John Kim Few music icons are as closely associated with Air Jordans as Philadelphia’s own Boyz II Men. During their performance at the 2026 MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia, the legendary R&B group took the stage (or home plate) wearing a special Air Jordan 11 created in their honor. The design pays tribute to one of the most celebrated sneakers in Jordan Brand history by flipping the iconic “Concord” color blocking, replacing the traditional black patent leather mudguard with a crisp white finish while dressing the upper in black in a molded leather finish.
The Player Exclusive also serves as a nod to one of sneaker culture’s most enduring stories. For years, Boyz II Men have been credited as the first celebrities to wear the Air Jordan 11 “Concord” in public, supposedly debuting the shoes on stage at the 1996 Grammy Awards before the sneaker’s retail release. The tale has become a staple of Air Jordan lore and has even been referenced by Michael Jordan himself. The packaging of this Air Jordan 11, shared by @easyotabor, directly references this moment as well.
There’s just one problem: the evidence doesn’t appear to support it. Despite the story’s widespread acceptance, there are no known photographs or video recordings showing Boyz II Men wearing the Air Jordan 11 “Concord” at the 1996 Grammy Awards. Other R&B acts of the era such as 112 and Take 6 were documented wearing the now-iconic sneaker during television appearances and award show performances, making it possible that the story became conflated over time. Whether through mistaken identity or years of retelling, the legend surrounding Boyz II Men and the Air Jordan 11 has persisted for decades, culminating in this special edition pair.
Despite the history, Boyz II Men now has an authentic place in Air Jordan history with a one-of-one Air Jordan 11 crafted specifically for the Philadelphia icons during this major sporting event. The silhouette itself is poised to have one of its biggest years in recent memory as three different versions of the shoe are planned in celebration of the 30th Anniversary of Space Jam. This includes the actual Space Jam Jordan 11s, the Air Jordan 11 “Monstars”, and the Air Jordan 11 “Space Jam Galaxy”.
