First Look At The Dj Khaled X Air Jordan 8 (Red Velvet Cake)
has finally got the colab They didn't want him to have. After decades of repping the Jumpman across all of America's cities, Khaled's loyalty has been rewarded – Jordan Brand have invited him to design his own series of sneakers and apparel. We can confirm that on June 4, the first installment of the 'Special Cloth Collection' will drop at Jordan stockists globally, and will comprise the DJ Khaled x 'Red Velvet Cake' and a companion velour tracksuit.
On first sight, the AJ8 might bust some eyeballs; pairing rich burgundy with South Beach turquoise isn't a move in many designers' playbooks, but that originality is what makes Khaled so special. The colourway is inspired by the acclaimed from Khaled's Miami Finga Licking restaurant, and features an upper forged from vegan leather, proving that the Dade County don dada is serious about his #22DaysNutrition clean eating regime. For us, the tastiest touch is the cream cheese-coloured midsole with pistachio and saffron speckling sprinkled all over, just like on the dessert that serves as the muse. Other stylish accoutrements include 'Just Know' Khaled catchphrase embossing across the lace strap, vivid laser beams on the splash guard, and gold-plated 'Major Key' fastened to the lace pull. We knew JB were gonna go big on the Air Jordan 8 this year (the model is celebrating its 23rd anniversary), but this rendition truly has us on Icon Alert – expect it to go berserk at resale when those who slept on it realise that they played themselves.
Flick the pics above and you'll also peep the 'Red Velvet Sweat Suit'. Although somewhat illogical given the garment title, Khaled opted for a velour treatment over velvet due to a personal preference for velour's superior sheen. We reckon it was the right call too – the Khaled Jumpman emblem really pops! The sneaks and sweat suit make a perfect ensemble for PJ flights, fireside reading or black tie dinners where you want to make an impact.
On the level, though, we here at Sneaker Freaker are OG DJ Khaled fans, so we couldn't help but feel a little detached in the wake of his recent rise to basic bro fame. However, the quality of this colab proves that while he may have changed a lot, he still wants to show the sneaker world he's riding with us. Don't forget your Day Ones – that's a major key to success right there.
The first capsule from the DJ Khaled x Air Jordan 'Special Cloth Collection' will debut on Saturday, June 4. Khaled has told us to expect another one by the year's end.