15 Iconic Sneakers Inspired By Musicians

Prior to their collaboration in 2020, Grateful Dead fans would not rank high on the list of potential customers for a Nike SB Dunk. That’s not to say the worlds of the iconic psychedelic rock band and the punk nature of skateboarding did not align. But when you mix them with the hypebeasts of sneaker culture who were stuck at home during this time, there was a lack of drift compatibility that could have ruined the vibes of the project. And yet, when the collab dropped, sneakerheads, skaters, and Deadheads alike lined up for them with a common goal of paying homage to the legendary group. It helped that the resale was healthy, but there was no existential threat to the culture that would lead some to gatekeep like on other collabs.

But sneakers collaborations or sneakers inspired by musicians are no longer an anomaly. They have now reached a point where once an artist reaches a certain level of popularity, a sneaker collaboration feels like another box to check off on the way to superstardom. Sneakers becoming part of the marketing plan might feel less special, but if the end result is a dope collaboration, it’s hard to argue with the result.

A few months ago, we covered some of the most egregious sneaker collaborations in music. It’s the fear of having numerous collaborations, and the result is a product where no time and care were taken into consideration. But when the brand is aligned with the artists (it probably helps when the people who work at the brands are fans), the magic that is produced stands tall among not just the best in the music world, but among sneaker culture as well.

Taylor Swift - Caitlin Clark’s Nike Kobe 6 Protro Eras Tour PE

With her signature shoe finally revealed, Caitlin Clark saved what she believes is her best Kobe Protro player exclusive for last this past week. Inspired by Taylor Swift’s record-breaking Eras Tour, Clark’s Nike Kobe 6 Protro Eras Tour PE features a multicolor gradient upper accompanied by a dark blue heel counter, tongue, and midsole, and a white outsole. While there is no indication that these will be released in the immediate future, it feels like a missed opportunity by Nike if these never drop. Depending on how many they make should they release, the combined fandoms of Swift and Clark would make them the best-selling shoe of this year, next year, and possibly the year after that.

Korn - adidas Campus 00s

Korn might not be the first band to exhibit an obnoxious thirst for a brand to pay them some attention (or at least hook them up with free merch), but they were definitely among the most dedicated. Let’s start with writing a song that’s called “A.D.I.D.A.S.” which is a backronym for an inside joke by frontman Jonathan Davis to wearing adidas tracksuits on stage, which inevitably led their fans to also wear adidas tracksuits. The Three Stripes would keep the relationship at arm’s length as they provided the band with free gear but were never down for a full-blown partnership. Hilariously, Puma would sign Korn first before adidas and demand they ditch the Three Stripes tracksuits for Puma’s own tracksuits in the late 90s and early 2000s. In 2023, adidas and Korn would finally link up for a collab that includes sequined tracksuits (of course) and the adidas Campus 00s.

TR-808 - New Balance Numeric Lemos 808s

As someone whose only experience with making any sort of beats is on the KORG DS-10, hearing that New Balance Numeric would be teaming up with Roland on a sneaker inspired by the iconic 808 brought a smirk to my face. The TR-808’s significance to hip-hop and EDM cannot be understated, as aspiring producers and bedroom musicians developed their sound through the drum machine that was originally a commercial failure. Released on 808s Day (August 8th) in 2024, the sneaker features the 808’s signature red, orange, yellow, and white gradient throughout the primary black and grey colors.

Jay Chou - PHANTACI x Nike Air Max 95

Designed by Taiwanese singer and actor Jay Chou for his PHANTACi fashion brand, the Nike Air Max 95 is transformed from iconic trainer to unusually shaped guitar with all of the accouterments like strings that wrap around the sneaker, different shades of wood grain on the wavy side panels, and the accompanying pick that is included in the package. Chou and Nike previously worked on an Air Max 1 based on a grand piano in 2009 and 2024, so the Air Max 95 follow-up - which also includes a Friends and Family exclusive version - neatly aligns with Chou’s vision. Considering his musical output is a fusion of different genres, there’s no telling what will be next for the partnership, although a guzheng or an erhu would be fun to see translated to say, an Air Max 1.

