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History & Hip-Hop Shoes: Styles That Changed the Fashion Game Forever

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History & Hip-Hop Shoes: Styles That Changed the Fashion Game Forever

Dec 6, 2023

Sneakers That Made The Culture

It’s been half a century since hip-hop emerged from an underground movement and into mainstream culture. And from the beginning, the sneaker game has been intertwined with hip-hop.

Why? Both footwear and hip-hop are artistic expressions. Hip-hop is so much more than just beats and rhythms. Spoken words, dance, art, stories, style and spiritual principles all define the culture.

Not only have sneaker brands helped shape hip-hop culture, but iconic figures, like Run DMC’s members, have arguably had more of an influence on sneaker styles over the decades. Here’s the lowdown on some of the most important hip-hop shoes in the sneakersphere. 

Always Funky, Fresh: Run DMC & the adidas Superstar

Always Funky, Fresh: Run DMC & the adidas Superstar

Picture this: It’s the 1980s and a trio from Queens is about to change hip-hop and the sneaker scene forever. Rev Run, DMC (aka Daryl McDaniels) and Jam Master Jay embrace the look of the adidas Superstars, turning these basketball shoes into everyday footwear they often wore laceless — an act of rebellion that spoke to the spirit of hip-hop. Paired with track suits, bucket hats and chains, Run DMC elevated the Superstars into superstardom. Their 1986 single titled “My adidas” remains a love letter to the Superstar. All these decades later, the adidas Superstar has an enduring legacy, thanks to its no-nonsense design that offers a backdrop for self-expression.

Lights Will Inspire You: ’90s New York Hip-Hop & Iconic Boots

Lights Will Inspire You: ’90s New York Hip-Hop & Iconic Boots

With pioneers like Run DMC, the golden era of hip-hop unfolded with NYC as its epicenter. Hailing from Staten Island, the Wu-Tang Clan popularized Timberland boots in the ’90s. Rugged and rebellious, Timberlands were a staple in their music videos and performances, remaining a popular street style today. 

Brooklyn-based hip-hop supergroup the Boot Camp Clik also contributed to the connection of hard-core hip-hop and Timberlands, wearing them half-laced with loose-fitting jeans, oversized flannels and large tees. Hip-hop duo Mobb Deep wore Timberlands on their “Infamous” album alongside baggy jeans, varsity jackets and hoodies. 

From the gritty streets of the NYC hip-hop scene to the urban streetwear of today, Timberland boots are timeless hip-hop shoes as resilient as the culture of the ’90s.

They Never Lose Their Style, Their Comfort, Their Cool: Nelly & the AF-1s

They Never Lose Their Style, Their Comfort, Their Cool: Nelly & the AF-1s

Air Force 1s were the shoe rapper Nelly had his eye on as a kid growing up in St. Louis. They were a status symbol among his peers, but he didn't have the money for them. As he became a fixture in hip-hop, Nelly incorporated the sneakers into his personal style, wearing them on stage, in music videos and on the streets. 

His connection to the shoe was so important that he penned a song about them in 2002 — the eponymous “Air Force Ones.” AF-1s already had a place as hip-hop sneakers, but Nelly cemented their star status and is credited with keeping them popular into the 2000s and beyond.

From the Three-Point Land, He’s all Water: Allen Iverson & Reebok

From the Three-Point Land, He’s all Water: Allen Iverson & Reebok

Speaking of that rebellious spirit, Allen “The Answer” Iverson was forging his own path in the NBA and got a pair of sneakers to go along with it, the Reebok Question. In a commercial, rapper Jadakiss immortalized Iverson’s Answer 5 sneakers: “Reebok brought ’em to you, even on the court we stay fly, Jada and A.I.” 

Iverson was the first player who openly embraced Black culture on the court by rocking on-court braids and showing off his tattoos. As a disruptor on and off the court, Iverson's shoe release and the Jadakiss commercial further entrenched hip-hop culture into the sneaker realm and the NBA world.

H-to-the-OV: Jay-Z, the CEO of the R-E-E-B-O-K S.Carter

He’s changed the game of hip-hop and transformed the fashion world with his hip-hop-inspired Rocawear line. In 1999, Rocawear became an urban streetwear staple, capitalizing on the culture with baggy jeans, athletic wear and oversized tees. In 2003, Brooklyn’s Finest launched a line of sneakers through Reebok. A streetwear staple, the S.Carter footwear was a simple leather design that played off an ’80s Gucci sneaker and other shoes, like the AF-1s and Superstars. Jay-Z continues to reign supreme in the record realm and the fashion industry.

Mama Told Me There’d Be Days Like This: Wale & the DMV

Rapper Wale rose to prominence in the early aughts. Hailing from the DMV (D.C.-Maryland-Virginia), Wale and other hip-hop artists raised in the area co-opted Nike Foamposites and Nike boots. They were more than just fashion choices for Wale — they were symbols of his upbringing and community. And as his fame grew, so too did the footwear in the DMV area. 

Also known as Goadomes, the Nike boots Wale wore — often with hoodies and baggy jeans — were originally released in 1995 as hiking boots. With their otherworldly silhouette and unique, lightweight material, Foamposites were another sneaker from the Swoosh that Wale popularized, wearing them in his music videos. In addition to influencing a generation with his footwear choices, Wale is very much a sneakerhead at heart, having spoken out against the sneaker resale market and asked shoe companies to lower their prices.

From the Three-Point Land, He’s all Water: Allen Iverson & Reebok

The Way You Move Got Me in a Groove: Travis Scott Sneakers

“Days Before the Rodeo” was the 2014 mixtape that put Travis Scott on the road to hip-hop fame. And with his increasing success came the fans who noticed his streetwear fashion staples and sneaker game. In 2017, Scott collaborated with the Swoosh for a pair of Air Force 1 Travis Scott “Cactus Jack” sneakers. Then came a variety of Jordan 1 collabs, like the AJ 1 High, featuring reverse Swooshes and deconstructed elements. The pinnacle of the Travis Scott sneakersphere were the limited-edition Travis Scott x Nike SB Dunk Lows, which still go for big bucks on resale sites. Scott is more than just a rapper — he’s a modern hip-hop trendsetter with timeless sneakers that symbolize his status as a cultural icon.

The correlation and influence among hip-hop culture, fashion and sneakers is undeniable, and we’ll no doubt continue to see even more of the collaboration in future hip-hop shoes. Keep your eye on our Hibbett | City Gear Unboxed blog to learn more about the origin stories of your favorite sneakers and how to style them!

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