The Best Sneaker Moments in (Recent) SXSW History

Texas Two-Step.

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Complex Original

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When it comes to SXSW, sneakers usually aren't the first thing that come to mind (unless you work at Nice Kicks). But hey, neither were major headliners like Jay Z, Lady Gaga and Kanye West, and that's all changed in a matter of a few years. As the annual music, film, and tech festival has grown, so has the number of memorable sneaker moments. Don't remember? Here are The Best Sneaker Moments in Recent SXSW History.

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adidas x Jeremy Scott Africa

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Shoe: adidas x Jeremy Scott Africa
Worn By: B.O.B.
Year: 2012

2012 was a big year for B.O.B and Jeremy Scott x adidas. The artist’s second studio album, Strange Clouds, dropped and you probably spent a lot of the time trying to get away from Bobby Ray on the radio. Of course, Scott dropped a lot of eye-catching silhouettes that year, but B.O.B went with a more subtle pair of JS Africa high tops. 

Air Trainer Huarache

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Shoe: Air Trainer Huarache
Worn By: Kendrick Lamar
Year: 2011

There were a slew of Air Trainer Huarache colorways that hit the market in 2011. Everything from the OG black and gray Raiders makeup, to new iterations like photo blue and varsity red. While Kendrick Lamar was still on the cusp of stardom, a black and volt pair was on of the rapper’s sneakers of choice for the SXSW stage.

 



Air Jordan VIII

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Shoe: Air Jordan VIII
Worn By: Big Sean
Year: 2009

Big Sean was still on the mixtape scene when performed at the Fader Fort at SXSW in 2009. During that time the Air Jordan VIII hadn’t been retroed for two years, but Sean’s mentor, Kanye West, was spotted wearing a pair of Aqua VIIIs everywhere he went that year. Looks like Ye's influence rubbed off.

Air Jordan XII Rising Sun

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Shoe: Air Jordan XII "Rising Sun"
Worn By: Schoolboy Q
Year: 2011

The "Rising Sun" Air Jordan XII originally dropped in 2009, and had some controversy attached to it when it first came out because of the Japanese flag emblem on the sock liner. It would make sense that Schoolboy Q would bring them out for his 2011 SXSW performance, as the rapper was actually arrested at the festival that year for marijuana possession.

Nike Cortez

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Shoe: Nike Cortez
Worn By: Dom Kennedy
Year: 2011

Dom Kennedy always represented for the West Coast in his sneaker choices. roots at his  Carrying on L.A. tradition, the rapper rocked a pair of black nylon Nike Cortez at his performance performance stops at SXSW 2011.

Air Force 1 Mid

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Shoe: Air Force 1 Mid
Worn By: Kendrick Lamar
Year: 2013

You thought only A$AP Rocky wore white on white Air Force 1 mids?       

Air Jordan III

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Shoe: Air Jordan III
Worn By: Wiz Khalifa
Year: 2011

If you forgot that Wiz Khalifa wore sneakers other than Converse, here’s a reminder: He used to be a big Jordanhead. For a performance at “Sunday Swagger,” Wiz wore a pair of Air Jordan IIIs, which might rival the fact that the performed with Big Sean that day.

Converse All Star Chuck Taylor

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Shoe: Converse Chuck Taylors
Worn By: Kendrick Lamar
Year: 2012

West Coast rappers are known for wearing Chucks, Kendrick Lamar continued that legacy as he wore them in 2012.

New Balance 574 "Heather Gray"

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Shoe: New Balance 574
Worn By: Kendrick Lamar
Year: 2011

Before Kendrick Lamar was claiming that he’d only wear Nike Cortez, he was still wearing simple, low-tech runners – like the New Balance 574s that he wore during a 2011 SXSW performance. 

Air Jordan V

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Shoe: Air Jordan V
Worn By: Theophilus London
Year: 2011

Theophilus London’s signature look is super slim jeans and tailored clothing that’s complemented with Air Jordans. In 2011, he decided to wear a pair of “Black Metallic” Air Jordans Vs that he’s worn over and over, but still look great every time he slips them on.

Air Jordan XII

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Shoe: Air Jordan XII  "White/Red"
Worn By: Trinidad James
Year: 2013

Trinidad James wasn’t as known of a sneakerhead last year at SXSW as he is now. But he still had great sneakers in his collection. He showed his sneakerhead worth by wearing a pair of white/red Air Jordan XIIs. Just don’t call them “Cherrys,” please.

Air Jordan IX

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Shoe: Air Jordan IX
Worn By: Rockie Fresh
Year: 2012

Austin is a dusty town, and sneakers are known to get wrecked at SXSW. Rockie Fresh brought some heat that wouldn’t get destroyed during the festivities, as he wore a pair of “Olive” Air Jordan IXs and performed poolside at a Nice Kicks event. You have to break out the goodies when you’re around sneakerheads. 

