It’s tough to think about the Nike Air Force 1 Low without thinking of hip-hop. The Swoosh has recognized the musical genre and culture with specific styles and campaigns over the years, but the “50 Years of Hip-Hop” collection was just recently teased. The next collection, which includes Nike Sportswear symbols, honors the beginnings of the iconic musical genre. A pair reflecting hip-Bronx hop’s roots will be released in October 2022, leading the drive for more shoes with cultural roots. A new Air Force 1 features a simplistic color scheme: pristine white covers the bulk of the top, with a cream tone on the midsole.
The outsole has a grey accent, while the swooshes on the sides and Achilles’ heel panel are spray-painted blacks. The most obvious hip-hop references are seen on the tongue label and sock liner. At the tops of the tongue, traditional Nike emblems are replaced with a unique “50 Years of Hip-Hop” insignia. The inscription “NIKE CLASSICS” appears on the insole and is modeled after the parental advisory labels seen on albums such shoes N.W.A.’s Straight Outta Compton and Nas’ Illmatic. Finally, a golden microphone hangs tag is added to the mix.
