FreeDarko, the author of The Macrophenomenal Pro Basketball Almanac and prominent basketball blogger, recently hooked up with adidas athletes Dwight Howard and Derrick Rose to create a series of animated spots detailing how their performance gear works.

Check out the two spots below which are voiced by the baritone stylings of rapper Chali 2Na. 

To hear Young Jeezy tell it, he has his own signature shell-toes on the way. In fact, he even has a prototype in hand in the video below. But based on what Jeezy is showing us, they look like a standard pair of Adidas with a graphic on the tongue and his “Snowman” alias on the back.

Back in the early 2000s that would have been a big deal, but Reebok’s “S. Carters” and “G-Units” already played out the novelty of stamping rap logos on generic looking sneakers. A new apparel era has dawned and creativity is king.

Kanye just released his Nike “Air Yeezys” and his Louis Vuitton steps and Adidas and UNDRCRWN are in negotiations with Mos Def to release his bold but fresh “Boogie Man” kicks. Why would Adidas release the boring “Snowmans” when they have the dope “Boogie Mans” (below) on tap?

Hip-Hop music is not selling like it used to, which means that it’s only holding onto its pop-culture credibility by virtue of its fashion-forward sense of cool. That elusive “cool” will be lost however if hip-hop tosses up half-assed bricks like Jeezy’s “Snowmen.”

If Jeezy really wants to make waves in the shoe game, he needs to take notes from Yeezy, Hip-Hop’s resident fashion Podiatrist. Otherwise he needs to shelve his shell-toes, or donate them to Rick Ross’ lackluster K-Mart Luxury Tax clothing line.

-Lukas Brekke-Miesner

Flaunting team colors and trash-talking from the stands (or the living room, depending on where you’re watching the game) is probably the best part of any spectator sport. But what if you could get rewarded for it? That’s the idea behind the new adidas sweepstakes, “Rep Your Brotherhood,” where one very lucky winner will win a trip and two tickets to Game 3 of the NBA Finals and $500 worth of adidas gear. 

Running now (April 29) until May 15, 2009, the sportswear giant is looking for die-hard basketball fans to submit photos of themselves along with a 100 word piece about why they love the sport. The top 20 entries will be voted on by the online community from May 18 to May 29 and adidas will announce the winner on June 1, 2009.   

To learn more information, read the rules and to enter, click here.

Image: Sole Collector 

If you’re anything like me, you spend a fair amount of time online perusing “exclusive” sneakers with garrish color ways that lack class and edge. But every once in a while you find something dope and inspired. Such is the case with Mos Def’s new “Boogie Man” kicks. These sick red, black and green paisley steps are inspired by Dead Prez’s RBG album cover and come courtesy of Mos Def’s recent collaboration with UNDRCRWN and Adidas.

The first portion of Mos’s UNDRCRWN line, designed with Dustin Canalin, just dropped, and a full cut and sew range is coming in late spring. Though the rare “Boogie Man” sneakers have so far only blessed the feet of Black Dante himself, Mos and Canalin continue to work with Adidas.

Speaking of new shit, apparently the designer known as Mos Def also raps! Check out “Flowers,” an acapella teaser for his forthcoming album The Ecstatic.

-Lukas Brekke-Miesner

Even though it’s played on the blacktop, basketball is going green. For a little, while that is.  

The NBA has hooked with the National Resources Defense Council to kick off Green Week 2009. As part of the campaign, sportswear giant Adidas will hook up their players in 100% sustainable organic shooting shirt, which can purchased at the NBA’s online store here.

NBA Green Week starts today, April 2 and will continue onto April 10.

As part of March Madness, sportswear giant Adidas is kicking off a new campaign featuring some of their star NBA players. The campaign entitled “March is a Brotherhood” features players Kevin Garnett (seen above), Dwight Howard, Tracy McGrady, and Josh Smith giving props to their favorite NCAA teams.

Check out the videos below:

Garnett + UCLA

Howard + Kansas

McGrady + Louisville

Smith + PItt

Hip-hop almost singlehandedly transformed the lowly sneaker into high fashion and a great canvas for design.