Ti$A Get $

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Shoe: Ti$a Get $
Worn By: Big Sean
Year: 2011

Taz Arnold, the man behind “TI$A,” has been a long-time confidant of Kanye West. It’s not a shocker that Big Sean wore something from Arnold at SXSW in 2011, but it wasn’t just a snapback like some would expect. Sean wore a pair of “TI$A Get $” sneakers that were made to resemble a pair of Guccis. Money.

Air Jordan IV

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Shoe: Air Jordan IV
Worn By: Big K.R.I.T.
Year: 2012

Big K.R.I.T. has a lot of Air Jordans, so it’s not crazy that he chose to wear a pair of “Cool Grey” Air Jordan IVs during an interview with Shade 45.

Air Jordan XII

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Shoe: Air Jordan XII Playoffs
Worn By: Lil Wayne
Year: 2012

You’re more likely to catch Lil Wayne in a pair of Supras these days, but in 2012 at the Young Money Showcase, Wayne decided to wear a pair of “Playoff” Air Jordan XIIs. 

Air Jordan VI

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Shoe: Air Jordan VI
Worn By: Kanye West
Year: 2011

The G.O.O.D. Music Showcase at SXSW was one for the ages, and we’re not just referring to the fact that people were treated to a Kanye West performance. Ye wore one of his signature Air Jordans, the “Black Infrared” VI, during his set and matched the sneakers with a red suit. Imagine if the Red Octobers had been out?

Reebok Workout

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Shoe: Reebok Workout
Worn By: Rick Ross
Year: 2012

The Rick Ross/Reebok fiasco happened last year, but 2012 was a good year for Ross and Reebok. He exhibited this by wearing a pair of Workouts at The Fader Fort, which, ironically, was sponsored by Converse.

Air Jordan XIII

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Shoe: Air Jordan XIII
Worn By: Bun B
Year: 2013

Bun B is the trillest dude in Houston, and he might, just might, be the city’s biggest sneakerhead. It’s no shocker that he went with a pair of Air Jordan XIIIs as he took the trip to Austin and repped Texas.

Vans Authentic

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Shoe: Vans Authentic
Worn By: Schoolboy Q
Year: 2013

What’s more West Coast than a pair of Vans Authentics? Instead of breaking out a basic pair, Schoolboy Q wore a pink pair with leather laces, and took the sneakers one-step further: He tagged them up himself with “Groovy Q,” “TDE,” and more.

Air Jordan X

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Shoe: Air Jordan X
Worn By: Nas
Year: 2012

Nas performed everything off Illmatic at SXSW in 2012, so he needed some Illmatic kicks to match the mood. He decided on a pair of Air Jordan Xs, murdered-out, that fit the vibe of the album.

Air Jordan IV

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Shoe: Air Jordan IV
Worn By: Nas
Year: 2012

Nas is a Nikehead through and through. Although he wasn’t wearing a chain that excites the feds during his interview with Peter Rosenberg in 2012 at SXSW, Nas donned a pair of “White Cement” Air Jordan IVs. But is that really a surprise?

Reebok The Answer 1

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Shoe: Reebok The Answer 1
Worn By: Schoolboy Q
Year: 2012

Schoolboy Q is generally regarded for his dope flows more than his sneaker game, but he wears great sneakers, too. In 2012, he broke out the black/gold Reebok Answer 1s more than a year before the sneakers released in 2013. Talk about having a good connect.

Air Yeezy 2

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Shoe: Air Yeezy 2
Worn By: Jay Z
Year: 2012

There’s no denying that Jay Z and Kanye West have a close friendship. So it was only right that Jay wore Ye’s Air Yeezy 2s during his performance at an American Express event at SXSW in 2012. We doubt that Jay had to break out his Black Card to get these kicks, though.

Nike Air Foamposite One "Galaxy"

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Shoe: Nike Air Foamposite One "Galaxy"
Worn By: 50 Cent
Year: 2012

All Star Weekend and SXSW aren’t too far apart, and the biggest sneaker of ASW 2012 was the “Galaxy” Nike Air Foamposite One. 50 Cent decided to hit the stage at the Shady Records SXSW Showcase in the starry kicks. With the hype that surrounded that sneaker at the time, 50 is lucky he made it through the show with the sneakers still in his possession. 

Nike Air Yeezy

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Shoe: Air Yeezy
Worn By: Kanye West
Year: 2009

2009 was the year of the Air Yeezy 1. This is when Kanye West and Nike was the dream collaboration that almost every sneakerhead had waited for. For his performance at the Fader Fort, Kanye wore the “Zen” Yeezy 1s, which had released a few weeks before. Can’t it be when it was all so simple.