Sneaker Collaboration With Diadora Based Off of 'Only Built 4 Cuban Linx'

September 10th, according to Sole Collector, they're a friends-and-family-only version, with no expected release in sight.

 
It's been 20 years since Raekwon's solo debut album, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, was released and helped change the hip-hop landscape and perception of East Coast rap music. To celebrate this work, Rae linked up with Packer Shoes and Diadora for a "Purple Tape" — a nod to the cassette's color — N.9000, which was Made in Italy and sold at S.O.B's in NYC this past Thursday.

At the show, Raekwon had a pair of Diadoras on his feet, but they weren't the ones being sold that day. Instead, this pair was produced to emulate the album art from Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, which is red, yellow, and black.

An image, seen above, has leaked of the sneakers, but there is no solid release information yet.
Stay tuned, this is going to be good.

[via COMPLEX]

Raekwon and Diadora Collaborate to Celebrate One of Hip-Hop's Greatest Albums of All-Time

Packer Shoes has officially unveiled the collaboration along with the release date of August 20 at New York City's S.O.B.'s.

Check the images below:

On August 1, 1995 Raekwon forever changed the course of music history with the release of his debut solo album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… The groundbreaking project has been enjoyed by fans, celebrated by music critics and studied by contemporary scholars for almost 20 years. Listed by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the “Top 500 Albums of All Time,” Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… is consistently praised for its cinematic qualities and unforgettable storyline. The ultimate conceptual album, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… is credited with ushering in the mafioso sub-genre of Hip Hop, and subsequently laying the blueprint for classic albums to follow from Jay-Z, Nas and the Notorious B.I.G.

With “Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…” celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year, it was only right to combine our efforts and and apply it to a staple shoe from one of the shared-favorite brands of both Rae and Packer over the years with the ade in Italy Packer x Raekwon x Diadora N.9000 “Purple Tape”.

 

The co-branded Packer x Raekwon x Diadora tongue label is direct drawback to the “Parental Advisory” tag featured on the explicit version of OB4CL with “1995” side embroidery paying homage to the release year of the album. Additional features include “side 1″ & “side 2″ embroidery rear of both shoes and corresponding album track listing both footbeds, clear purple tinted rubber outsoles, metallic silver midsole and 4 shoe lace options sure to make the tape “pop”.

 

 Please stay tuned to PackerShoes.com and SOBs.com for additional release and show details.

[via Packer Shoes]