In part five of GIANT Magazine’s exclusive, six-part online look inside the creation of “DEFinition: The Art and Design of Hip-Hop (Collins Design),” co-author Bill Adler takes you on a tour of some of the most outlandish kicks in the book, and Rev Run reminisces about how Jam Master Jay kept his sneakers on his feet back in the day.

Watch the video here:

PART ONE: Making Hip-Hop’s Classic Album Covers

PART TWO: Ice-T and Run Examine Hip-Hop’s Classic Album Covers

Kevin Garnett and David Beckham got in a friendly basketball competition, seeing who can make a basket by kicking the basketball through the hoop. This footage was taken while they were on the set of the filming of the adidas Originals Brand campaign Celebrate Originality.

The adidas Originals Celebrate Originality campaign is set against the background of a house party hosting an eclectic mix of people from the worlds of music, fashion and sport. The creative features musicians and icons Katy Perry, Estelle, Young Jeezy, the Ting Tings, DMC, Method Man, Redman, Afra, Ryukyudisko, Russell Simmons and Missy Elliott,  as well athletes like Garnett, Beckham, Ilie Nastase and Mark Gonzales, and designers Kazuki and Jeremy Scott.

For more NBA action, click here to check out our Chris Paul gallery! And here for our Carmelo Anthony gallery!

And for more sneaker love, click here to check out the new Air Jordan 2009!

Adidas Y-3 Collection is a collaboration with the sportswear company and the cutting-edge Japanese fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto. At the Y-3 Fall 2009 Presentation which was held at a soccer pitch in Manhattan, Tyson Beckford, Kanye West, Veronica Webb and Anthony Mackie were a few of the celebrities on the front row. Like his own Post-Modern creations, Yamamoto brought that sensibility to Y-3 but mixed it with innovative and youthful sportswear (literally there were children in the show). The result is a global combination of urban, fashionista, athletic and chic. Military jackets, ’80s Pop Art references, dressy denim, lot’s of black and Yamamoto’s own neo-classical influence created the perfect collection for the young, hip and cool.  Check out some of the looks.

Can we kick it…well, yes we can. It’s time to reconsider the high-price of over-the-top sneakers. Now that we are officially in a Recession, it’s the moment to be smart about being stylish. The sure money is always on the classics. Keeping it simple, basic and clean is a great way to look cool without breaking the bank. My favorite types of sneakers are timeless and all endorsed (and named after) sports legends throughout the ages. Stylish, functional and “best in class”, these sneakers win every time. Check out my choice classic kicks.

Major League Soccer’s newest team, the Seattle Sounders recently debuted their new uniform to a hometown crowd. Adorned in a dual-color scheme, the uniforms unconventional colorway reflects the Seattle’s notable land and waterscape.

The uniforms were presented by players Kasey Keller and Freddie Ljungberg and minority co-owner and The Price Is Right host Drew Carey.

As MLS looks to kick start the 2009 season, fans can get their Sounders gear by going here. 

Chauncey Billups’ recent trade to the Denver Nuggets represents a homecoming for the NBA All-Star. So, it only makes sense that he pays homage to his hometown tomorrow night (November 27th) by wearing an exclusive TS Creator Thanksgiving Day shoe during the Nuggets game against Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets.

As a Colorado native, Billups grew up playing the game at George Washington High School where he was a 4-time All-State first team pick and 3- time recipient of Colorado’s “Mr. Basketball” title. Billups later went on to tally numerous records and accolades at Colorado University including the prestigious jersey retirement in 2004.

In tribute to his Colorado roots, Billups will take to the court in a Colorado University-inspired adidas TS Creator Thanksgiving Day shoe. The gold and black shoes are accented with personalized details that link back to his days playing for the Buffaloes including “Go Buffs” on the medial collar, his initials on the lateral side and his long standing nickname, Mr. Big Shot, etched in white beneath.

