Check My Footwork: 10 Shoes & The Rappers Who Helped Make Them Famous [PHOTOS] - Page 2

Hip-Hop and dope sneakers have a relationship that goes back as far as the inception of the culture itself. Since the fly and flashy era of the ‘80s rappers have made it a point to be seen sporting nothing less than the latest in urban footwear. Some even paid homage to their latest foot fetish by cutting tracks dedicated to a coveted sneaker, in turn, making the owners of the shoe companies millions in profits in many cases.

The influence of Hip-Hop on athletic footwear consumers is real. Just check out the line at the latest Yeezy shoe release, or the list of major shoe companies partnering with rappers like B.o.B, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Swizz Beatz, Jay-Z and Birdman for proof. But their major deals probably wouldn’t have been possible were it not for the early rap cats who inadvertently helped get shoe companies popping just for the love of the sneaker, rather than a check.

Here are 10 beloved kicks whose popularity was boosted by the rappers who rocked (and rapped about) them…

MORE ON HIP-HOP WIRED!

• The Curious Case Of Joseline Hernandez: A Visual Timeline Of Success [PHOTOS]

• 8 Things You Need To Know About 2 Chainz’s Based On A T.R.U. Story

• T.I.’s New “Go Get It” Video Features Big A$$ Mansion, Very Small Bikinis [PHOTOS]

• Dallas Mavericks Star Dirk Nowitzki Marries Wife In Traditional Kenyan Ceremony [PHOTOS]

• Rosenberg’s Night Of Real Hip-Hop With Odd Future & More [PHOTOS]

• Olympic Swimmer Ryan Lochte Banned From Wearing Custom Grill On Medal Stand [PHOTOS]

• 15 People Who Merged Rapping With Singing (Before Drake) [GALLERY]

• 5 Reasons Why The Jackson Family Is Bat Sh-t Crazy

adidas Superstar (Run DMC)

The adidas Superstar aka “Shell Toe adidas” were created by the German sportswear company in 1969 and were worn by ball players in the NBA and college, alike. But it wasn’t until the early ‘80s that they became a staple in every hood, due in part to the rap group, Run-DMC. In 1983, the groundbreaking trio began rocking the sneaks almost exclusively (no laces with the tongue out, of course) and sales among urban youth skyrocketed. Three years later the Hollis homeboys dropped the ode to their favorite sneaks, “My Adidas.” The track and good promotion that followed eventually landed them an endorsement deal with the sneaker company. The endorsement deal set a precedent as the first between rappers and a major company.

Ewing Athletics 33 Hi (Kriss Kross)

After years endorsing tennies for adidas, New York Knicks center Patrick Ewing started his own sneaker company Ewing Athletics in 1989. The shoe became so popular in the hood some people (including the person who wrote this article who never owned a pair, dang you mom!) didn’t even know they weren’t Nikes until years later. One thing that helped the confusion (and had teenagers begging for the Jamaican ball player’s shoe) was the fact that the sneaker was being worn by people with fame, most notably teen rap group, Kriss Kross. Besides regularly rocking the vintage sneaks, Daddy Mac named dropped the shoes on their hit single, “I Missed The Bus,” and the duo famously rocked the “33 Hi” navy blue and white colorways on the cover of their debut album Totally Crossed Out. The free advertisement no doubt helped sales among the young demographic.

Nike Air Force 1s (Nelly)
The Nike mainstay, Air Force 1s, was originally released in 1982 and had been a staple among urban youth pretty much since then. Hence the nickname “Uptowns,” coined because of the shoes’ popularity among Harlem residents. Twenty years after the original release, St. Louis rapper Nelly dropped the sneaker sonnet “Air Force 1s” which paid homage to the sneaker classic. The song reached #1 on Billboard charts and coincidentally coincided with the shoe company’s 20-year anniversary campaign push for the shoe.

Vans (The Pack)
Vans were the shoe of choice for skaters (and poseurs) since the early ‘70s because of their rubbery soles. In 2006, Berkley, Calif. collective, The Pack helped boost the deck shoes’ popularity among the urban youth with the track “Vans.” In the song, that reached #23 on Billboard, Lil B and nem profess their love for the colorfully designed shoes and even go as far as dissing Nikes. Released at a time when the popularity of Black kids getting on their skater ish was at an all time high, the song had Black skaters (and poseurs) swearing their Vans looked cleaner.

Nike Cortez (Eazy E)
The Cortez was Nike’s first track shoe created in 1972, and was one of the sneaks that helped make the brand what it is today. It was built for comfort and durability. Perfect for the dopeboy who stands on the block all day and is occasionally forced to run long distances while being pursued by the police. Word is, the sneaks became popular among gang members because of their solid colorways and eventually became associated with thugs in general, and given the handle, “Gangsta Nikes” or “Dopeman Nikes.” Former N.W.A member and “Dopeman” rapper Eazy E, can also be given some credit for the shoes’ popularity as he frequently rocked the Cortez in videos and photos.

Chuck Taylor All Stars (West Coast MCs + Wiz Khalifa)

Chuck Taylor All Stars have always been a West Coast thang, rocked by rappers like Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Warren G, Dr Dre, Mack 10, MC Eight [enter Cali rapper name here]. But even their unpaid endorsements of the sneaker couldn’t save the company from going bankrupt and being bought out by Nike in 2003. The shoes received a cross country co-sign from Wiz Khalifa and his “Taylor Gang” movement in recent years. Knowing the way Wiz’s cult like followers get down, the stock for Chucks have probably doubled since he started repping that Taylor.

Nike ACG Air Max Goadome (Wale)
D.C. is known for being the Foamposite capitol of the world, but the District may also be able to take credit as the center of the Nike Boot explosion. It definitely didn’t hurt Phil Knight’s boot line when Wale dropped the 2009 single “Nike Boots” paying homage to the fusion footwear.

Clarks Wallabee (The Wu Tang Clan)

You can’t think about Wallabees without thinking about the Wu. The nine man crew (+ Cappadonna) rocked the shoes religiously and basically brought the obscure brand into the mainstream and Hip-Hop fashion worlds. If the Wu were a basketball team, Wallees would have been their team shoe (navy blue with the cream on top colorways, no doubt). Coincidence, that in 1993 (when 36 Chambers dropped) the Clarks company was on the verge of selling itself, but three years later (at the height of Wu’s Wally rocking glory) they had restructured and were going harder than ever? We think not.

Timberland (Every East Coast rapper ever)
The former construction boot became popular among the Hip-Hop crowd as early as the mid to late ‘80s. Since then, every east coast rapper to ever touch a microphone has worn a pair of classic wheat Timbs on stage or in a video, at one point or another. Timberland should really just start handing out royalty checks to every East Coast rapper who has ever been seen on camera.

Them Damn House Slippers Cube Was Rocking In, Boyz N The Hood and Friday aka OG Ice Cube’s (Ice Cube)
Presumably another Cali thang (or jail thang), Ice Cube brought the corduroy house slipper (rocked with socks) into the mainstream by wearing them with such swag (and anywhere but in the house) in Boyz N The Hood and Friday. Cube literally gave life to house shoes. Think about that. Yay! Yay!

Shout out to Chad Ochocinco, too.