Kendrick Lamar has fans anxiously awaiting the release date of his Nike collaborative shoe, the Cortez Kenny 1. Befitting the social media hype surrounding the sneaker, Nike has given the Cortez Kenny 1 an official release date. The release of the sneaker will be Lamar’s first shoe release since his Reebok partnership departure in Summer 2017.
Lamar teased a potential collaboration with Nike via Twitter, where he posted the Nike logo and a photo of the iconic Cortez sneaker. The Cortez, which Lamar states is one of his favorite sneakers, has been a staple in West Coast streetwear. After facing several leaks of potential shoe designs, Lamar finally debuted the long-awaited footwear.
Lamar released the official prototype of his sneaker via Instagram, along with the caption “Cortez Kenny I.” The white canvas of the sneaker has the word “DAMN” stitched on each side of the shoe. This is a clear homage to Lamar’s Grammy nominated album bearing the same name. The shoe’s inside, tongue, and midsole are black and stand out against the white canvas. The shoe boasts the word “Damn” on the tongue, again receiving the “Kung Fu Kenny” touch. The official release of the shoe halts any confusion on which Lamar sneaker would be released. Early in December, the rapper released a prototype to what was assumed to be the Cortez Kenny I.
“DON’T TRIP. CORTEZ KENNY.” The sneaker itself reflects Kendrick Lamar. The Cortez sneaker features a red, black, and white color scheme. Tantalizing red suede wraps the canvas of the shoe, with a white Nike sign adorning the sides. White leather embellishes the tongue of the sneaker, while fragments of white cover the tip, midsole, and bottom of the sneaker. Fitted with black laces, the top of the shoe also features the words “Don’t Trip” cascading vertically down the sneaker.
The shoe also featured Chinese inscription on the top right corner. This is believed to be a homage to Lamar’s alter ego, Kung Fu Kenny.
The Nike Cortez Kenny 1 sneakers will be officially released by Nike.com on January 26th at 10.00a.m. EST. The shoes will retail for $100 USD. The release date of Lamar’s sneaker coincides with the Grammy awards. The “Humble” rapper is nominated for seven awards, including Album of The Year.
Readers Also Liked:
Counting Down The 17 Best Albums of 2017
Bobby V Delivers New Single, “Lil’ Bit” featuring Snoop Dogg
[Video] Nicki Minaj & Quavo Play “For Keeps”
