Many probably learned about Curren$y from last November’s XXL cover story and his work with Mr. F Baby, but he’s been in the game for almost a decade putting in work and paying dues.

From his stints with two of the biggest labels to ever come out of New Orleans to the countless mixtapes to his recently released solo debut, This Ain’t No Mixtape, it was only a matter of time for the one they call The Hot Spitta.  He’s also got Fly Society, a clothing jump-off he started with pro skater Terry Kennedy, which is already making noise on the streets.

Of course, we wouldn’t be interested in Curren$y if he didn’t have a proper kick game.  We got a chance to ask him some questions about his favorite sneakers and recent purchases.  Maybe some of the readers could even help him find a pair.

Check it out after the jump.

Name? Curren$y

Where you represent? New Orleans

Shoe that got you hooked? Air Jordan 3

What’s on your feet now? Black/Red Air Jordan 4

Last pair you purchased? Cool Grey Jordan Spi’zikes

Pair you’re looking for? Laney High 5’s - I got a pair, but need a back up so I can rock ‘em

Amount of pairs you own now: Who knows bro

Top 3 sneakers of all-time:

Air Jordan 3
Air Jordan 4
Air Jordan 5

Which upcoming sneaker release are you looking forward to: The stuff I like is out already…just gotta find it..

Hottest sneaker trend now? I hate sneaker trends.

Most tired sneaker trend now? I hate sneaker trends.

If you weren’t a rapper, you’d probably be a…Sherpa

Favorite spots to shop for kicks: Flight Club, BAPE, Sportie LA

One thing that you dislike about the shoe game: BOOTLEGS

Last words? The album is available now!!!!  thisaintnomixtape.com Jets baby…and if anyone has got a line on some Laney 5’s size 7.5 holler at me @currensy_spitta!  Thanks 4 da support!

This Ain't No Mixtape In Stores Now!

So far, 2009 has been a great year for superb sneaker releases. At the beginning of 2009, we gave you a preview of 9 Sneakers to Look out for in 2009. However, most, if not all of those aforementioned sneakers have already released. Therefore, we now have 24 (that’s right 24 more) more sneakers to look out for during the rest of 2009! What will you be shopping for during the remainder of this year? Click here to view our 24 Sneakers We’re Looking Forward to for the Rest of ‘09.

24. Nike Dunk Hi Supreme “Gucci”

24. The Nike Dunk Hi “Gucci” is easily the most highly anticipated Dunk for some time now. Upon first seeing this colorway, many sneaker heads have been looking over their shoulder for this. It will release exclusively at House of Hoops in October 2009.

23. Jordan Hallowed Ground

23. Although  the Jordan Hallowed Ground draws minimal inspirations from the infamous Air Jordan 11, we must applaud them for venturing out and trying new things. Overall, this silhouette is not as bad as people make it out to be. Look for this sneaker to hit retailers during the summer.

Talk about sneakers has been going on for years, but when does talk, obsession, and lifestyle reach the point that a culture is formed?  Maybe is it the influence of art or other forms of expressions?  No one knows the true answer to that, but one thing that is for certain is that sneakers, or should we say the love and obsession for sneakers, has formed a major culture globally. Sneaker Pimps, the longest running sneaker show, is touring the US yet again with a major stop coming June 26th to New York City - the mecca of sneaker culture.  We caught up with Peter Fahey, the founder and operator of the Sneaker Pimps.  Click here to get the inside scoop on the show and what you can expect to see in NYC later this month. For ticket to the June 26th show in NYC get tickets while you can at Ticketmaster.

Sneaker Pimps Miami 2009

Nice Kicks: Thanks for taking the time to chat with us. Time has flown by for many of us.  The Sneaker Pimps has been going for a few years now hasn’t it?

Peter Fahey: Yeah man the first show was in Sydney Australia in 02 - I started this show when I was 20, so it seems like it has been a lifetime almost.

How did you come up with the concept of the Sneaker Pimps show?

Right out of high school i started throwing different types of events - hip-hop shows, skate demos etc. I always tried to put on events with elements that were part of my interests and everyday life. Sneaker Pimps was created as a part of that.

What was the biggest obstacle to overcome when getting the tour going?

Having NO money - I was beyond broke.

The tour has gone around the globe to a number of countries.  What are the major differences you have noticed about the attendees from country to country?  Do you feel a different vibe from city to city?

