Hip-hop artists have been stuntin' poetically on wax since the art was first introduced — money, cash, girls, and clothes have always been a must to be a respected emcee. Things have changed immensely since the '80s from production, rhyme schemes, and the brands that rappers have been boasting about decades ago. Before rappers like Wale and Kanye came along rapping about their fresh Nike Airs, some of the greatest in the game were just as amped about their adidas Superstars. Hit the jump to check out 25 Outdated Sneaker References in Rap and let us know which bar is the best.
RELATED: 25 Most Iconic Rock N Roll Sneaker Photos of All Time/
Hip-hop artists have been stuntin' poetically on wax since the art was first introduced — money, cash, girls, and clothes have always been a must to be a respected emcee. Things have changed immensely since the '80s from production, rhyme schemes, and the brands that rappers have been boasting about decades ago. Before rappers like Wale and Kanye came along rapping about their fresh Nike Airs, some of the greatest in the game were just as amped about their adidas Superstars. Hit the jump to check out 25 Outdated Sneaker References in Rap and let us know which bar is the best.
RELATED: 25 Most Iconic Rock N Roll Sneaker Photos of All Time/
Schoolly D – Put Your Filas On
Schoolly D – "Put Your FILAs On"
Year: 1986
Lyrics: "100 dollar FILAs on, it got to be fresh (fresh)/Jammin to a beat just got to be fresh (fresh)"
A bill for some FILAs back then? Them shits must have been cold. We'll wait until they jump on Kicks Deals.
Nas – Represent
Nas – "Represent"
Year: 1994
Lyrics: "Somehow the rap game reminds me of the crack game/Used to sport Bally's and Cazals with black frames"
Nasty Nas was a rebel to America and whether it was money from the dope or rap game, his sneaker choices have always been on point.
Soulja Boy – Bapes
Soulja Boy – "Bapes"
Year: 2007
Lyrics: "I got me some Bathing Apes, I got, I got me some Bathing Apes/I got, I got me some Bathing Apes, I got I got I got me some Bathing Apes"
Bapes are still fresh but we don't think anyone is going that crazy over them today — we get it, you got Bapes and a wack hook.
The Game – Church For Thugs
The Game – "Church for Thugs"
Year: 2005
Lyrics: "Who I gotta talk to, who I gotta write/Get my Reebok deal done or I'm stayin' in Air Nikes, aight?"
Back in 2005, Reebok was still in the S. Carter, G-Unit phase, so The Game had all the reason in the world to want his own piece. He must have never talked to the right people though, as his 310 Motoring joints dropped later that same year.
Compton's Most Wanted – I Gots Ta Get Over
Compton's Most Wanted – "I Gots Ta Get Over"
Year: 1992
Lyrics: "Freeze as they cock the gats is what they yelling/Can't let them catch up because they'll ruin/So I hops the fence in my fucking Patrick Ewings"
You can thank the king of New York for helping you drop that misdemeanor.
Raekwon – Canal Street
Raekwon – "Canal Street"
Year: 2009
Lyrics: "All we wear is FILAs, Guess, suede fronts, beehives/Bally sneakers, big jewels, Levi's"
Another reason why Wu-Tang is the greatest.
Lil B – New York Subway
Lil B – "New York Subway"
Year: 2010
Lyrics: "Probably turn on my Sega Genesis, know what I mean?/Got my L.A. Gears on"
Sega and the L.A. Gears? Flourishing in the '90s.
Kendrick Lamar – Westside, Right on Time
Kendrick Lamar – "Westside, Right on Time"
Year: 2012
Lyrics: "Plus some cartoons and some cereal, Snoop Doggy on my stereo/Some British Knights or L.A. Gears with glowing lights or Perry Ellis jacket"
Cartoons, Snoop Dogg, and fresh kicks is the perfect jump to anyone's day.
Far East Movement – Fetish
Far East Movement – "Fetish"
Year: 2008
Lyrics: "For this pair on my feet, Pro Wings with velcro/Then L.A. Gear's Greatest Night's in shell toes"
These dudes might not be getting the credit they deserve in the sneaker game, they just listed off some real g shit.
Kool Moe Dee - British Knights
Kool Moe Dee — "British Knights"
Year: 1988
Lyrics: "The shoes that are hot/The shoes are wild/They're called British Knights... /How ya' like me now?!"
So this wasn't an official track, but this commercial was too sick to pass.
