John Kim 
Before the Air Yeezy became the first official signature shoe for a non-athlete/hip-hop celebrity, Nike dabbled in collaborations with an impressive list of the hip-hop influential that combined sneaker sensibility with a fresh new sound for the generation. Pharrell and N.E.R.D. deserves a good chunk of credit for bringing in a fresh and alternative sound to the genre conventionally defined by perpetual beats and syncopation – a good reason why the group was selected as part of Nike’s third capsule of the ‘Artist Series’, which included NYC graffiti artist ESPO and Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry.
Commonly referred to as the Nike Dunk High ‘Pharrell’, these limited-edition Dunks were actually a collaboration with N.E.R.D. as a whole (Pharrell, Chad Hugo, and Shay), as it features the N.E.R.D. logo embroidered on the heel, with the tonal-black reptilian skin upper serving as the trademark feature (an early sample featured a shinier Metallic Silver). Just 1,050 individually numbered pairs exist and released in January of 2004 at a select cluster of Nike accounts, particularly at prominent and fast-growing sneaker boutiques in New York City. Currently, the Pharrell Dunks command close to $700 in the sneaker market, and due to the rarity and esteemed nature of the collaboration, that number isn’t likely to dip any lower. More of this classic Dunk High after the jump, so take a look at the gallery and stay tuned for tomorrow’s Classics Revisited feature!
Pharrell x Nike Dunk High
Black/Metallic Silver-Varsity red
308418-001
01/2004
Images: rakuten
