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Tennis star Serena Williams and BET host Terrence J were horsing around during a Nike sponsored event called “Take Every Advantage.”  According to Necolebitchie.com, “The two have collaborated together with Nike to inspire and encourage the youth to take advantage of opportunities and go for their dreams.  While there, Serena discussed with Terrence J, what it takes to be a champion in preparation for the US open this week.”

Check out the outtakes below!

Spotted @ WoooHa.com

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We were fortunate enough to get one pair each of the red and yellow shoes yesterday, but a third colorway, all black, also exists, but in a limited edition.

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The shoes were inspired by the “A Shirt Story” episode of The Cosby Show, also known as the Gordon Gartrelle episode.  If you watch the episode carefully, you’ll note that the red pair are modelled after the shirt that Kadeem Hardison wears in the episode.  The yellow pair giving a nod to the shirt that Theo Huxtable asked Denise to make.

From the Nike press release:

The red pair is fashioned to perfection using premium leather complete with an overlay that conceals the laces trimmed with white buttons. The yellow pair is the traditional Nike Dunk with a twist – the swoosh shape that is distinct to the Nike Blazer. The Nike Dunk x ?uestloves are then finished off with the emblem of its maker, the silhouette of ?uestlove himself.

“I always opt against taking the easy way out, ” says ?uestlove, “I wanted to choose colors that were extremely hard to match with outfits with a simpler design that stand out as the topic of conversation.”

?uestlove surprises us by suddenly adding a third Nike Dunk x ?uestlove to the mix, this version colored in all black. When asked about the addition,?uestlove responds, “Dunks to me are the tuxedo of Nikes. Obviously an awesome basketball sneaker, but they can also fit almost any situation. If rocked right, you could even wear them with a suit, and the all black version is perfect for that.”

The shoes will be available on Saturday March 4th at select Nike Sportswear stores nationwide.

Props to Okayplayer.com

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Kanye’s acting has gotten marginally better, as he appears as the main villain of the story, a character known only as The Boss.

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This looks like it was a blast to put together!

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Shot in a manner similar to Rodriguez’s tributes to the era of grindhouse films, Machete and Planet Terror, the ad serves as a trailer for the short film which will debut during NBA All-Star weekend.

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LeBron shot a Nike commercial addressing the backlash he has received from Cleveland fans and former NBA players alike. Cleveland fans (who really should be the only ones upset at LeBron) have answered LeBron’s rhetorical question “What Should I Do”? with scathing responses ranging from references to the disappointing playoff exit in Boston last season, the broadcast of “The Decision” and his “Chosen One” tattoo. Also damning is a recording at the end of the commercial of James’ voice promising not to stop until he wins an NBA title for Cleveland.

The commercial was shot by an unknown filmmaker from Cleveland and captures the pulse of the Cleveland faithful superbly.

In my opinion, I think LeBron should just save face at this point and confirm that he discovered Delonte West had slept with his mom before game 4 of the Boston series and that caused him to quit on his team because he couldn’t trust his teammates. That would go over better than sarcastic commercials further angering the town you deserted.

Watch the original LeBron clip followed by the response below.

Note: LeBron has seen the Cleveland version of the commercial  and responded “They could have done a better job”. What do you think?

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I think you should sit down somewhere– Lebron James you are a basketball player,not a Nobel Peace Prize winning scientist. Cut it out–you are not that important!

But then again what do you have to say about Lebron James’ new commercial?

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On August 12, 2010 Jay-Z performed at Radio City Music Hall to kick off the World Basketball Festival.

Dressed in “all black everything” Hov stepped out onto a full-sized basketball court to perform a medley of his hits including “On To The Next” with Swizz Beatz.  Jay-Z also debuted 5 pairs of all black Nike Air Force One sneakers (one for each borough of NYC.) You can bid on them HERE. And we think they played some basketball at some point…

For a full recap head over to Freshnessmag.com.

Hov WBF Live
Uploaded by yardie4lifever2. – See video of the biggest web video personalities.

Hov WBF Live
Uploaded by yardie4lifever2. – See video of the biggest web video personalities.

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Jay-Z and Nike teamed up for a special charity shoe, the “All Black Everything” Air Force Ones.

The shoes are to commemorate the inaugural World Basketball Festival being held in NYC this summer.

Only two pairs of each of the shoe’s five different designs, representing the five countries participating in the WBF, have been made.  Jay-Z gets to keep one pair of each, and the other pairs go up on eBay for a charity auction, starting today!

Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation.

Click here to check out the shoes and place your bid now!

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The suits at Nike have revived a campaign from 2005 celebrating women with big, round butts. Where the former ad featured just the booty (along with knees and shoulders), this one shows the entire woman from head-to-toe with some sassy prose.

