#MNR: SNEAKERS

MNR: Sneakers

Who where it all? I’m an Adidas freak...
Shallah Raekwon, “Sneakers”

With more kicks than a baby in a mother’s stomach. 
Nasir, “Halftime”

Boomin’ like a speaker in my $100 sneakers. Baggy black jeans, knapsack, and my beeper. 
Buckshot, “Who Got Da Props?”

Wear your kicks. 
Jayvon Drakeford the GOAT

This blog is dedicated to all the sneaker heads worldwide. 

Big ups to my grandparents Archie and Mary Warren. They copped my first ever pair of Nikes (that I can remember and knew what Nike was) in September ‘86. I’ve been hooked ever since. Unless I’m mistaken they were white and blue Air Force II. The fact that my pops wasn’t much of a presence in my life shaped my sneaker game in two distinctly different ways. When I was young world, my Grandmother Ola Mae stayed in her baby son’s ears on how he needed to do for his lil one. Pops was going through his own personal issues and wasn’t really in a position to do for me that often. But when he did he came through big. I remember the classic Fila tan and navy blue lows...crazy. Back when niggas wore the velour Fila suits. Navy blue with the white trim...anyways...I remember being the only kid in my class with the Jordan II. Those were the days...unfortunately pops checked out shortly thereafter. That’s when I went on a drought until the XIII. Crazy. I had my lil Nikes here and there. But I had a Black mother. Errbody from my era can feel me when I tell you that $100 sneakers were outta the damn question. She wasn’t tryna hear it. That was a whole note for something. I hated it at the time cuz I wanted to be fresh like the dope boys and spoiled brats. But Shareon wasn’t into spending heavy on the fashion. And I came to respect it for what it was. But I also pledged to get my own money so I could cop whatever I wanted. Got my first job at 13 working for Brad at the Rec in the Hali. I started off working the chain gang for youth football. It wasn’t a lotta money, but it was sneaker money. I copped my pieces here and there. I was always proud as ever stepping into the schoolhouse that next Monday after the mall trip or Eastbay package. Then I became legal working age and started coming home to NY for the summer to work with my Auntie San at Mt. Sinai and Therapeutic Interventions on 207th and Bainbridge in the X off the D train line. Last stop. I made plenty money (at that time) and spent it all on clothes and kicks. I had finally gotten my weight up. I wasn’t invisible anymore. 

Fast forward through all types of schemes to stay fresh through college to basic dead end jobs during young adulthood through all out hustling in the streets of Eastside Harlem and Highbridge BXNYC to the last decade or so in relative peace and tranquility. One thing has remained a constant: kix. I can’t help it. I’m a full blown sneaker head. I’m a kix junky. I love ‘em all: Foams (my all time fav), J’s, ‘95’s, Vapormax (my newest fetish), Kyrie’s, Kobe’s, Brons...I love ‘em all. I’ll cop a pair. Then I’ll cop another. Then I’ll cop another. Then I’ll swear I’m not copping anything else anytime soon. Then I cop another. I’ve been on a pretty mean run lately. Mostly hits, a miss or two. I eventually fell in love with the Vapormax III. They’re slightly different from the first two but the tongue is thicker and more firm. That was the only thing keeping the Vapormax I & II from  perfection to me. I’m on pair #7 through the three, including a pair of Doernbechers. I didn’t like the React Element 55. They’re comfy AF but the material is too weak for my taste. But I caught ‘em on sale. I recently got into Stranger Things and binge watched all three seasons in three weeks. I started after I saw Nike was releasing kicks with the Stranger Things theme, era relevant. They dropped some Cortez, Tailwind ‘79’s, and Blazers. They also dropped two different sweatsuits with the Hawkins High lettering. Very fresh. Of course, I had to cop the Tailwinds. The red, white, and blue jownts. They have the Stranger Things logo on the tongue and sole and 19 on the back heel of the left shoe and 85 on the right. I HAD to...This is dedicated to all sneaker heads of all ages. All races. Both genders. In the words of my bro Jayvon the GOAT, WEAR YOUR KICKS. To the projects I’m Ghost, peace and blessings, one love. 
tymonday.com
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