The Nike Air Yeezy wasn’t just one of the best sneakers of the last decade, it helped to further define the sneaker culture as more than performance sneakers, but tools of expression through footwear fashion. Kanye West is the first non-athlete to have his own signature Nike shoe, and the sequel to the super-high-top sneaker is arguably the single most anticipated new release of 2011. During his cameo appearance in “The Black Mamba,” The Boss, (aka Kanye West) gave us a sneak peek at what is presumably his second signature shoe with Nike – the Nike Air Yeezy 2.

While we don’t get a great look, this quick glimpse of the shoe should shed a little light on what to expect from Kanye and Nike’s second go-around. Obviously, we don’t get a very clear view here, but it’s apparent that the follow-up to the Air Yeezy will once again feature an extra-high cut and a strap, with what appears to be classic tooling at the base. From what we can see here, what do you think so far? Check out some more pics after the jump, and be sure to stick with Sneaker News for all Air Yeezy information and updates.

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Kobe Bryant just made his worldwide debut in film as the starring role in ‘The Black Mamba‘, a film featuring Bruce Willis, Danny Trejo, and Kanye West, and directed by Robert Rodriguez, who is best known for his work in Sin City, Desperado, and Machete among others. Rodriguez’s unique filming style was prevalent in ‘The Black Mamba’, with the unique visual style and hero vs. villian storyline, but the real story here is the “making of the movie” movie that takes place within. Obviously, this was never intended to be a full-length movie, but the behind the scenes pitch meeting concept gives a chance for the whole story to be told, mixed in with some humor and of course, big budget explosions.

The Boss, played by Kanye West is on a mission to take down the Black Mamba and confiscate the Mamba’s shoes, sending his most vicious cronies to take him down. Unfortunately for The Boss, the Black Mamba strikes back, culminating with an epic battle for basketball-court supremacy and an unsuccesful shoe theft. And how does Black Mamba end? According to Rodriguez and Kobe, “Black Mamba doesn’t end. Heroes come and go, but legends are forever.” Keep reading for the full video and some screen shots and behind the scenes pics after the jump.

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This week in Sneaker News was filled with breaking news, never-before-seen samples, the hottest upcoming releases, and some dope collaborations. Starting off with Jordan Brand, Sneaker News gave you a look at the Air Jordan 1 designed by Dave White, for the Jordan Brand WINGS for the Future program. We also showed you two new Air Jordan 2011 colorways displayed at a Jordan Brand pop-up exhibit at Footaction. With the 2011 NBA All-Star Game just days away, Sneaker News offered a full review of all the Nike/Jordan All-Star kicks, detailing each All-Star player and the shoes they will be wearing for the big game. Kobe Bryant’s ‘Chaos’ colorway of the VI was detailed during the week, while an all-new Black/Red version of the LeBron 8 P.S. made its world premiere.

Plenty of NBA and Celebrity Feet action went down, with Gilbert Arenas wearing a pair of Military IVs, Kanye West wearing Infrared VIs, and Pharrell wearing South Beach LeBron 8s. Swizz Beatz made his official debut with Reebok, while another collaboration between Undefeated and Puma made news this last week. Another partnership that was once placed in the backburner was thrust back into the spotlight, as the EA Sports x Zoom KD III was released this week at Nike Santa Monica. The Nike iD options list just got a lot sweeter with the return of the Air Force 1, an expanded list of options for the Air Max 90, and a new color palette of the Air Max 95. Staying on the topic of Air Max, Sneaker News showed you a nice recap of Solemart Eindhoven, which shed light on the high influence of Air Max trainers (or runners) on the European sneaker game. And finally, Sneaker News presented the next installment of Michael Jordan Through The Years, placing a focus on the Air Jordan XIII. Check out all the top news of the week by reading ahead to the latest Sneaker News Weekly Rewind.

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The primary slogan for the Air Jordan 2011 campaign was ‘Dominate Another Day‘, a so-called ‘mission’ for Agent D-3 (Dwyane Wade) to take down the Zen Master during a December 25th showdown. The mission was accomplished, as Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat dismantled the defending champions easily as Agent D-3 made the world premiere of the Air Jordan 2011. Now’s your chance to Dominate Another Day because tomorrow is the official release of four astounding colorways of the Air Jordan 2011. In addition to the White/Black-Anthracite release mentioned earlier, the White/Varsity Royal, White/Varsity Red, and Year of the Rabbit colorways will hit stores tomorrow. This mass release of the Air Jordan 2011 is unlike any other, in which you have not one, not two, but four varieties to get excited about. Which one will you be copping? Check your local Jordan Brand retailers for these Air Jordan 2011 releases (the Year of the Rabbit will be a bit harder to find) and let us know which pair you like best.

