for the shoe as well.
Now the Wallabee is making a return to the fashion world thanks to collaborations with the brands such as Aim&eacute; Leon Dore, and from having more and more celebrities, such as Kanye West, style the shoe.

PUMA

The Puma Suede is another shoe that had roots in sports, but was taken over by the hip hop scene. B-boy crews and hip hop groups, such as the New York City Breakers and Rocksteady Crew, adopted the Puma suede due to its durability and sleekness. Breakdancers swore by this sneaker and rocked their suedes while dancing.
The breakdancers and hip hop artists of the 1980s who were wearing the Puma suede reached entire demographic of consumers that Puma's marketing team couldn't reach, and were giving the brand free promotion for the sneaker.
Now, Puma has reinvented the sneaker with the Puma Suede Classic XXI, and have enlisted artists such as Cordae to rebrand and promote the shoe.

Although not as popular as the other athletic shoes in the roster, the Patrick Ewing 33 Hi has deep roots in hip hop. It's one of the only shoes that has collaborations with hip hop groups, such as Naughty by Nature, to make custom editions, and also with records labels. In 2019, Ewing Athletics partnered with Death Row Records, one of hip hop's most famous labels, to create a limited edition version of the Ewing-33 Hi.

These tennis shoes were made popular by hip hop artists, like Snoop Dogg, on the West Coast. K Swiss fully embraced their role in hip hop culture, and even embarked on a documentary journey from California to the UK that discusses hiphop and its impact. The documentary is called K-Swiss California Love" after Snoop Dogg and Tupac's song. The brand recently partnered with rapper YG for his own custom pair of K Swiss Tennis Classics.

8 Sneaker Trends That Started with Hip Hop

Tags

Related Articles

Hommes

5 Emerging Designers Reinventing Menswear

Hommes

Virgil Abloh's Don'ts at Louis Vuitton Menswear

Music

Kendrick Lamar Honors the Late Virgil Abloh at Louis Vuitton Men’s Spring/Summer 2023 Show

Recommended posts for you

Fashion

Red bag trend: the most glamorous shades to show off during the holidays!

Fashion

All the ski-wear trends for winter 2025

Soul

Signs Your Body Is Overloaded with Sugar and How to Reset Your Sweet Cravings in Winter

Ibiza

The Editors’ Pick: Ilaria Norsa, Fashion Director

Fashion

With "Candy Cottage", Bobo Choses invites you to the festivities

Food

How to make a perfect seafood orzo casserole?

Travel

The Danieli: the timeless soul of Venice.

Soul

"Digital Detox" - It's time to detox from digital technology