Nike Nods to Once Ignored History
Today Nike’s brand history includes collaborations with A-List Hip-Hop Artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Eminem, Drake, and most notably Kanye West. However, in 2003 Nike had no such associations. In fact, “collab” had yet to become a colloquium at Nike HQ. Iconic pairs such as the “U.N.K.L.E” Dunk, the Futura “For Love or Money” Dunk, and of course the “Pigeon” Dunk all had yet to be released in 2003. Yet, New York City Hip-Hop Artist Fat Joe had his own “Terror Squad” branded Nike Air Force 1s. In an era where artists often customized shoes to sport in music videos, Fat Joe’s Air Force 1s turned heads as they came directly from Nike. Fat Joe has since shared that throughout the 2000s he was paying off an employee at Nike to make the shoes. The employee who shall not be named aided Fat Joe in getting his hands on numerous pairs. While Fat Joe has never shared who this individual is we do know that they were fired for their involvement, but not before the legend of the TS Air Force 1 was born. Today these original pairs fetch staggering prices at auction. In 2022, Sotheby’s sold a signed pair for $7,560. This Saturday, September 16th, Nike is officially releasing the “Blackout” Terror Squad Air Force 1. Based on a pair that Fat Joe originally had in 2004, this release will give sneakerheads an opportunity to own an important part of sneaker history and symbolizes Nike’s acceptance and identification with those years that birthed a legend.
Although there are those online who are unimpressed or upset that this release didn’t occur fifteen to twenty years ago, it still bears significant weight. Through this release, not only is Nike tracing the Terror Squad Air Force and Fat Joe’s relationship with the brand back to those days of unsanctioned samples, it also officially ties sneakers and hip-hop together. Sneakers and hip-hop have long been synonymous, but for Nike to embrace previously unrecognized history is important for sneaker culture as it reaffirms Nike’s commitment to the culture. The Run DMC Adidas will always hold the throne as the greatest hip-hop sneaker collab of all time, but the TS Air Force 1 carries almost as much weight as it opened the door for what became Nike’s run of creative dominance. The early 2000s saw Nike beginning to embrace and engage with street culture. Collaborations with Supreme as well as graffiti artist STASH helped kick off one of the most important eras in Nike’s history. While at the time the Terror Squad/Fat Joe relationship was unofficial, with this release, Nike is honoring the role that these sneakers played as well.
This release is also timely. This year is the 50th anniversary of hip-hop and releasing these sneakers now is another way in which Nike is giving a nod to the culture. This year is also the 20th anniversary of the “Best Pick-Up Game Never Happened.” In August 2003, Fat Joe and other New York City rapper Jay-Z had a score to settle. At the time, they were constantly competing for the top spot on the music charts. Fat Joe and Jay-Z were captains of “Terror Squad” and “Team S. Carter,” respectively. They had been competing in the summer season of the Entertainers Basketball Classic, which was a basketball tournament that was founded in 1982 and was held at Rucker Park. The championship game on August 14th was set to pit “Terror Squad” and “Team S. Carter” against each other. The game was set to feature NBA stars with the likes of Mike Bibby, Stephon Marbury, and most notably Shaquille O’Neal, Yao Ming, Carmelo Anthony, and one Lebron James. In an article from Boardroom recounting the history, lines for the game reportedly started at 10 am, and by 2:00 pm 10,000 people had gathered. Shortly before the game was set to begin, the power went out. What’s now known as the Great Northeast Blackout of 2003 robbed us of what would have been the greatest pickup basketball game of all time. The release this weekend celebrates this game that never was. Nicknamed the “Blackout” these sneakers help tell the story of an iconic New York City moment. Thanks to Fat Joe and Nike, with the release of the ‘Blackout’ TS Air Force 1, this piece of history will live forever.
Some feel this release is late, off-trend, and unnecessary. The inverse is true. One of the most iconic Nike silhouettes of all time, officially dressed up in collaboration with one of the greatest New York City rappers of all time, celebrating both the 50th anniversary of hip-hop and the 20th anniversary of the Best Pickup Game That Never Happened couldn’t be more important. Sneakerheads have been clamoring for the energy of days gone by. With the release of the Terror Squad Air Force 1, Nike, and Fat Joe deliver the quintessential history, storytelling, and appreciation of the culture, sneakerheads have been asking for, all in one sneaker. The black and white color blocking has led to this shoe mistakenly being nicknamed the ‘Panda,’ like the Nike Dunk we have seen dominate over the past year. Fat Joe, calls those people out saying: “(the sneakers) was around way before the Pandas, they’re called the Blackouts; they not the Pandas.” Likening this release to the Pandas is not only disrespectful, it’s ignorant. This sneaker carries with it the weight of twenty years of sneaker history. This one-to-one version of the original pair Fat Joe had in the early 2000s is as consequential as sneaker releases come.