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Kobe Bryant is already a blockbuster star inside the Staples Center, but with tonight’s premiere of the ‘The Black Mamba‘, he’s ready to join the likes of Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio, and the other movie stars that are Staples Center courtside mainstays. Directed by Robert Rodriguez and starring Kobe Bryant, Bruce Willis, Danny Trejo, and Kanye West, ‘The Black Mamba’ will make a worldwide premier tonight at 1:00 AM PST. You can watch the film on Facebook by attending the World Premiere event and streaming it live. Will this be a blockbuster mega-hit? Be sure to check out the movie and check back with Sneaker News and give us your opinions on Kobe’s acting debut.

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It’s finally here. Twenty six years of history, legendary performances, and iconoclastic designs has culminated into the Air Jordan 2011, the twenty-sixth installment in the Air Jordan Legacy. Inspired by a warrior in battle and featuring a revolutionary interchangeable insole cushioning system, the 2011 is a worthy bearer of the Air Jordan name with a torch carried by the electrifying Dwyane Wade, one of the most dominant players in the NBA today. While we saw the release of the Year of the Rabbit version earlier this month as a China exclusive, tomorrow will be your opportunity to own a pair of the Air Jordan 2011 in the White, Black, and Anthracite colorway. Continue reading for a gallery of detailed images of the Air Jordan 2011 and be sure to get a pair tomorrow at Jordan Brand retailers or right now on eBay.

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There’s been a strong tropical influence of white, aqua, and bright orange for Air Max lately. Sneaker News first dropped an exclusive preview of a ‘Miami Dolphins’ Air Max 1, and there is in fact another Air 180 colorway that is oddly similar to these. However, it’s the materials that set these bad boys apart, as you can clearly see the use of perforated synthetic leather and a durable nylon upper with a grid-like pattern. A black-based pair of the Air 180 dropped recently (just like these – same materials), but if you prefer the pure white motif, check out these sick new trainers after the jump and pick up a pair now at Size?. Will these drop in the U.S.? That’s unlikely, but stick with Sneaker News and we’ll notify you if/when these do.

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That’s not ‘Fools Gold’ you see on the tongue of Kazuki Kuarishi’s latest adidas Originals by Originals sneaker.  Then again, we wouldn’t fault you if that came to mind while looking thereupon, at the face of the man who sang that song and for whom this sneaker is named.  The Kazuki x adidas Originals ZXZ ‘Ian Brown’ celebrates Kuarishi’s friend, musician and former lead singer of seminal ’80s British rockers The Stone Roses.  Click through to get a better look, let us know how these compare to Kazuki’s other reworked Three Stripes classics and stick with Sneaker News for word on the US release.  via Freshness

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Defending league scoring champion and Western Conference All-Star starter Kevin Durant made an appearance yesterday at Westfield Mall in Culver City, CA. Durant, who will also participate in the 3-pt Contest, met and greeted his fans, offering autographs, handshakes, and for one lucky fan, tickets to Saturday night’s All-Star Weekend festivities, which includes Durant and the 3-pt Contest. Kevin Durant has built a sturdy reputation as one of the friendliest, down-to-earth players in the league, and that was proven once again by his friendly appearance yesterday. Check out a quick recap from the event and be sure to watch Durant tear it up this All-Star Weekend! via FLUL/F5toRefresh.

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Nike recently debuted the Air Max 2011 flagship, but it appears that the Air Max 2010 isn’t ready to bow out just yet. Here’s a look at a new Black/White-Metallic Silver-Black colorway that features a leather material on the upper instead of the mesh seen in the original release. The Air Max 2009 also received a similar treatment; after the initial Flywire-mesh shell uppered varieties, Nike released a leather-uppered version for a sleeker, more lifestyle-ready appeal. What do you think of these leather-uppered Air Max 2010s? Check out the extra shots below and head to Nikestore if these are to your liking.

Style: 429845-001
Color: Black/White-Metallic Silver-Black

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It’s a thorn on our side when our new kicks gets scuffed, creased, and worn down, but this February Quickstrike release of the Nike SB Dunk High, just gets better and better with age. Sneaker News already detailed the unique feature of the SB Dunk High – the upper seagrass green wears off to reveal a bronze-like tone – but here’s another detailed look at what the shoes look when they’re brand spankin’ new. You have the option of keeping your kicks pristine like the day they came out of the box, or to wear them down and giving them the two-toned rustic look like the Statue of Liberty itself. These have begun to hit select Nike SB accounts so don’t miss out on this quirky SB Dunk High release; CaliRoots has them available now so check out the new images below and let us know what you think.

Style: 313171-302
Color: Seagrass

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Team Jordan athletes and 2011 NBA All-Stars Ray Allen and Joe Johnson will make appearances at Footaction in Fox Hills Mall at Westfield, Culver City later today. A Q&A session will be held with each individual athlete with hip-hop artist/celebrity sneakerhead Bun B acting as the events host. Ray Allen will make a first appearance at 4PM PST with another one-on-one with Altanta Hawks star Joe Johnson at 5PM PST. You can expect a lot of interesting questions regarding Ray Allen’s history-making three-point shot and Joe Johnson’s leadership of the Hawks to yet another Playoff berth. If you’d like to see these Team Jordan athletes in person, Footaction in Fox Hills Mall at Westfield, Culver City is the place to be!

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