Adidas will host an exclusive auction of the TS Creator Thanksgiving Day shoe starting on Friday (November 28th). Only 11 pairs, exact replicas of the pair worn by Billups on Thanksgiving Day, will be numbered and autographed by Billups. The auction will be hosted on the NBA’s official site. Bidding will start at $100 and will run for one week ending on Thursday, December 4th, 2008. All proceeds will go to the Porter-Billups Leadership Academy, a local Denver non-sports institute providing disadvantaged youth optimal opportunities and resources to achieve academic success. Billups has been actively involved it all elements of the Porter-Billups Leadership Academy since 2006.

The TS Creator silhouette is part of the new Team Signature series from adidas Basketball called Command + Create.

In celebration of their 60th anniversary, sportswear brand adidas threw a massive house party last week in Brooklyn’s hipster hotspot neighborhood of Williamsburg.

Fans of the “brand with the three stripes” filed into to the converted parking garage for free booze, loud sounds and fancy gift bags. During 2009, adidas will continue to celebrate their 60 years of brand heritage through the re-release of signature sneaker models, track jackets and other apparel. Check out what you missed below:

I hope you rocked the vote today! If you didn’t, you may see Kevin Garnett and Tracy McGrady looking for you. The two Adidas-signed athletes will wear their election-inspired kicks in the Boston versus Houston game tonight. Check them out below!

To commemorate Kevin Garnett’s first NBA Championship, adidas has created a customized Team Signature Commander for the baller. Garnett will wear this sneaker (which also has his face on it, should he forget who he is) during the Celtics’ first game of the season against the Cleveland Cavaliers today, October 28.

17 autographed pairs of the shoes will be auctioned off starting today on the Celtic’s site. All of the proceeds will benefit the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation, which aims to benefit local children and community support programs.

For  the 2008/2009 NBA season, adidas is dropping the Commanders and Creators pack.

The Commander’s pack includes signature on-court shoes for Kevin Garnett, Dwight Howard and Tim Duncan. The Creators collection features signature low models for Tracy McGrady, Chauncey Billups and Gilbert Arenas.

Check out the entire collection below and hit up adidas’ website if you feel like copping a pair, or two, or three.

You ever wonder what NBA all-stars like Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan and Dwight Howard do all summer? I mean other than partying, designing kicks and recording albums (Thank God, Kobe and Shaq are done with all that… right?) Well, if you believe this new adidas video-used to promote their new COMMAND AND CREATE line-they  get together and do what they do best. They ball… Peep the video below:

Cey Adams and Bill Adler created DEFinition: The Art and Design of Hip Hop, a book and exhibit celebrating the best of the culture’s visual noise. GIANT was on hand for the artistry. Check out the flicks above and let us know what you think.

Americans may hate soccer, but they love sneakers and celebrites — especially really awesome British celebrities like Posh and Becks.

As a red-blooded American, the only football I watch includes a quarterback. That said, I know a thing or two about David Beckham. I’m really a Victoria Beckham fan, but since they seem to be serious or whatever I guess I have to respect dude’s gangster. He’s single-handedly made soccer more interesting in the US. Not really, but he does have a deal with Adidas and I like their kicks.

To that end, I figured I would showcase Becks’ Limited Edition Predator Gold. In honor of today’s (July 24) Major League Soccer All-Star game in Toronto, adidas launched these globally today at Noon EST. According to adidas, the cleat’s celebratory design was inspired Beckham’s 100th cap for England. 2,000 pairs available at Eurosport at the SRP $200.

Kevin Garnett, the Boston Celtics and adidas announced today the launch of a rare version of Garnett’s 2008-09 adidas Team Signature Commander shoe.  This footwear release was designed to commemorate the Celtics’ historic run at an NBA Championship.  adidas will produce only eight pairs per game of this exciting shoe to be sold at retail (potentially 56 total pair if The Finals go a full seven games).  One special pair of shoes autographed by KG will be auctioned off on NBA.com after The Finals.  All profits from the sale of these shoes will go to NBA Cares community partners in the Boston area.

The adidas Team Signature KG Commander is scheduled to launch in October 2008, but for this year’s NBA Finals, Kevin Garnett will wear a special version that will be highlighted by the inclusion of the coveted Larry O’Brien NBA Championship Trophy on the medial side, and an embroidered callout to games 1 thru 7 on the lateral side.  The number of that night’s game will be in green while the others remain white. The numbers 1 thru 7 also get larger as each game grows in significance.

