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Nelly Worships Jordan On New Sneakerhead Anthem

Photo: Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images

After hearing his new collaboration with Jermaine Dupri and Ciara, it’s probably safe to say that Nelly’s 2005 deal with Reebok didn’t pan out. He already provided the soundtrack to Nike’s other basketball staple in 2002 with “Air Force 1s,” and now the St. Lunatic is back with “Stepped On My J’z,” an anthem for anyone who has ever spazzed when their beloved 23s get scuffed. It’s worth noting that Nelly co-owns the Charlotte Bobcats with the Jump Man himself, so perhaps they’re working out some new campaign to push the song, which is supposed to appear on Nelly’s new album Brass Knuckles. Listen to the track after the jump.

Popularity: 96% [?]

Jordan AJ5

Can this Chicago Cubs/Olympic colorway of the AFI x Jordan V make the hybrids go from lukewarm to hot? Gentry (who’s chillin’ in NYC today) and JB hope so. If you think of the fusions as replacements for all the Team J’s that use to drop, they’re definitely an upgrade. We look at them as hit-or-miss holdovers between the Countdown packs we’ve been spending our rent checks on. Check for these on June 14.
$150, jumpman23.com

Popularity: 96% [?]

The Queen Of Jordan Is Too Sexy For Your Stereotypes

Ever since Lisa Raye became the First Lady of the Turk & Caicos Islands, we’ve realized that nothing quite tops fly female royalty. And when it comes to ladies in power, the cream of the crop has to be Jordan’s Queen Raina.

The 37-year-old mother of four is still most definitely a stunner with style and grace. Look no further than her newly-launched YouTube channel, where she just kicked off a new campaign aimed at repairing East-West relations by debunking popular stereotypes about the Arab World. In her sultry, black and white introduction video, she disses Fox’s 24 and asks for folks from the West to submit videos asking questions about the biggest Middle Eastern stereotypes. Watch the Queen plead her case after the jump.

Popularity: 92% [?]

Nike Looks To China For Their Latest Designs

The latest battle for sneaker supremacy seems to be what brand can effectively nail what a “Chinese” design would entail. According to The Wall Street Journal, Nike and adidas are focused on creating footwear and apparel with Chinese design cues that will hopefully take-off, during the Beijing Olympic Games in August.
The swoosh first showed hints of their movement toward eastern-influence when they released the uber-limited Jordan 1 XQ pack (pictured), a collection of sneakers that featured dragon-inspired designs and dropped exclusively in China. In October, Nike also did a special make-up on the Lebron V that featured laser-etched cues personifying Beijing’s “Forbidden City.” In addition to the recently released footwear, Nike also has launched a line of sportswear carrying a Chinese slogan that translates to “arise and advance,”— a phrase included in China’s national anthem. So far it seems, Nike’s one-upping the three-stripes in quantity, but look for adidas to push hard on Chinese-heavy apparel as the Olympics draws closer. Click the thumbnails after the jump to see some close-up shots of the recent China-inspired kicks.

Popularity: 67% [?]

Daily Swagger: Jordan Opening Day Pack

This set of Jordan 1s pay homage to MJ’s brief baseball playing stint. The colorups reflect Jordan’s White Sox uniform and are accompanied by fitted hats that hook up to the kicks. Look for these to drop around baseball season.

[The Shoe Game]

Popularity: 22% [?]

Jordan Stealth XX3

Don’t say the people over at Jordan Brand never did anything for you. Not only did they re-connect with design genius Tinker Hatfield for the XX3, they also chose to make the best color up of the set available in a wide release. By now you know the stats on the XX3—they’re one of the lightest performance shoes to ever come out of Oregon, they’re environment-friendly, and it’s possible that they’ll complete the iconic Jordan series. Stress about the latter another day, cop these early Saturday morning so you can say you went out on top.
$185, jumpman23.com

Popularity: 14% [?]