Trinidad James' Top 10 Sneakers of 2013

We know about ya.

December 23, 2013

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Trinidad James' exclamation, "Hypebeasts, we know about ya," on his standout single, "All Gold Everything," tipped everyone off that the Atlanta rapper was in tune to sneaker culture. And all throughout 2013, he wore tons of heat. But what were his favorite sneakers this year?

We got a hold of James, and he gave us his top 10 sneakers of the year. The choices weren't just what he felt were the dopest sneakers released, but the majority of them were stuff he actually wore. On his list, there are some of the year's most-hyped sneakers, but also some classics and under-the-radar drops. And they're a definitive representation of James' taste in footwear. Here are Trinidad James' Top 10 Sneakers of 2013.

10. Air Jordan V "Doernbecher"

"The Doernbecher Vs. That’s my shoe. I really like the whole Doernbecher foundation because it supports a cause. The first Jordan Doernbecher came out, it was the IIs. I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m gonna collect all these.’ And I have the full collection of the Jordan Doernbechers. I feel good about collecting those. The first reason is because they’re dope, it’s for a good cause, and the money goes to the Doernbecher Hospital. For a sneaker head like myself, it's dope to have the shoe and because it does things for the community. And that’s a good way to support. We spend so much money in shoes and we don’t even think about giving money to a foundation. It's almost like tricking yourself into doing something right. That's why I chose to donate to the foundation. This is how I look at it: Nike is filthy rich, they don’t really need your money. It's like food—people are going to buy Nikes anyway. It only costs like 20-something dollars to make a Jordan shoe. We don’t pay $20 for it, because that’s just not how the world works. But you're spending that $200, and $180 of that is for a good cause. So $20 for the shoe, and $180 to go to a good foundation."

9. Nike Air Force 1

"I'm gonna keep it old school with the Air Force 1s. I really enjoy them, they’re a classic shoe. The low top whites."

8. Air Jordan "Legends of the Summer" Pack

"It's gotta be the Legends of the Summer Pack. I’ve got the 3s. That’s the best quality I’ve ever seen on a Jordan. The 3s? Oh man. The detail on the shoe is amazing. The quality on the shoe is amazing, the materials they used. You can't tell Jordan or Nike brand nothing. They’ve got ostrich skin, red bottoms. The bootleg man won’t even bootleg it because it costs too much. For me personally I want that pack because I'm a huge fan of the color red. I really want the 2s, but I’ve got the 3s."

7. Nike Lunarfly 306 QS

"Those shoes are crazy man. Super fly shoe, they’re really comfortable, they’re a decent price."

6. Nike LeBron X Championship Pack Low

"The LeBron championship pack. The low was crazy with the glow in the dark soles? The soles are crazy. I'm talking about the Givenchy Birds of Paradise print. The way that they put that shit together is crazy. Super crazy. The details are amazing."

5. Nike LeBron XI "King's Pride"

"The first colorway of the LeBron XIs. I like to call them the Halos because they remind me of Halo. That shoe is nice. That shoe, when you look at it, there’s nothing that looks like that shoe. That’s where the future of shoes is going. If Nike wanted to, they could have made this shoe exclusive so no one could have it. The Lebron XI is—technology wise, future wise—amazing."

4. Jeremy Scott for adidas Originals JS Wings "Totem"

"Those shoes are like the flyest shoes when it comes to appearances. You're gonna like that shoe, it’s a good shoe. That’s not everybody's speed but if you're really fashionable, then you feel like you can pull off anything. That's why it’s a dope shoe. That’s why I really had to purchase it."

3. Air Jordan V "Oregon"

"The Oregon Vs. I don’t own those yet, but they’re definitely one of the top shoes to come out this year. I really want them, but I didn’t get them yet because they're so exclusive and just hard to find."

On the Oregon players getting in trouble for selling their sneakers:

"I can see why they got in trouble. But one of those people that never takes the basics out of what I know something is. We all know that most college students are broke so how can you expect college students to not want to get $5,000 for a shoe when the only thing that you’re giving to them is a god damn shoe. What if I don't like the sneakers and I have a family to take care of? These sneakers don’t pay for my family. So you're fucking right I'm going to sell these shoes. That my personal opinion. It's like having a car. You're not going to want to sell it, but if times get bad and you've got a family, then you're gonna sell it. That’s how I feel, its kind of fucked up, but at the end of the day, if that’s the rules, then that’s the rules."

2. Air Jordan 1 "Black/Royal"

"I’ve never owned the Royal 1s in my entire life. So for me it was my first time having them. I’m not the biggest fan of the color blue, but that particular shoe made it cool for me to start buying some blue articles of clothing. Added a lot of blue to my closet. The quality is amazing on those, too."

1. Air Jordan 1 "Black/Red"

"The first shoe is the Bred 1s, the 2013 Bred 1s because it’s the most classic Jordan shoe. On top of that, the quality that they used on the shoe is indestructible, they really did their thing on it, as far as Jordan Brand goes. They go with every outfit and the quality is amazing. They haven’t even come out yet, they come out this month, but I’ve [already] worn them so much."