1 on 1 with Detroit Rapper Calcei

“There has been so many artists that blew up from sneakers. If you look at album covers from the 80s and even today, you will see so many artists that can almost make or break a sneaker.” – Calcei

Hip hop and sneakers will forever be tied together and rightfully so. We have witnessed a ton of instances where sneakers have been intertwined with hip hop whether it be through lyrics, album covers or collaborative efforts. Detroit rapper Calcei understands the correlation between the two and has no shame in revealing his fetish for sneakers. The rapper/sneakerhead recently released an entire EP dedicated to sneakers called Laces In, Tongue Out.

We discussed multiple aspects of the EP, along with other topics, such as the Detroit hip hop/sneaker scene, his childhood experiences, his infatuation with the Fab Five and many other things. View our in-depth, 1-on-1 interview with Detroit Rapper Calcei below.

[/caption]Nice Kicks: What is the significance of your EP title, “Laces In, Tongue Out”, and what does your stage name, Calcei mean?

Calcei: That’s just the way I like to wear my sneakers. I just thought it would be a dope title. To me, it sounds very Tribe Called Quest-like. Oh, and Calcei is the Latin word for shoes.

Nice Kicks: What inspired you to make an entire EP dedicated to sneakers?

Calcei: Well, I’ve been a sneakerhead ever since middle school. I’m a little bit older than some of these cats out here now though. When the Air Jordan 3s and Air Jordan 5s were coming out, I really started to get into shoes. So, I’ve always been into it and not just Jordans. I really liked the Puma Suedes with the fat laces and the adidas shell toes. Likewise, I was always around music because my friends were into it. Then, I actually got out of the scene and started teaching, until I ran into a guy I used to know back in the day. He started to coming into my classes. We started making music, and I just thought it would be dope to make an EP dedicated to sneakers. My friends wanted to steal the idea, but I told them I was going to do it. I wrote the first five tracks around Christmas time in 2009, and I started recording them in February of 2010.

Nice Kicks: What are some of the most memorable sneaker related songs/lyrics that have impacted your passion for rapping?

Calcei: Well, without a doubt My adidas. I think that’s the track that kind of started it all for me. That’s the song. As far as lyrics, my favorite sneaker related lyric is, “I’m a Nike head, I wear chains that excites the Feds.” That’s Nas (Halftime song). I just wanted to have fun with this EP, and just be me. I’m not trying to be anybody in my music. I just wanted to be me. I think sneakers are a fun thing. I think hip hop needs to get back to being fun too.

Detroit rapper Calcei showing some of his collectionNice Kicks: How strong is the correlation between sneakers and hip hop in your opinion?

Calcei: I don’t think you can have one without the other. There has been so many artists that blew up from sneakers. If you look at album covers from the 80s and even today, you will see so many artists that can almost make or break a sneaker. I almost think that the sixth element of hip hop should be sneakers. When i see Puma Suedes, I think of hip hop. When I see fat laces, I think of hip hop. When I see shell toes, I think of hip hop. It’s just a direct correlation.

“That’s just the way I like to wear my sneakers (Laces In, Tongue Out EP Title). I just thought it would be a dope title. To me, it sounds very Tribe Called Quest-like. Oh, and Calcei is the Latin word for shoes.” – Calcei