“All season long it has been about we and not me, so as we head into the NBA Finals I wanted to do something special for the Boston community. That is why we came up with this limited edition adidas Team Signature KG Commander,” stated Garnett.  “Since day one, the fans of Boston have made me feel like family, so to do this and be able to give back to them is a great honor.”

Another key attribute that has adorned KG’s shoes throughout the years are his tributes to two of his good friends and mentors: Malik Sealy (former Timberwolves teammate) and Kirby Puckett (former Minnesota Twins Superstar Centerfielder).  Malik’s tribute is located under the strap and says “2 Malik”, while Kirby’s call out, “KP 34” is located on the back of the shoe, just below the adidas logo.

“KG redefines what passion means on the basketball court but this energy also spills over to include every off-court initiative that he is involved with as well,” stated Lawrence Norman, VP Global Basketball for adidas.  “His switch never turns off – KG is 100% authentic and his drive to make a difference in the community is real and ongoing. This was the perfect concept for a guy like KG and adidas to get involved with as we both enjoy finding fun, creative ways to give back to the local community.”

“KG has shown throughout his career that he is a consummate team player, whose passion for the game, his teammates and his community is unmatched,” stated Rich Gotham, President, Boston Celtics.  “KG embodies all of the characteristics that all true Celtic greats have and this is one of many ways that Kevin gives back to the city of Boston and its fans.”

The limited-edition adidas Team Signature Commander will only be available at Celtics.com, the TD Banknorth Garden Pro Shop and NBA Store in New York City.  Each pair of adidas Team Signature KG Commanders will retail for $1017 (to commemorate the drive for championship #17).

Things have been hectic with the team working on our next BIG thing. Luckily, our users are there to back us on the stuff THEY like. Fellow Sneaker Head Brian looked me out with these new collabo jawns from Lemar and Dauley.

The creativity of sneakers has continued to expand due to company collaborations. One of the most recent mash ups is the merger of Adidas and Lemar and Dauley. Brilliant colors along with a Spike Lee Do the Right Thing feel give this shoe a load of funk.

Adidas x Lemar and Dauley present the Remix Streetball 08. The shoe has been released in two different colorways, a black model and a teal model. Those in charge of flavor saw fit to add laces in different colors including black, teal, pink, neon, and a traditional white. Providing plenty of comfort inside the shoe is a plush bootie. The mundane leather has been left behind and sprucing up the front as well as the back of the shoe is a suede texture. The shoe is well made and can get a lot of heads turning. For those looking for something out of the ordinary to add to the collection, take a peek and cop a pair. You certainly won’t find these on too many feet.

Priced around $150, these shoes can be purchased at retailers with top tier Lemar and Dauley accounts in a neighborhood near you.

Good looking out, Brian.

With March Madness in full swing, you know we had to do something NCAA-related. And the cats have adidas has what every hardcore college hoops fans would want (as long as one of your teams is an adidas team… and they’re still in the tourney).

The Pro Model College series includes #1 seeds Kansas, Memphis and UCLA as well as Indiana, Louisville, Pittsburgh and Tennessee.  What makes the line particularly special is that this is the first time adidas will make the tournament on-court shoes available to consumers.

The  adidas Team Signature Pro Model College series applies each schools colorways to the upper, heel counter and sole. Laser etching on the upper offers a subtle graphic detail and weight reduction.  The adidas Pro Model is a classic design and has been updated for the adidas Team Signature series with new applications and adidas proprietary technologies to aid in optimal performance.

Additonally, team apparel will range for the tournament.  “Believe in We” short sleeve tees will retail in fifteen school colorways including the seven from the adidas Team Signature Pro Model College series. There is no word yet on when apparel will be available.

The Pro Model College series is available at FinishLine, Eastbay and www.shopadidas.com for $100.

In honor of their 10th anniversary, international DJ crew Fifth Platoon gets their own kicks via adidas. Must be nice… All I got for my 10th birthday was Starscream.