Wale – Kicks
Wale – "Kicks"
Year: 2007
Lyrics: "Riding with my Laser 4 Jordans before you ordered them/I'm a quickstrike away, flyer than all of em"
With a million Jordan retros dropping over the past few years it feels like ages since Mike's camp blessed us with the laser IVs.
Eminem – No One's Iller
Eminem – "No One's Iller"
Year: 1997
Lyrics: "New Lugz, give the crew hugs, guzzle two mugs/Before I do drugs that make me throw up like flu bugs"
Lugz were pretty ill for a minute, but we don't think these will be making their way back in your rotation anytime soon — until Drake pairs them with an Enyce shirt or some shit.
Jayo Felony – Homicide
Jayo Felony – "Homicide"
Year: 1994
Lyrics: "That's PCP if you can't comprehend/I'm puttin on my Karl Kani boots and I'm stompin' men"
Karl Kani reigned supreme in the '90s with the full denim jeans and jacket — Jayo knows.
A Tribe Called Quest – Motivators
A Tribe Called Quest – "Motivators"
Year: 1996
Lyrics: "You couldn't converse if you had fucking React Juice."
We see what you did there Phife — outdated, but we're cool if Converse brings back the grandmamas.
Craig Mack – Flava In Ya Ear Remix
Craig Mack – "Flava In Ya Ear Remix"
Year: 1994
Lyrics: "I'm straight rap great, busting heads, straighten dreads/I'm everlasting, like the toe on Pro Keds"
Damn, if only Craig Mack's career was as teflon as NYC's one-time go-to shoe.
Slick Rick & Doug E Fresh – La Di Da Di
Slick Rick & Doug E Fresh – "La Di Da Di"
Year: 1985
Lyrics: "Threw on the Bally shoes and the fly green socks"
So outdated you don't even know what these look like and we can't find a clean photo to show you.
Jay Electronica – Exhibit C
Jay Electronica – "Exhibit C"
Year: 2009
Lyrics: "So now I'm back spittin that 'he could pass a polygraph'/That Reverend Run rockin adidas out on Hollis Ave"
Paying homage to one of the first official shoes of hip-hop. Classics.
Nas – Reach Out
Nas – "Reach Out"
Year: 2012
Lyrics: "This is reminiscent to all the parks in the projects/When my British Knights, can rival your Foamposites/Don’t make me pull my Lottos out the closet"
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones just bodied your Foamposites, and he apparently hasn't bought a new pair of sneakers since '88.
Jay-Z – What More Can I Say
Jay-Z – "What More Can I Say"
Year: 2003
Lyrics: "S Dots on my feet makes my cipher complete"
The Gucci, er, homages helped Jigga complete his clean and mature look. With Reebok dropping some gems from the past few decades, it might be time to get these back on the shelves.
Jadakiss – Welcome to D-Block
Jadakiss f/ The Lox & Eminem – "Welcome to D-Block"
Year: 2004
Lyrics: "On D-Block, where everybody wants to be Pac/And you can get popped over the new G-Unit Reeboks"
Back in '03 nothing was hotter in the streets than 50's tracks, tees, and RBK kicks.
Leaders of the New School – What's the Pinocchio's Theory?
Leaders of the New School – "What's the Pinocchio's Theory?"
Year: 1991
Lyrics: "Ah! Ah! Who you think you're fooling?/With those played-out Lottos, you know you ain't cooling"
Slander: Lottos edition. Don't tell Nas about this.
Lloyd Banks - Victory
Lloyd Banks - Victory
Year: 2004
Lyrics: "Now all the vehicles is log enough to stash the street sweeper, this shit could get uglier than a Master P sneaker"
It's been so long since Master P's sneakers were relevant, even Lloyd Banks' punchline seems outdated.
Geto Boys – Street Life
Geto Boys – "Street Life"
Year: 1993
Lyrics: "Up early in the morning lacin' up my British Knights/Throwin' up my deuce sign, fuckin' with the street life"
This is how real G's kick off their day.
Ice Cube – Steady Mobbin'
Ice Cube – Steady Mobbin'
Year: 1991
Lyrics: "So after the screwin'/I bust a nut and get up and put on my white Ewings"
At least Ice Cube did those things in that order — shouts to Ewing getting love even on the West Coast.
Run-D.M.C. – My Adidas
Run-D.M.C. – "My Adidas"
Year: 1986
Lyrics: "My adidas, standin on two fifth street/Funky fresh and yes cold on my feet/With no shoestring in 'em, I did not win 'em"
You can really credit the whole track, when's the last time a rapper has repped a sneaker this well? Still kings, R.I.P. Jam Master Jay.
