Matt Varga Living legend status is hard to come by, but certainly Eminem has achieved that, so frequently cited by industry peers and audiences alike as a true titan in hip-hop. Even outside of his studio exploits, Marshall Mathers has made his mark on several corners of the world, including our shared interest in footwear. In a new auction for the benefit of the Marshall Mathers Foundation, Eminem is letting loose 100 pairs from his personal collection.
As any longtime Jumpman historian will know, our attention immediately goes to his work with Jordan Brand displayed here. First up is the Carhartt x Eminem x Air Jordan 4, crafted for the 15th anniversary of his Shady Records. Just 10 pairs were released to the public; this assuredly draws from a (very slightly) wider F&F allotment. The Air Jordan 4 “Encore,” a shoe recently back in the consciousness as the Undefeated Jordan 4 saw its first-ever re-release, appears via a 2017 sample run, signed by the man himself; it’s just one of 23 pairs. Finally, two pairs of the Air Jordan 3 “Slim Shady” PE, worn by Eminem during the halftime show alongside Kendrick Lamar, Dr. Dre, and 50 Cent, are on offer.
Dig deeper into the offerings and you’ll get arguably a truer reflection of what Mathers has been wearing throughout his sneaker-collecting journey. Most notably, the Air Max Wright makes repeated appearances, famously his on-stage choice for a large portion of his performing career. Additional homages to the Visible Air line come in the Air Max 90, including a signed “Independence Day” colorway and a white-out “Soundstorm” edition worn onstage in Riyadh. Though Beaverton certainly contributes the bulk of what’s included here, eleven pairs of PUMAs like the Tsugi Kori and some Three Stripes fare like the Ultra Boost fill out the catalog.
All proceeds from this auction will go to Eminem’s Marshall Mathers Foundation, dedicated to uplifting at-risk youth in and around Detroit. If you’re aiming to toss your hat in the ring for any of Slim’s sneakers, bidding is open now, closing on August 25th at 10 AM PDT. Check out the full range HERE.
