The Top 10 Hip-Hop Sneakers Of All-Time

From the beginning of Hip-Hop culture a necessary part of the uniform was your sneakers. Hip-Hop was created by disenfranchised urban center youth, but despite their humble origins these kids still had piles of style. The most defining component of your Hip-Hop style back then, as it is today, is your footwear.

Just like Hip-Hop has gone from the vacant lots in the Bronx to the most hallowed of all music halls named after Andrew Carnegie, kicks have also gained in prestige. No one (with any sense) still wears fat laces in their sneakers. They have been replaced with mother of pearl dubraes and golden aglets.

Despite all the fancy components and accoutrements that accompany sneakers nowadays there is still the overriding principle of aspiration which your shoes have to convey. The aspiration to be fresh is the key to the shoes on this list. They all define freshness and they all represent Hip-Hop. These are the most Hip-Hop sneakers of all time.

MORE ON HIP-HOP WIRED!

• Who Is James “Jimmy Henchman” Rosemond?

• Beyoncé & Jay-Z Step Out For Lunch With Blue Ivy [Photos]

• 10 Rappers That Can Inspire Scott Storch To Get Off The Yayo

• The 2013 Bentley Mulsanne [Photos]

• Bangin Candy: Claudia Sampedro (Rick Ross’s “High Definition” Vixen) [Photos/Video]

• COMIN’ OUT HARD: 10 Rappers Caught In S#x Tape Scandal

• Nike Air Foamposite One ‘Galaxy’ [Photos]

Photos: Kicks Addict, Classic Kicks

Adidas Superstar

The Superstar was a favorite shoe for breakdancers and B-boys and was immortalized by Run-DMC with their classic paean to the
shoe. The Superstar, aka Shell Toe, still gets burn on the streets from newjacks and old heads alike because of its nearly indesctructible rubberized toecap.

Puma ‘Clydes’ (suede)

The first suede sneaker to really take over the Hip-Hop scene was the suede Puma signature shoe for Walt ‘Clyde’ Frazier. This was also the first shoe that I can recall hearing about someone having stolen right off their feet. Haha, true story is that you had to be B-boy with a shank if you were going to wear your suede Pumas untied with fat laces.

Nike Air Force 1

The Air Force 1 is another shoe which gained its God-status after St. Louis rapper Nelly put out the bouncy tribute to the already iconic shoe. The clean and smooth silhouette of an all white leather Air Force 1 can’t be matched by any other sneaker. The advent of visible airbags inside the soles of sneakers made the Force 1 somewhat dated. In the early 90s these shoes were now cheap and common, which made them a favorite for heads who scrambled hard for that quick cash.  Being hot on the streets made them a favorite for rappers who liked to act like they still had a connection to the kids on the streets.  Always remember that Hip-Hop comes from the streets and then moves upwards.

The Air Jordan III ad campaign introduced Spike Lee’s prototypical Crooklynite character, Mars Blackmon, to the mainstream. Many consider these Tinker Hatfield designed Js to be the best sneaker ever. The Air Jordan III is totally Hip-Hop, even though MJ himself probably listens to Smooth Jazz before Rap.

Fila was the official mafia tracksuit worn by all Sheepshead Bay gangsters. Your outfit wasn’t completely Hip-Hop though without rocking the sneakers from the same brand. The classic cream tennis shoe from Fila was exactly that… A tennis SHOE.

Timberland 10061 (classic wheat construction boot)

People always get upset when I put the classic Timberland cheese boot on my list of all time great sneakers. The truth is that this boot is a sneaker to a lot of people in the ‘hood who need a dependable pair of all weather conditions footwear. Only rich people can afford to change into their ‘athletic’ shoes at the gym. Regular working folks in the ‘hood wear their Timbs to do EVERYTHING, until the heels get to leaning.

Reebok 5411s (for the LAAAAAAAAYDIES)

The ladies don’t get enough daps when it comes to rockin’ kicks but the classic freestyle aerobic shoe from Reebok should definitely be in your top 10. Nothing looks better than a shorty in some black leggings and a pair of candy colored 5411s (back in the day, $49.99 + tax = $54.11 in NYC) with the lipstick to match her kicks.

OG Gucci Sneakers

The original Gucci trainer was the street hustler’s supreme footwear. To really top this shoe off you might have a velour sweatsuit with all-over Gucci monogram leather on the shoulders (shouts to Dapper Dan). The Gucci was also coming in at $150, a pricetag which sneakerheads today would shrug at but in 1986 it was no joke (cues Rakim and Eric B)

Prada ‘America’s Cup’ sneakers

The Prada sneaker replaced the OG Gucci trainers as the aspirational sneaker for the ‘hood. Rappers stay on that expensive Italian Shyte and the Prada sneakers have that perfect blend of gaudiness and expensivity that the ‘hood needs so badly.

Air Jordan IV (Buggin Out’s White Cements)

How many of you cringed when you watched the movie Do The Right Thing and Buggin Out had his fresh white cement IV’s stepped on by that hipster dude? People were killed for lesser infractions, but the fact that Buggin’ Out let that hipster live foretold how NYC would soon be overrun by white dudes who had no respect for the sneaker culture of the native New Yorker. No shots, unless it applies.

BONUS

I wanted to leave this Jordan off the list but the hypebeast inside of my heart kept calling me back.  The patent leather on this Jordan represents Hip-Hop putting on a shiny suit and entering the world of popular music.  There would be no going back to the underground for inspiration.  Hip-Hop would be all about private planes and champagne after this Jordan.  This is why many purists consider the XI the “last great sneaker” and many Hip-Hop fans consider B.I.G. the last real rapper.  Proof that shiny suits ruin everything.