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What Does Kanye Know About Sneakers?

More than you think. Sure, Kanye West is certainly a divisive person and rapper. His high-profile marriage and outlandish public behaviors leave many people uneasy. However, one thing that cannot be denied is his talent for design.

In 2007, Bape was bar none the most coveted streetwear brand on the planet. The Bapesta sneaker was their crown jewel, and Kanye designed a version that featured his mascot, the “Dropout Bear.”

In 2009 West collaborated with Louis Vuitton to create sneakers that were retailing between $990 and $1,140. In the photo below, rapper T-Pain is wearing the Louis Vuitton Jaspers at a live performance. The Louis Vuitton Jaspers are currently selling for $8,000 on Fightclub.com.

When Did The Yeezy Become So Popular?

It started with Nike, not Adidas. Many people don't know that Kanye West wore an all black suede pair of the Nike Air Yeezy I during his 2008 Grammy Awards performance of "Stronger" and "Hey Mama." It wasn't until after his performance that the public became aware that a collaboration between Nike and Kanye West was in the works.

The hype started immediately. Speculation and rumors about the shoes seen on Kanye's feet took hold.

The First Yeezy Was Released

In 2009, Kanye West finally released The Nike Air Yeezy to the public. The shoe had three different colorways and came with the remarkable cross-strap. The coolest part of the entire shoe was the glow-in-the-dark sole.

Three loooong years later, in 2012, the Nike Air Yeezy II was announced. Kanye turned this version into a more casual sneaker. The shoe was purposely slimmed down, to create a thinner look on feet and a better fit Kanye West’s foot.

The cross-strap and warped heel remained. It was pretty impressive. The three colorways were Platinum/Wolf Grey, Black, and Solar Red.

Rapper Jay Z and Macklemore were both photographed wearing Nike Air Yeezy 2’s in separate 2012 musical performances. In the photo below, Rihanna is showing off a Black pair. How adorable is she?

The retail price of the Nike Air Yeezy II was $245. But, get this! The shoe gained such notoriety that the resale value shot wildly upward. People were paying $4,000 per pair.

Two years later, the must-have “Red October” dropped after months of canceled releases. The ‘Red October' was the last shoe of Kanye’s collaboration with Nike. When the partnership ended the resell value for the shoes went through the roof. Kendrick Lamar seems to like his Nike Yeezy 2 Red October. He does look pretty dope (Is that still a word?)