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Converse Fast Break 2

The Converse Fast Break was a low-cut basketball shoe that point guards used to run the floor in back in the 1980s. This July, the one-stars will drop part two in classic colorways applied to high-top models. A handful of make-ups will release this month at prices that won’t hurt your pockets. Throw it back for less.
$70, Converse.com

Popularity: 15% [?]

N.E.R.D., Santogold & The Strokes Rock Converse

Multinational corporations do a lot of shitty things. You know, pollution, sweatshops, secretly financing third world guerrilla wars. But on the other hand, their marketing departments have pretty decent taste in music!

In the last few years, we’ve seen a surge in corporate-backed collaborations, from Smirnoff’s Signature Mix Series to Boost Mobile’s “Whole City Behind Us” campaign with Kanye, The Game and Ludacris. Now Converse has brought N.E.R.D., Santogold and The Strokes’ lead singer Julian Casablancas together to record a new song for their Century celebration. Called “My Drive Thru,” the song will be available for free download tomorrow at the company’s website. Throughout the summer, the trio will be seen together in a music video for the song and will appear in advertising that bears the slogan “Three Artists, One Song.” Listen to the collabo below.

Popularity: 75% [?]

Lupe Fiasco x Product [RED] Converse

About a month ago, Supertouch blogged about Dr. Romanelli’s 1Hund[RED] Artists shoe launch with Converse out in LA. Romanelli’s #1 fan Lupe Fiasco was there to provide the entertainment, and there was a quick internet blip mentioning his shoes: patent leather Chucks built under the Product [RED] platform. We got our hands on a pair, and although they’re not scheduled to release, enough buzz could bring ‘em into the marketplace. Get those comments going, and get these shits made! More photos after the jump.

Popularity: 90% [?]

Courtney Love Endorsed Converse’s Cobain Kicks

News of a Kurt Cobain inspired Converse collection had the beasts’ buzzing a day ago, but most sneaker extensive blogs left out an insider-y gem about the collection: punk-rocker turned shitshow-in-the-flesh Courtney Love reviewed and had to approve all the designs.

That’s right, the Hole front woman personally played HBIC when it came to signing off on her deceased husband’s set of kicks. Cobain was a serious Converse head, and even at the time of his death was rocking a pair of One Stars. The distressed shoes in the pack display everything from lyrics scribbled in Cobain’s personal notebooks to the fallen music star’s signature. Check the full collection that will launch starting in May, after the jump.

Popularity: 90% [?]

John Varvatos Spring/Summer Styles

Converse locking down John Varvatos is like Jada signing to the Roc, it pays major dividends. The forward-thinking designer has opened the Chuck Taylor and Jack Purcell to label-conscious sneaker fashionistas. To view more of Johnny V’s Spring/Summer 08 collection click here.

Popularity: 69% [?]

Converse Pro Leather 1976 Low

Besides keeping up with their 100 Artists celebratory project, look for Converse to push these Pro Leather 76’s all Spring. Where there are highs, there’s lows, and in addition to these navy blue models, expect to see subtle colorups (red/white, brown/yellow) applied to the sneaker that held Dr. J down back in the day. Look for the complete batch to hit stores this May.
$65, converse.com

Popularity: 56% [?]

Weekly Recap: The ‘Evil Genius’ Kept It Real

We sat down with DJ Green Lantern, and he spoke real talk about 50, Uncle Murda and the state of Hip Hop. [Link]

We lost all hope in Shepard Fairey. [Link]

These Supra ‘NS’ Trinity’s had the internet going nuts. [Link]

Jae Millz signed on to Young Money ENT. [Link]

Converse channeled dead icons for their ‘Connectivity’ campaign. [Link]

Popularity: 60% [?]

Converse Connects Dead Icons With Living Ones for 100th

To celebrate 100 years in the footwear game and to highlight their global “Connectivity” campaign, Converse is pairing up legendary dead icons across the worlds of music, art, sports and fashion, with emerging, breathing ones in this new ad. Hyping the rebellious nature of the Chuck Taylor, the sneaker company is featuring “cultural heroes” like James Dean, Hunter S. Thompson, and Sid Viscious “connecting” like paper dolls via infused feet with today’s influentials like Joan Jett, M.I.A, Billie Joe Armstrong, Common, Dwyane Wade, and lead singer Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s. See a smaller unbroken lineup after the jump.

Popularity: 38% [?]

Converse Pro Leather 1976

Back in 1976, the socks were high, the shorts were skimpy, and this Converse Pro Leather 1976 was the footwear of choice for legendary baller Julius Erving. Over thirty years later, the sneaker is coming back around on the simple-style tip as opposed to being hardwood-friendly. Multiple colorups sporting the same clean aesthetic as the O.G’s will drop starting in May. Ahh staying power, just what the Dr. ordered.
$70, www.converse.com

Popularity: 30% [?]

Complex Editor Champions Converse On Obscure ABC News Channel

There’s no rest for the weary. After narrowly escaping the annals of Magic alive, associate editor Bradley Carbone is back on the grind, and apparently ABC News Now too—that’s their 24/7 digital cable channel. The sneaker-knowledge heavy arbiter of cool was all business as he discussed Converse’s 100th anniversary. Watch as the news robot reporter grills him as if he cooked up the whole Chuck Taylor idea himself.

Popularity: 21% [?]