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Recently, leaked images of a Kendrick Lamar x Nike Cortez “House Shoes” collab hit the web. While said shoes don’t have a firm release date, it appears K Dot hinted to Nice Kicks about this concept half a decade ago.
Swinging by Sway in the Morning during SXSW of 2013, the Compton MC was riding high off the success of good kid, m.A.A.d city with To Pimp a Butterfly still a year out.
Chopping it up with the TDE leader before the braids and before the Nike deal – and the Reebok deal for that matter – we discussed both the shoes he grew up on and the shoes he wore when recording his pivotal debut album.
When asked what was the one shoe that would never get old to him, the answer was simple. “The Nike Cortez,” said Kendrick. “I don’t know how it is around the world, but in LA I was influenced by the ’80s. My uncles wore Cortez; the type of gangster, OG vibe. They’re the originals, you can’t ever go wrong with them.”
Following up, we asked what was on his feet when laying down the raps for gkmc. “House shoes!” Kendrick said with excitement. “In the booth I like to be comfortable. The ones that Ice Cube wears. I have to make the analogy through movies.”
Fast forward five years later and it appears the storytelling at NSW runs deep as the extra casual, extra cozy take on the Cortez is true to Kendrick and his come up.
Release details for the next Kendrick collab remain undisclosed, but keep it locked to Nice Kicks for updates.
