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.
