May The Force Be With You

The Yoda of Streetwear, NIGO, has wielded his Jedi fashion skills to somehow conjure up a mind-blowing collaboration with none other than the brand that inspired him: Nike.

As many of you may know, the acclaimed Japanese designer is the founder of A BATHING APE, renowned for its iconic Bapesta, which bears a striking resemblance to Nike’s Air force 1. Due to the notoriety of this shoe, the major American Sportswear company eventually sued BAPE. Fortunately, by the time Nike took legal action in 2023 NIGO had already sold his brainchild brand to I.T, a Hong Kong-based fashion conglomerate. Fast forward to now, and we see the supposed “villain” evolving into a worthy accomplice for Nike as they relaunch the Air Force 3 Low.

Entitled “Escape Force,” NIGO and Nike’s inaugural Air force 3 collection consists of two sneaker colorways ($160 each) and a variety of apparel including crewnecks ($160), T-shirts ($70) and varsity jackets ($650).

Check out the trailer for the revamped Air Force 3 collection below:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐎® (@nigo)

The NIGO x Nike Air Force 3 and apparel collection will be available starting September 28th on the Human Made website, at Otsumo Plaza in Tokyo, and at the “I KNOW NIGO TOO” pop-up in NYC. The global release is scheduled for October 4th on SNKRSand at select retailers.

I may be present at the spot in SoHo, who knows?

Tyshawn Jones Is A Certified Stepper

Skateboarding sensation Tyshawn Jones is getting ready to release his second signature shoe with Adidas, aptly titled The Tyshawn II.

The two time Thrasher Skater of the Year winner released his first kicks with the global sportswear brand back in June 2019. And just two years later, a low-top iteration (Tyshawn Lows) came out. Now, Jones is taking his tre flips to new heights with the forthcoming collaboration.

Combining Ty’s unique style and Adidas iconic branding, the Tyshawn II features a low-cut leather upper, including dual-layered panels and perforations at the forefoot for durability and breathability. The campaign flicks of the shoe display a white-based colorway with black accents as well as an all-black version.

If you weren’t aware, Tyshawn is signed to Steven Victor’s sports management company. Victor’s (a fellow Haitian, I might add) other notable client is current WBA lightweight champion of the world, Gervonta “Tank” Davis.  Jones’ incredible skating prowess was on full display last year in a viral video which showcased him doing an ollie over Steven Victor’s $5 million Ferrari Monza SP2 supercar (talk about great marketing, right?).

The Adidas Tyshawn II ($100) will be released on June 1.

Shoot For The Stars, Aim For The Moon

In his debut studio and posthumous album Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon released July 3rd, Pop Smoke broke away from the stereotype that he’s a one dimensional drill rapper, a stigma developed from his aggressive-sounding Meet the Woo mixtapes. He makes it known on the track “Mood Swings” where he pokes fun at his listeners saying: “Oh, you ain't know I could sing?” and then proceeds to croon on the ballad featuring New York’s very own Lil Tjay. Joints like “Something Special” and “What You Know Bout Love” are few of the songs that display his versatility and make you want to groove in a manner unique to Brooklyn and the Woos. Other tracks, however, such as “44 Bulldog” and “Make It Rain” remain true to Pop Smoke’s iconic drill flow which first took the industry by storm with his hit single, “Welcome to the Party.”

Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon boasts an impressive list of features including artists such as Quavo, Future, and even 50 Cent. Furthermore, Pop enlists a new lineup of producers in CashMoneyAP and Buddah Bless, a distinct change from the frequent 808 Melo hard UK collaborations. 

Pop came to the scene defying expectations. His record label, Victor Victor Worldwide, suggested that he created a Meet the Woo mixtape series, releasing a studio album only when he’d gained serious traction within the industry. But Pop’s bold and unique sound made him an instant hit far before the scheduled timeline Steven Victor, founder and CEO of VVW, had in mind. Given the young star’s talent, Pop quickly made a name for himself, already a full-blown star before the release of the second iteration of the mixtape series.

Pop and his crew worked on Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon in the Bahamas, finishing “70-80%” of it before his unfortunate murder. It was Pop’s relationship with his mentor 50 Cent, however, that would ensure the release of his first studio album to the public. Although Steven Victor was left with an abundance of Pop’s music, he was grieving over the loss of his close friend and associate and wasn’t in the right state of mind to both curate and put together Pop’s album. So when 50 questioned Victor about the creation of the album, his immediate response was “Nothing. Yo Fif, I can’t even listen to his music, let alone think about putting together an album.”

Fifty took that opportunity to remind Victor of the responsibility he held, to both further Pop’s legacy and let the world see the new avenues he began to tread. In hand, Fifty, who shared a deep love for Pop, served as the executive producer of the album and didn’t charge either the family or the label. With the joint effort of Fifty and Victor, the album has finally come to fruition, delivering the people with an unforgettable and charismatic masterpiece for our generation. 

Everything from Pop’s brazen voice filled with gravitas to his iconic woo walk makes sure that he will leave a legacy like no other. You did it Pop. You for real are the rose that grew from concrete.

Rest in peace Big Woo!

Written by Vignesh Mannemela