CBGB - Nike Dunk Low

The CBGB Dunks look dingy out of the box, and that’s kind of the point. Based on the legendary music club formerly located at 315 Bowery in the East Village of Manhattan, CBGB is credited by many as the birthplace of American punk rock and new wave. Numerous legendary acts like The Ramones, Blondie, and The Talking Heads all played at the venue as punk made its way from the US to the rest of the world. The sneaker is a loving homage to CBGB’s less-than-sterile vibe, with the club’s font used on the tongue and heel, and the layering of torn posters is featured on artwork on the insole. The final touch is Bleecker and Bowery street signs on the inner tongue, just in case anybody was still confused by the reference. RIP CBGB.

1990s Music Videos - Joe Freshgoods x New Balance 1890 Naughty Things and Finger Waves

As somebody who was, let’s say, an appreciator of 1990s Janet Jackson music videos, finding out that the Joe Freshgoods’ New Balance 1890 sneaker called Naughty Things was inspired by Janet and Busta Rhymes’ “What’s It Gonna Be?” music video directed by Hype Williams unlocked a part of my nostalgia that I had not visited in a while. Released during the apex of both Janet and Busta’s popularity, the Hype Williams-directed video was a top-notch (read: very expensive) production at the time. Save for the fish eye lens-style cut out on the boxes, the references in both the purple and orange (a more general homage to videos by Missy Elliott and Juvenile at the time) pairs are subtle and indirect, probably because getting any of the people that Joe was inspired by would be a logistical nightmare.

De La Soul - Nike SB Dunk High

In 2005, legendary hip-hop trio De La Soul made history as the first to team up with Nike SB on a sneaker collab after a chance meeting by the group with people from SB in 2003. Even though Air Force 1s are an easy choice because of their deep connection to hip-hop, being the first to team with SB and amplify the bond between the genre and skate culture is not a bad thing to put on De La’s resume. Inspired by the 3 Feet High and Rising album cover, the collab became a cult favorite and is on many shortlists for the best SB Dunk Highs ever made. For the 10th anniversary of the original, Nike SB dropped an SB Dunk Low version that shockingly sat on shelves and even sold for clearance prices at Nike outlets, a true signal that the Dunks had fallen out of favor during that time. However, when the pendulum swung back, and Dunks were cool again, all those lucky enough to score pairs of the low for significantly below retail now owned sneakers worth five times their MSRP.

Eminem - Air Jordan 2 “The Way I Am”

Launched at Flight Club, Jordan Brand’s short-lived website that was designed like a proto-SNKRS app, this ultra-rare Eminem collab was limited to only 313 pairs (Detroit’s area code). That might sound like a small number, but in comparison to every other Jordan collab that Slim Shady has ever done, this one was easy mode. With lyrics scribbled on the mudguard and ankle, this was another example of Eminem's willingness to be an open book with his fans.

Roc-A-Fella Records - Nike Air Force 1

As the story goes, Jay-Z did not want to get all fancy with the initial 100 promo pairs that were part of the first batch of Roc-A-Fella Air Force 1s in 1999. He wanted an all-white pair with the logo instead of something colorful and representative of the era. Turns out, Hov was right to keep it simple. Between the 1999 promo pairs that were limited to 100 made and the subsequent retros in the 2000s and most recently in 2017, the Roc-A-Fella x Nike Air Force 1 has become a certified classic that would easily grab five mics from The Source if The Source rated sneakers.

MF Doom - Nike SB Dunk High

It’s not like people didn’t know who MF Doom was. He was Daniel Dumile, a rapper from Long Beach, New York. Before he was Doom, he was a member of the group KMD as Zev Love X. However, after his brother and fellow KMD member’s tragic passing in 1993, X disappeared from the scene for several years. He would reemerge as MF Doom in the late 90s wearing a mask in an effort to remain anonymous and let the music speak for itself, although it was an open secret in the scene as to who this amazing “rapper’s rapper” was.

Between the mask and the shroud of mystery, it made getting him on board for a sneaker collaboration a little bit harder. Thankfully, a connection to De La Soul and a few back-and-forths over the phone in the mid-2000s led to the final product, a modern-day classic that is among the best SB Dunks ever made. From the Black and Midnight Fog combination to the “SPR VLLN” lace dubraes and personal iconography, it was a flawless representation of Doom’s image of an artist who let the art be the only thing that mattered.