Yeah man for the most part sneaker culture is identical all over the world due in part to the major brands releasing the same product globally and websites like Ebay, etc.  However, the people in each city, and the levels of fanaticism varies, and is also related to how much they have been exposed to the culture.  For instance, we did a show in Manila (The Philippines) a few years back and there were people there who were coming up and thanking me for bringing the show there and hadn’t seen 80% of the shoes we were showing, so it was all very new to them.

Also you notice that in certain cities kids love certain styles of shoes, in NYC, they are all about the J’s.  In Japan it’s definitely more of a Dunk thing.

As you said earlier the tour has been going to 8 years.  What are some of the things you make sure you put into each show to create a unique experience?

Always getting new shoes, always bringing in major and dope new hip-hop acts to perform live. We love to have skate demos at our shows along with live artist installations, Xbox 360 video game battles - we just keep mutating the show making it bigger and better.

For the past 20 years, has there been a better baseball player than Ken Griffey Jr? More than 600 clean HR’s, 13 All Star appearances, 10 Gold Gloves, and a swing so clean it became his logo. We’ll leave the official debate for ESPN, but when it comes to footwear, no other baseball player has had as solid of a line as Junior. To celebrate Griff’s 20 years in the big league this year, the Griffey Max 1 and Swingman Remix were brought out, but there are still some shoes from the line we wouldn’t mind seeing return. More than just an aesthetically unique shoe, the Nike Air Griffey Max III offers incredibly comfortable cushioning and stability. Heel and forefoot Max Air provides the soft ride while a Footscape-esque lacing system plus cross strap locks your foot into the shoe. Beyond the way the shoe looks and performs, history of footwear is so often written by the man who wore them and what was accomplished. In 1998, Griffey was coming off an MVP season and followed up again with 56 homeruns but came up 1 short of matching his prior year pushing 146 RBI’s. Are there any other Griffey’s you would like to see return? Click here to get a better look at these as well as to let us know what you think.

Nike Air Griffey Max III

Nike Air Griffey Max III

Nike Air Griffey Max III

Nike Air Griffey Max III

Nike Air Griffey Max III

Nike Air Griffey Max III

Nike Air Griffey Max III

Nike Air Griffey Max III

Ken Griffey Jr. wearing the Nike Air Griffey Max III in 1998 Home Run Contest

After seeing the Jordan Campus Chukka hit the web last week, it got us thinking about how many footwear companies have used the Vans Chukka as inspiration for their own Chukka-like silhouettes.

Though the simplistic Chukka style has been around since the 50’s, Vans has become the front runner in the classy silhouette. The name Chukka originated from the sport of Polo and somehow stuck over the years. The simple 3 eyelet lace setup has varied since the style originated, as has the simple and sophisticated look. We came across a number of companies that have taken a shot at their own version, some with success, some with epic failure.

Click here to take a look at those shoes that have taken inspiration from the Chukka. Let us know your favorite in the comments section.

Jordan Campus Chukka

Late last year, Nike reached way back into the vault and reintroduced the Nike Air Flight Lite in a number of solid colorways. Two original colorups were released, but left this one, White/Sapphire-Citrus for vintage heads to cherish. While many may fiend for the uber-high top cut of the Flight Lites, overlooking the history of this shoe would be nothing short of a tragedy. Last year, only months before the re-release of the Nike Air Flight Lites, came the Nike Hyperdunk which was the lightest Nike basketball shoe ever (later outdone by the Kobe IV). When released in 1991, the Nike Air Flight Lite was the lightest Nike basketball shoe despite the many ounces of weight that went to the high cut and inside boot. Scottie Pippen is often associated with the Nike Air Flight Lite, but in many promotional materials and commercials, NY Knicks’ Gerald Wilkins was the face of the revolutionary shoe. The pair from the Nice Kicks collection is far from deadstock condition, but thanks to Nike’s choice of a soft Phylon midsole foam, many original pairs from 1991 are still wearable. Click here to get another look at the Nike Air Flight Lite.

Nike Air Flight Lite High - White/Sapphire-Citrus

Nike Air Flight Lite High - White/Sapphire-Citrus

Nike Air Flight Lite High - White/Sapphire-Citrus

Nike Air Flight Lite High - White/Sapphire-Citrus

Nike Air Flight Lite High

Nike Air Flight Lite High

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