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The hosts of the Internet’s biggest sneaker shows, Sneaker Shopping and Full Size Run, come together in The Complex Sneakers Podcast. Joe La Puma, Matt Welty, and Brendan Dunne discuss the most important sneaker news and topics every week, and give their expert opinions that can only be told authentically from Complex.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
222 Episodes
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What are the best Nike Kobe sneakers of all time? Complex recently ranked the top 24 designs from Kobe Bryant’s run of Nike signature shoes in celebration of Mamba Day. Coming off that list, the Complex Sneakers Show recruited Kobe fanatic Darryl Glover to get his reactions to the list and also talk about his history with the shoes. Is the “Grinch” Nike Kobe 6 really the best Kobe ever? Is the HTM Kobe 9 overrated? Also, cohosts Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty catch up on recent sneaker news and react to Patta’s Barcelona version of the Air Max TN, the upcoming Union x Nike Field Generals, and the Huf x Nike Air Max 1 retro. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What are the best sneakers of 2024? Which pairs will we remember the most that set the tone in sneakers over the last 12 months? Is the Adidas AE 1 really that good? What about Wu-Tang Dunks? Did Jae Tips make a top-10 sneaker of the year? The Complex Sneakers Show co-hosts got into these questions at the annual ComplexCon Sneaker of the Year panel last month with guests Lil Yachty and PJ Tucker. As is customary, we’re uploading the full conversation as a recap here. It starts with a tribute to DJ Clark Kent, who the panel will be named for going forward, features that infamous Yachty moment over the Concrete Boys Air Force 1s, and eventually settles on a pretty unanimous choice for sneaker of the year. Follow along with the picks, debate in the comments, and let us know how your choices differ. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The ‘Black Cement’ Air Jordan 3 is one of the biggest sneakers of the year. But how does the 2024 Jordan 3 ‘Black Cement’ compare to the 2018 ‘Black Cement’? And which one is more like the original Jordan 3 that was released in 1988? Co-hosts Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty review the sneakers in this episode. They also recap ComplexCon, from the Travis Scott drops to Nike’s 3D-printed sneaker to the dramatic Sneaker of the Year panel. Also, some reflections on tier rankings for Air Jordan 11 colorways. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
DJ Clark Kent was a huge figure in hip-hop—he discovered Jay-Z and worked with Biggie—and an influential sneaker collector who made shoes with brands like Nike and Adidas. Clark, who died in October, was also a close friend to Complex. In this episode, co-hosts Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Wetly reflect on Clark in the wake of his passing. Elsewhere in the episode, they talk about the lifespan ASICS Kayano trend, running into Michael Jordan, and all the exciting sneaker releases coming up at ComplexCon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1The leader of the Wu-Tang Clan, the RZA, joins the Complex Sneakers Show this week to discuss the long history of the Wu-Tang x Nike Dunk High, breaking down how the shoe finally came back as a retro after all these years. RZA runs through his sneaker history, from ducking gangs with ODB in Coney Island to collecting all flavors of Havana Joes. Also in the episode, cohosts Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty talk about the viral New Balance loafers and the next Coreiz x Nike Air Max 95s. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Vick has one of the NFL’s defining signature sneaker lines with a series of Nike shoes that matched his electric play with the Atlanta Falcons in the 2000s. Before that, he was turning heads by wearing Air Jordan 17s on the field. On this episode, he breaks down how his Nike deal happened, how he got back together with Nike, and why he wants to start his own footwear brand now. Vick touches on the influence his shoes had in Atlanta specifically, where the Nike Vick line was embraced by the likes of T.I. and Young Jeezy. Also in the episode, cohosts Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty talk Nigo’s upcoming Nike collab and Nike’s incoming CEO, Elliott Hill. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Is the Staple x Nike SB Dunk Low “Pigeon” the best SB Dunk of all time? What about the legendarily rare “FLOM” SB Dunk High by Futura? And does a shoe like the “Chunky Dunky” SB by Ben & Jerry’s even deserve consideration in such a discussion? In this episode, cohosts Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty give their takes on the best SB Dunks of all time, and respond to some of the recent feedback over the rankings. They also talk about spending big money on grails, hunting for rare shoes, and the generally stale state of Air Jordans right now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
J Balvin is four sneakers deep with Jordan Brand, and it sounds like he has more to come. In this episode, the Colombian artist discusses his relationship with Michael Jordan, his battle against sneaker bots on the Air Jordan 3, and what might be next up for his collaborations. He even touches briefly on that recent Air Jordan 4 custom he wore that Jordan was apparently not too happy about. Elsewhere in the episode, cohosts Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty talk about finding your true sneaker size, the merits of the Air Max Dn, Wale’s Foams, and getting caught wearing basic sneakers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Rubin is a billionaire, entrepreneur, and close personal friend to Travis Scott. In this conversation, he talks about Travis’ sneaker business, and even dishes a bit on the ‘White Party’ version of the Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low that popped up this summer. Rubin also talks about Jay-Z gifting him Louis Vuitton Air Force 1s, recounts a business meeting with Nike co-founder Phil Knight, and talks about his own history reselling sneakers in the '90s. At the top of the episode, co-hosts Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty talk Noah Lyles’ sneaker wish, hunting down rare footwear, and the Wizard of Oz x Nike SB Dunk Low. