Killa Cam’s Iconic Pink Jacket Inspires this Nike Air Force 1 Low
Published
One of Harlem’s most popular hip-hop ensembles, Dipset, played a significant role in the Nike Air Force 1 gaining mainstream success. You’d be hard-pressed NOT to find members Cam’ron, Jim Jones, Juelz Santana, and their associates wearing the sneaker, whether the classic all-white iteration or custom versions they’d commission. As Jim Jones put it, the “Air Force 1s was [sic] the first drug-dealer dream.” Next year, Nike will be taking inspiration from Dipset frontman Cam’ron for a special version of the Nike Air Force 1 that pays homage to his iconic pink jacket.
There are plenty of memorable fashion moments throughout hip-hop's history, but Cam’s all-pink era is arguably the most influential. Let's face it, pink will forever be associated with femininity, and hip-hop in this era was far from being comfortable with that in a space full of hardcore masculinity. Cam’ron helped popularize the color for rappers and streetwear in general, beginning with the music video for “Hey Ma,” where he would rock a pink New York Yankees fitted. Following this, Killa Cam would consistently rock the shade, but the most notable moment came during New York Fashion Week.
Stepping out after Baby Phat’s runway show in 2002, Cam was photographed wearing a satin-lined pink fur jacket, a white T-shirt, a matching pink fur hat, and a pink flip phone. It’s this iconic photo and jacket that Nike takes inspiration from for this all-new Air Force 1 Low. To clarify, this is in no way an official project between Cam and Nike, but a tribute to this defining moment in fashion history.
Pictured is a speculative mock-up of what the pair may look like. Expect a furry, fuzzy material akin to the one found on Cam’s jacket to coat the entire upper of the AF1. White breaks up the primarily pink look on the rubber midsole, though more pink is found on the AIR text and rubber outsole.
As mentioned above, Dipset’s connection to the AF1 runs deep. Not only did they rock the sneaker throughout its golden era in the 2000s, but they even played a role in Kith’s NYC AF1 project in 2020. Hip-hop as a whole was a major reason for the “coolness” factor of the Nike Air Force 1 during the early oughts, but the mainstream really caught on thanks to Nelly’s hit song “Air Force Ones.” The Southern rap/R&B star can definitely stake a claim in popularizing the sneaker, but New York City had been rocking Uptowns for years at this point, especially Harlem (hence the nickname Uptowns).
The Nike Air Force 1 Low Killa Pink will release Summer 2026 through Nike and select retailers online and in-store. As of this writing, the retail price has not been revealed. Download the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay updated on the latest releases, raffles, news, and more in the sneaker and streetwear world.
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
