If you’re maybe a bit too chronically online (it’s ok to admit it, a lot of us are), you know the recent trend of the “performative male,” a matcha-sipping, book-reading, Clairo-listening man who is likely into these things to pick up women. Well, rapper Amine decided to poke fun at the trend in a new advertisement for his upcoming collaboration with New Balance, which his Club Banana imprint teased last week. In the cheeky advert, you can spot a vibrant matcha green sneaker on Amine’s feet, which happens to be the New Balance ABZORB 2000.
Sitting down for a cup of matcha and reading a book entitled “Most Amazing Women Of All Time,” Amine’s drink decides to speak back to him and remind him that he’s not “aura farming,” he’s just a 31-year-old who is pretending to read. The shot then pans over to a billboard that reads “Stop Performative Reading. Your Matcha Will Understand” and offers a message to donate your books to “La Biblioteca” (the library). Jokes aside, this encouragement is for a book drive hosted by New Balance and Amine, taking place at 207 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd in Portland, Oregon, from now until September 10.
The original shot isn’t clear enough to fully reveal the sneakers Amine has on his feet, but the New Balance ABOZRB 2000 is easily identifiable. The heel of ABZORB SBS midsole can be seen on his right foot, while the asymmetrical screenprinted toebox overlay is visible on the left. The pair itself is drenched in matcha green shades and accented by cream and black hits on the sole unit.
Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. When not writing for Sole Retriever, I enjoy attending concerts and catching the latest movies. Email: nick@soleretriever.com