Bad Brains - Supreme x Vans Sk8-Hi

Based in Washington, D.C., hardcore punk band Bad Brains, who were part of the last show at CBGB in 2006, teamed up with Supreme and Vans in 2008 for a trio of Sk8-Hi colorways as part of their April drop. Decked out in red, green, and yellow as a representation of their Rastafarian roots, each pair included the group’s lightning bolt logo along a premium suede upper. While the colorways are not uncommon in today’s sneaker landscape, people who are only familiar with Vans in black and white probably raised more than a few eyebrows during this time.

Dinosaur Jr. - Nike SB Dunk Hi Pro

From De La Soul to MF Doom to Dinosaur Jr., the offices of Nike SB were absolutely cooking with that independent spirit during the mid-2000s. With Dinosaur Jr.’s music being featured in numerous skate videos during the 90s and 2000s, the sneaker was leagues above your typical collaboration where the two or more parties might have little connection besides a desire to make money. Designed by the band’s singer and guitarist J Mascis, the Dunk High had a metallic silver upper with purple contrast stitching, collar, laces, and tooling. The brand’s logo and unofficial mascot, Peace Sign Guy, could be found on the ankle area.

Wu-Tang Clan - Nike Dunk High Wu-Tang

The legend of the Wu-Tang Dunks cannot be understated. Originally created just for members of the group and their friends and family, the Iowa Dunks with their iconic logo on the heel were discussed in reverent tones even though most people have never even laid eyes on them. In the decades since, the rare pairs that hit the secondary market were going for prices that made even Method Man demand that Nike finally give the sneaker a retail release. In 2024, the prayers were finally answered, and in an era when sneaker marketing is often as creative as a link in the bio, Nike went all out for the launch, recruiting the New York Knicks to assist in getting the word out. A few years later, Wu-Tang would return the favorite by bringing the vibes back and possibly sparking the Knicks final push to win the 2026 NBA Championship.

RUN-DMC - adidas Superstar

Let’s be honest, authenticity is a foreign concept in 2025. If a rising star in the music world today were to drop a song declaring their love for Hokas, nobody would think that was cute or novel. The first thought everybody would have is that these Hoka stans are industry plants or blatantly obvious sponcon. Which makes Run-DMC’s 1986 hit “My Adidas” relevant today beyond just fortysomethings looking for something to play at karaoke night. Their genuine love for the Superstar sneaker and how they wore them propelled the group to a groundbreaking endorsement deal with adidas, paving the way for every other artist and sneaker brand collaboration since.

Kanye West - A BATHING APE Bape Sta College Dropout

As a heads up, we do reserve the right to rescind this selection at a moment’s notice if Ye Kanye goes off the rails again.

Kanye West’s influence on sneakers, the wider culture, and the business cannot be understated. During his brief tenure at Nike, both parties made history with every Air Yeezy that either appeared for the first time at an award show or shockingly dropped on a random Sunday morning without warning.

He made good on his “New God Flow” boast that he wasn’t stunting when he says that Yeezy jumped over the Jumpman. His time with adidas was even more successful as he proved that he was not just someone who could move a few pairs of limited edition sneakers. Despite everything that has happened that led to his departure, we can all acknowledge Kanye did something special with adidas. Too bad he pissed it all away.

But just like there are people who think Kanye never released a better album than The College Dropout, there are some sneakerheads out there who think Kanye never made a better sneaker than his collaboration with A Bathing Ape on the BAPE STA which is inspired by the artwork of The College Dropout. With the famous Dropout Bear embroidered on the lateral side of the shoe, this sneaker is a legitimate collector’s item because of its rarity and desirability among collectors and Kanye fans.

For someone who was going to college when The College Dropout was popping, the sneaker, much like the album, is a time machine back to a simpler time when the worst thing people could say about Kanye was his unwavering confidence. If only that had stayed the worst thing.

Juan Martinez

From video game journalism to veteran of the sneaker blog era to podcasting about well, everything, Juan is smiling through it all and can't believe this is his life. After recently getting into Formula 1, he now has hot takes about who the greatest driver of all time is. Email: juan@soleretriever.com