The crew (Neil Armstrong, Kuttin Kandi, Vinroc, Roli Rho, Do Boy, Daddy Dog, IE.merg) teamed up with Adidas Performance’s Bryon Sheng to create these limited-edition BBALL EQUIP kicks. They were designed by the 5P crew and put together by UNDR-CRWN’s Dustin Canalin. He also hooked up the 5P with the T-shirt design for the 10th anniversary.

Initially slated to come out in the last year, they were pushed back the release til Feb/March 2008. With 500 pairs released worldwide, the kicks have already hit some stores including Las Vegas’ Undefeated, Washington DC’s Major in DC and various Jimmy Jazz spots throughout NYC. Other boutiques will be getting their shipments in thru March and April.

Fellas, you gotta take a back seat to the ladies this week. They like kicks too. And when adidas teams with a hot new designer like Mama, Sneaker Heads of all sexes need to take note.

The good folks at adidas are looking out for the ladies this week with this sleek and sexy hi-top with a black heart quilted leather upper and gold Mama lace jewels. The FIRST ladies REMIX silhouette designed by the “Head Mama in Charge,” Mama clothing founder and designer Gabriella Davi-Khorasanee, only 500 pairs for $100 in the US at sneaker boutiques, specialty doors and online at digitalgravel.com and krudmart.com, among other.

In addition to the adidas xProMama, the two companies have teamed to create a collection of apparel and accessories which hook-up to the shoe including:

• New Era limited edition lace-print hat (seen below)
• Mama nameplate necklace (gold and silver) (seen below)
• Heart-quilted hoodie
• Heart-quilted track suit

Some of Mama’s most other notable collaborations also include Montana Colors, Juicy Cosmetics and BijulesNYC.

Some guys have all the luck, word to Rod Stewart. It’s not bad enough that Robot Films’ honcho Chris Robinson gets to spend his days and nights on video and movie sets with women like Alicia Keys and Lauren London. He also gets his own shoe with adidas. He makes me want to go to film school.

Robinson’s signature robots have been in videos from  TK and TK to Common and Lupe Fiasco (see below). Now he and Set Free bring you the 2nd generation of the exclusive  adidas x ROBOT is the Future EQT B-Ball.

Taking the classic 90’s EQT silhouette and adding a modern twist–the adidas x ROBOT is the Future EQT B-Ball features a sleek black matte upper. The two-piece hi-top is upgraded with a motherboard graphic print and the solid black sole adds to the shoe’s minimalist aesthetic. Two neoprene sockliners, solid black and ROBOT logo print, retail with the shoe.

Only 500 pairs will be sold in the U.S. and will retail for $150 at specialty stores like Bodega, Major and Atmos.  As a bonus, two versions of the ROBOT is the Future New Era Hat and a limited edition graphic tee (like the one Common is wearing in “Drivin Me Wild”) will retail alongside the kicks.

Lupe Fiasco feat. Jill Scott, “Daydreamin”

Common, “Drivin Me Wild”

For the ninth installment in his Gil II Zero Collection, Washington Wizards All-Star point guard Gilbert Arenas teams with the creator of mega-popular video game title HALO to create these limited-edition joints.

Any sneakerhead worth his/her weight in AF1s knows about adidas’ Gil II Zero Collection. We even featured a pair in our holiday kicks guide. If you don’t, shame on you. Basically, Arenas teamed with adidas to create 20 new styles for the collection with each timed to debut with a specific game. Unfortunately, a knee injury sidelined him for the season but that’s not stopping Arenas and adidas from unveiling each pair as planned. This is the next release in the series–adidas TS Lightswitch Gil x HALO.

Arenas has admitted his obsession with the game, often tallying over eight hours on X-Box Live on offseason weekends! He also sponsors the #1 Halo team in the world, Final Boss. So, it only made sens that adidas took the obsession one step further by giving him his very own HALO shoe.

Scheduled to be released on Friday (Feb. 8) with a $110 prictag, only 100 pair of these HALO-inspired kicks will be available worldwide. So, you might want to start standing on line now. Unless, you know someone…