The famous and talented New York rapper Raekwon the Chef is also known for his love for streetwear and sneakers. Feeling close to the values of the Italian brand DIADORA, the Wu-Tang Clan member has already offered us catchy collabs including the recent N9000 « Only Built 4 Cuban Linx » in December 2020 (article available HERE). Now the strong partners are back with a new program called « Community Linx ».
The rap icon and the Italian sportswear brand are cooking up something special, available only at the famous Foot Locker store.
They have joined forces to create the « Community Linx » collection, which aims to design pieces to serve the culture and community. The program also aims to help young musicians via a 4-week internship alongside Raekwon and music industry personalities like Dave East. and Scam Jones.
Raekwon announced on his Instagram account that this collaborative capsule, exclusively available at Foot Locker, will include 7 pairs of shoes paying homage to iconic cities of the United States : New York, Detroit, Philadelphia, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles, as well as a national version.
The first launch introduces 2 new iterations of the Diadora N9002 silhouette inspired by New York and more specifically its 2 great basketball clubs, the Knicks and the Nets. Available in orange/blue or Black/Grey reflective 3M, these versions feature a nylon base with smooth or hairy suede overlays. Two-tone laces and Raekwon’s signature heels ensure the shoes look both stylish and bold. Two-tone soles and a « Raekwon approved Community Linx Est.2021 » hangtag complete the design.
About these Diadora sneakers, Raekwon explained, « It’s just a comfortable, nice shoe. There’s just something about it, to me, that gives you comfort, style — those things are important to me. When you put on a shoe, you want to feel good about it, the way it looks, the way it fits. ».
He continued : « The sleekness of them, the way they sat, the suede or the leather, the front had a different shape — there were certain things about Diadora sneakers that made them not your normal shoe that really stood out to us. Back in the day, as a kid, we were always fascinated by that, and these were things that motivated us in the hood to want to be fly. »
The Raekwon x Diadora N9002, available in 2 New York colorways, will release on January 27, 2022 exclusively at Foot Locker and Champs Sports, priced at $120 per iteration. Other versions will arrive throughout the year… Stay tuned !
