The sneaker and music industries have always walked hand in hand. However, the genre that had the most influence in the industry is hip-hop, rap specifically. And whenever you think of a big rapper, you can bet that they have a certain sneaker lore. So today, we’re gonna break down the Eminem sneakers lore. After all, the man became easily one of the biggest rappers in the world. Naturally, his sneakers and sneaker collabs are a hot topic for sneakerheads! Now, the rapper’s brand of choice is Nike. So today, we’re gonna dive into everything Marshall Mathers and Nike… shall we?
The Evolution of Eminem Sneakers – Hype & More Hype!
Before we start the sneaker recap, there are a few things we’d like to point out. The Nike x Eminem partnership is not the product of yesterday. It’s more than two decades old with the oldest shoe dating back to 2003! And because Slim Shady always does things differently, most of the collabs never had an actual general release. You see, some of the kicks were celebrations of records, while others came out as a creative way to help charities. Now that we got that out of the way, we can dive into the best Eminem sneakers you should know. If you want the full list, check this out.
2003 – Genesis of Eminem Sneakers
When we say that the 2000s were groundbreaking years for the industry, we’re not kidding. Of course, Nike was at the forefront of it all with Air Jordans, the launch of Nike SB Dunks, and more. However, the Nike Artist Series sometimes slips through the cracks! The line feature a range of collaborations with different artists like the Neptunes, ESPO, and Eminem. This collab was the first in what would become a long line of Eminem sneakers!
The sneaker of choice was actually the Nike Air Burst, nicknamed “Shady Burst”! It featured a simple grey suede and mesh design. Mind you, this shoe is one of the many Nike kicks that Em rocked during that era. Of course, this pair featured Eminem’s logo on the sockliner, dubrae, and outsole. You can currently find this pair on the aftermarket for an average of $700.
2004 – May the Real Air Force 1 Please Stand Up?
After the initial collaboration, Slim Shady and Nike came back for another pair! The Air Force 1 Shady Records is a personal favorite. Simple, elegant, and one of the most memorable Eminem sneakers. Today, these babies stand at a whopping $5k+ on the resale market. So, unless you got deep pockets, it’s gonna stay a grail for you.
2005 & 2017 – It’s an Encore for Eminem Sneakers
Near the end of 2004, Eminem gave us his album Encore. And in 2005, he and Jordan brand collaborated on the ultra-rare Jordan 4 Encore! Rumor has it that only 50 pairs of these babies were made, most were given to friends and family, while others were a contest prize for the public.
And then, a miracle happened, and the partners brought the kicks back 12 years later! However, these babies were even more exclusive than the 2005s. You see, only 23 pairs of the kicks came out. Finally, only one of these pairs was available for purchase via a charity raffle on StockX! Today, the Encore Jordan 4s are worth about $20k in resale.
2015 – Threeway Collabs Just Work
Another pair we wish we could have is none other than the Eminem Carhartt Jordan 4! These babies were also friends and family exclusive. However, the collaborators made 10 extra pairs, for a cause! These ten pairs went out on an eBay auction, and all the proceeds went to the Marshall Mathers Foundation. As for resale, the kicks are currently valued at an average of about $17k!
Now That You Know Your Eminem Sneakers…
We can’t forget about the last sighting of Eminem off the stage in 2024. It was at his daughter Hailie’s wedding! And obviously, you can’t expect Slim Shady to not serve looks. So, along with his formal suit, our man word the crowd favorite, the Jordan 3 White Cement! Of course, this won’t be the last we’ll see of Eminem’s epic sneaker taste. That’s why you should keep it locked on our blog. Who knows? We might bring news of a new collab someday. Godspeed!