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Who is the most powerful collaborator in sneakers right now? In this episode, cohosts Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty run down a long list of industry heavyweights to determine who in the industry is generating the most buzz, sales, and genuinely cool sneakers. They discuss how high Jerry Lorenzo’s Fear of God work at Adidas puts him, everything Joe Freshgoods has contributed, and why Travis Scott is still a titan. Also in the episode, some quick catch up on Odell Beckham Jr.’s Nike lawsuit, LeBron 22 updates, and Salehe Bembury’s new challenge at Puma Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nigel Sylvester is back with Jordan Brand, with what might be his most ambitious project ever. This time around, the BMX superstar is reworking a new take on the Air Jordan 4, the Jordan 4RM. It's a low-cut shoe with a frame that's inspired by bikes. The story behind his shoes takes root from his grandmother's driveway, where he first learned how to ride a bike. In this episode, Sylvester talks about making the shoes and shows off the green and grey colorways of the sneakers. He talks about Lil Yachty wearing the shoes, Ronnie Fieg giving his feedback on them, and comparing them to his Jordan 1s. The guys also talk about Michael Rubin's all-white Travis Scott Air Jordan 1 Lows, when it's time to retire shoes in your rotation, and the sneakers they've been wearing the most this year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Wu-Tang x Nike Dunks are releasing for the first time ever. The “Galaxy” Foamposites are coming back. It even looks like the Undefeated x Air Jordan 4 grails are retroing next year. Why is Nike scrambling to drop so much heat? And should the brand show any restraint when it comes to bringing sneakers back out? Should certain sneakers remain in the vault? Co-hosts Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty discuss these questions in this latest episode, and try to situate the decisions with respect to Nike’s current financial woes. Also, the trio talk “Pink Diamond” SB Dunks and pays tribute to the late reseller Upscale Cracc. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What’s the most exciting new sneaker in the past year? How much do big retros like the Air Jordan 4 “Military Blue” deserve to be celebrated in 2024? What about Nina Chanel Abney’s Air Jordan 3? In this mid-year episode, cohosts Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty discuss the best sneakers to drop now that the year is halfway over. They also preview some upcoming releases, like Nike’s Sunder Max retro and the Swarovski versions of the TN. And, an important conversation about Kendrick Lamar popping out in Nike Shox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fabolous is a serious sneaker collector—he’s seen every era, from original Air Jordans to the wild fake shoes of the 2000s to the current retros and Travis Scott collaborations. He joins the show this week to discuss all that, along with his influential style, the heyday of throwback jerseys, filling your house with sneakers, and more. Also, the cohosts address Action Bronson’s New Balance drops, “Flu Game” Jordan 12s coming back, and Bad Bunny’s big Gazelle collab. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Is the first ever Air Max sneaker still the best in the line? Or did the post-Tinker Hatfield designers who worked on massive shoes like the Air Max 95 and the Tn do it better? Cohosts Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty rank all the best Air Maxes in this episode, whittling them down to the best of the best. Also, they talk about LeBron James’ mysterious new shoe, Cam’ron’s Adidas diss over the Anthony Edwards spot, and the SB version of the Air Max 95. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What’s the best Air Jordan model of all time? What are the most important colorways to consider in such a ranking? How much have the best Air Jordans changed through time? Co-hosts Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty end up on a winding debate on those topics in the latest episode The general consensus is that the S-tier, the most elite of Air Jordans, consists of the Jordan 1, Jordan 3, Jordan 4, and Jordan 11. Also in the episode, the trio discusses the end of Kool Kiy’s Nike lawsuit, the return of the Pro B Dunk, and the knockoff Travis Scott Nikes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
June Ambrose is a costume designer and creative director who’s spent 30 years elevating the style of hip hop icons. She was there with Jay Z since the beginning, she was there when Missy Elliott signed her deal with Adidas, and she was there when Busta Rhymes needed exaggerated visuals to match his energy. In this episode, she relives her long resume, reflects on her Puma work, and dishes out some style advice. Also, cohosts Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty talk about Jack Harlow’s New Balances, upcoming Nike SB Dunks, and the LeBron James’ potential sneaker for his last season in the NBA. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Travis Scott is finally switching up his retro Air Jordans with a new colorway of his Cactus Jack Air Jordan 1 Lows inspired by his high school colors. Does the new palette make the “Elkins” Air Jordan 1 Low his best in a while? In this episode, cohosts Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty break down the merits of those, LaMelo Ball’s Lanvin Curb/Osiris D3-looking Puma lifestyle shoe, and the 2025 flip on the “Black Cat” Air Jordan 4. They also reveal the hidden layer underneath the A-Cold-Wall x Nike Air Max Plus by breaking down the black pair with a bit of sandpaper. In this no-guest episode, they also catch up on big sneaker news topics like Nike and Bape settling their lawsuit, Adidas’ CEO reflecting on losing the German football team, and Riccardo Tisci’s next collab. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aaron Cooper is a Nike design veteran who worked on genre-defining basketball sneakers for athletes like Charles Barkley, Kevin Garnett, LeBron James, and Scottie Pippen. Cooper started out as Nike’s first design intern in the 90s, ascending from there to influence classics like the Nike Free, Air More Uptempo, and Air Max Plus. Cooper talks about his long resume, his design philosophy, and what he believes is the future of the industry. He also gives updates on his current work with EQLZ and Better Guards. At the top of the episode, Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty anticipate next year’s “Bred” Air Jordan 1 and break their moratorium on the Air Max Dn. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Drake dissed Kendrick Lamar last week for being a “big stepper” with a size-7 men’s on, but it turns out the bar wasn’t actually factual. As the Rap War of 2024 now includes a footwear-related jab, co-hosts Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty reacted to the line and also talk about the clarification, from sneaker store Rif LA, that Lamar is in fact a few sizes up from that. Also, the co-hosts discuss Nike’s Olympic rollout of its A.I.R. prototypes in Paris, the plan to have less Air Force 1s in the market, and just how good Anthony Edwards’ AE 1 is. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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