John Kim Thirty years after Reasonable Doubt changed the course of hip-hop, Nike is commemorating the landmark album with a special-edition Air Force 1 Low.
A first look at the upcoming release, which pays tribute to Jay-Z’s iconic 1996 debut album while quietly referencing one of the most coveted Air Force 1 collaborations ever produced. The all-white design appears to utilize the coveted 2001 Air Force 1 shape while focusing on a series of subtle storytelling details.
The most significant nod appears at the heel; the right shoe features the legendary Roc-A-Fella Records logo, immediately recalling the ultra-rare Roc-A-Fella Air Force 1 that has long stood as one of sneaker culture’s ultimate grails before it re-released in 2017. Opposite it sits the official Reasonable Doubt logo with 1996 underneath, tying the project directly to the album’s 30th anniversary. The Nike branding on the heel features the dots above the logo mirroring the distinctive graphic treatment found on the album cover.
The shoes first surfaced via @kodaklens as part of what appears to be a friends-and-family package; alongside the sneakers is a commemorative card reading, “A very kind thank you for 30 years of support,” bearing Jay-Z’s name in typed form.
Whether or not this Air Force 1 receives a wider release remains to be seen, but for longtime fans of Hov, this is just part of the grand celebration and recognition of Shawn Carter’s contributions over the last three decades.
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