Rapper Sneaker Endorsements
Kanye to release the Yeezy Boost 350 sneakers this month.
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Fancy Footwork - Yeezy season has returned, as Kanye will drop his second sneaker with Adidas on June 27. The G.O.O.D. Music head partnered with Adidas Originals last year after ending his relationship with Nike and released the Yeezy 750 Boost in February, which retailed for $350.Switching it up tremendously, the new Yeezy Boost 350s are low-top in style and will go for $200. While Ye continues his march into the fashion arena, take a look at a few more MCs who locked down sneaker endorsement deals over the years. -Michael Harris (@IceBlueVA)(Photos from left: Adidas, Larry Busacca/Getty Images)
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Wiz Khalifa - Wiz Khalifa wears Converse every day and now he's going to get paid to show the brand love. "Finally got my converse deal!!!" Wiz tweeted. "Im f---in amped! I did an add for my boys but this s--t here is MAJOR." (Photos from left: John Ricard / BET, Instagram via Mistercap)
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Run DMC and Adidas - Like many other current trends in hip hop, artists and sneaker brands cozying up started with Run DMC, who devoted an entire song to “My Adidas.” As legend has it, manager Russell Simmons brought skeptical Adidas executives to a show in New York; they were blown away by the audience reaction and signed the rappers to an endorsement deal. (Photo: Def Jam Recordings)
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LL Cool J and Troop - Troop, known for their brash high tops and matching apparel, was one of ’80s hip hop favorite (if short-lived) fads, and locking up LL Cool J to an endorsement deal was a major coup. (Photo: Def Jam Recordings)
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Master P and Converse - Before throwing Wiz down with the real Taylor Gang, Converse hooked up with Master P to celebrate his addition to the Charlotte Hornets pre-season roster in 1999. But P didn't make the cut in the end, and neither did these kicks. (Photo: CONVERSE)
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Birdman and Lugz - Even Birdman, one of hip hop’s best businessmen, couldn’t help the clunky Lugz sneaker, which was named after him, take off. (Photo: LUGZ)
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Jay-Z, 50 Cent and Reebok - In a rare moment of unity between these two rap titans, Hov and Fif teamed up to launch their S. Carter and G Unit sneaker lines by Reebok in this early 2000s commercial. (Photo: REEBOK)
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Game and 310 Motoring - Game responded to his arch rival 50’s Reebok deal with his own sneaker line, the Hurricane, by 310 Motoring, but they ended up amounting to just a light breeze in terms of commercial success. (Photo: 310 Sneakers)
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Pharrell and Ice Creams - Pharrell hooked up with Bathing Ape founder NIGO to launch Billionaire Boys Club and its accompanying Ice Cream sneaker line in 2005. (Photo: ICE CREAM Sneakers)
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Swizz Beatz and Reebok - In between juggling his many other hats, Swizz Beatz has been creative director of Reebok Classics since 2011. He has helped draw eyes to the brand by throwing events, posting videos online, bringing Rick Ross aboard and, best of all, launching two art-inspired lines, one incorporating the art of Jean-Michel Basquiat, the other street artist Keith Haring. (Photo: Isaac Brekken/Getty Images For Reebok)
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