A History of Jay Z's Sneaker References

You know he's got it.

Not Available Lead
Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

Not Available Lead

As one of music's most prolific artists, Jay Z has kept it consistent with the wordplay for over a decade. Having the freshest gear has always been a part of a Hova's rhymes in some form or another, and through the years, he's also shown respect to sneaker culture.  Whether it's dropping a rhyme about his affinity for Air Jordans or plugging his own joint venture with Reebok, Jay Z's been known to lace his lyrics with a nod to kicks. In honor of Shawn Corey Carter's birthday, here is a History of Jay Z's Sneaker References.

RELATED: A History of Jay Z in Air Jordans
RELATED: Watch the Throne: 10 Classic Jay Z and Kanye Footwear Moments

"He want to run with me, I know this kid will be loyal/I watched him make a few ends to cop his little sneakers and gear"

Not Available Interstitial

"I hated me and everybody that created crack/Had me thinkin' the newest kicks, and the latest gat"

Not Available Interstitial

"Carolina blue kicks, hottest nigga on the block/Used to wheelie bicycles since I was six"

Not Available Interstitial

“I stay sportin’, Played Jordans before Jordan”

Not Available Interstitial

“Specially when you're sittin on 20s they get nauseous/Standin’ in the Azure with the white Air Forces”

Not Available Interstitial

“I got this young chick, she's so immature/She like, why you don’t buy me Reeboks no more?'”

Not Available Interstitial

"Lampin in the Hamptons, the weekends man/The Stan Smith adidas and the Campus. Playin guts on the cruise, Hermes boat shoes/The Izod bucket on, I'm so old school"

Not Available Interstitial

"Rocawear… check/Nike Airs… check."

Not Available Interstitial

“Like a personal trainer, I teach coke to stretch/I pump in Roc sweats, all white trainers”

Not Available Interstitial

“But Isis liked this Broadway life/She love the Gucci sneakers, the red, green, and whites”

Not Available Interstitial

"Ma I got whatever outside and you know what I'm sittin' on/50/50 venture with them S dots kickin’ off”

Not Available Interstitial

"I damn near beat Jordan in around-the-world/Nigga please, you can’t even hold my shoes”

Not Available Interstitial

"Bucket low, like fuck it, though/Nikes on, daytime, lights on/Hell yeah I'm frontin' but you love it, though"

Not Available Interstitial

"I'm in new sneakers, dual-seaters, few divas/What more can I tell you?"

Not Available Interstitial

"Man, I'm high off life. Fuck it, I'm wasted/Bathing Ape kicks, Audemars Piguet wrist/my woman friends get tennis bracelets"

Not Available Interstitial

"Dear summer, I know you gon' miss me/For we been together like Nike Airs and crisp tees. S Dots with polo fleeces/Purple label shit with the logo secret"

Not Available Interstitial

"Thanks for the duffle bag, the brown paper bag, the Nike shoe box for holding all this cash"

Not Available Interstitial

“Six pair of kicks is my definition of 12 steps”

Not Available Interstitial

"So I'mma spread my wings, you can meet me in the sky/I already got my own clothes, already got my own shoes I was hot before Barack, imagine what I'm gonna do"

Not Available Interstitial

"Whether black or white, we both like Mike/We both like Jordans, we both Phil's Knight"

Not Available Interstitial

“It’s like I’m searching for kicks, like a sneaker head”

Not Available Interstitial

“I’m ballin’ outta control, can you hear my sneakers?”

Not Available Interstitial

"Ball so hard, let’s get faded/Le Meurice for like six days/Gold bottles, scold models, spillin’ Ace on my sick Js"

Not Available Interstitial

"When you front row at the Knicks game, those the Spike Lees/You front row everywhere, you in the H.O.V.s. Jordan Is and dungarees/And that's just the half of my warpath"

Not Available Interstitial

"Move blocks and squares, move apples and pears/Work pots and pans, just to cop me some Airs"

Not Available Interstitial

"At 42, be better than 24/I carry the 4-5, mastered 48 Laws/Still wearing my 23s, they can't fuck with the boy"

Not Available Interstitial

"Ballys on my feet help me balance out well/That and the shit I used to balance on the scale"

Not Available Interstitial

"Ass-tight denim and some Dunks"

Not Available Interstitial

"New blacks with new stacks/I already been the king, retroact/I'm just bringing it back like Jordan packs"

Not Available Interstitial

"My eyes bloodshot but my jet don't lag. A pair of Jordan IIIs tryna chase this cash."

Not Available Interstitial