Does this make you want to buy some sneakers? Should a Black woman have been featured in this ad? Does this butt meet your standard of “big”? Let us know in the comments.

(spotted @therap-up.com)

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This is the original ad from around 2005.

Andre 3000 covers The Beatles “All Together Now” for a new Kobe Bryant Nike Basketball Commercial. (spotted @ Tapemastersinc)

Nike’s latest commercial featuring Tiger Woods is a bit creepy, and heavy on the woe-is-Tiger aspect.

The commercial features a simple shot of a forlorn-looking Tiger that slowly zooms in as a voice, which happens to be Tiger’s deceased father, asking a few questions of his son.

Tiger, I am more prone to be inquisitive, to promote discussion.  I wanna find out what your thinking was. I wanna find out what your feelings are, and did you learn anything.

What a PR move… and one that ultimately won’t garner much sympathy from Tiger’s detractors.

UPDATE:

We’ve just been alerted to this new (read: parody) version of the ad.  I kinda like this one better.

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In an effort to jump into the growing martyr market, Nike has signed would-be terrorist Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab to a multi-year contract (dependent on his time on earth)

“We think this kid has the potential to really blow up.” says Andy Whitchen. “For him to accomplish what he has at such a young age speaks in volumes about his potential.”

The deal comes off the heels of Abdulmutallab’s attempt to detonate plastic explosives hidden in his underwear in a Christmas Day terrorist attack on NorthWest Airlines Flight 253 en route from Amsterdam to Detroit, Michigan.  A deal with Fruit of the Loom was pending until Nike intervened with a more lucrative offer and snatched the 20-something year old for all apparel rights.

Farouk is incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution, Milan  Michigan, while awaiting further legal proceedings. If he is convicted on the charges, he will face a life sentence plus 90 years in jail. With trail set for 2010, Nike is building a campaign to capitalize off the awareness coming from the trial.

Nike’s Farouk Is On Fire! campaign is set to be aired at this years Super Bowl, where security is sure to be heightened.

“Farouk! … Farouk! …Farouk is on fire!” has to be one of the smartest phrases since Bo Knows.” says Whitchen.  “From game day rallies to the lighting of the flame at this years Olympics we think the phrase resonates with excitement on all front of sports culture.”

While brands like Ecko and G-Unit are the apparel commonly seen  on today’s crop of criminals, Nike saw the exposure that came from felons walking out of police station houses in cuffs as a new and effective form of branding.

“I think his failed attempt at taking out the airliner should not be a reflection of his true potential.”

Farouk was charged on December 26, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, with two criminal counts: attempting to blow up and placing a destructive device on a U.S. civil aircraft. Additional charges were added in a grand jury indictment on January 6, 2010, including attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction and attempted murder of 289 people.

“Some people will look at the North West incident as a failure. We on the other hand see it as a plus when you think about the exposure he’s been able to get from this.”

Newly appointed  Taliban leader, Baitullah Mehsud, agrees saying we haven’t seen anything yet.

“Brother Farouk is in the infant stages of a bigger plan. We will support him in his mission until it is accomplished.”

No word yet on how this will effect Nike’s new deal with Forst Hood shooter, Major Malik Nadal Hasan.

I Spotted these over at the DJPremierBlog. Pretty damn tight.

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You can cop them on 1/9/10 at the stores below:

HOUSE OF HOOPS HARLEM
268 W 125TH STREET
New York, NY 10027
(212) 316-1667

HOUSE OF HOOPS CHICAGO
7501 W CERMAK RD STE G7
North Riverside, IL 60546
(708) 447-2060

HOUSE OF HOOPS CHERRY HILL MALL
2000 ROUTE 38
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
(856) 662-8313

HOUSE OF HOOPS MALL AT PRINCE GEORGES
3500 E WEST HWY
Hyattsville, MD 20782
(301) 853-6054

HOUSE OF HOOPS NORTHLINE COMMONS
4400B NORTH FREEWAY
Houston, TX 770223645
(713) 699-4472

Let me take a brief moment to introduce myself. I am Kiante the Sneaker Mann and I travel the United States promoting the freshest styles and trends in footwear. Now I’m stepping it up!

I’ll be reporting on some of the hottest kicks, but that’s not all. I am going to drop in and give you some lifestyle tips, introduce you to some cool taste-makers and show you some hot fashion trends that are not only affordable but are also accessible.

For starters though check out these sneakers I think are both comfortable and stylish. Stay tuned for more, and don’t hesitate to leave a comment letting me know what you think!

Jordan Retro 1

Always keeping the eyes of sneaker lovers twitching, Brand Jordan has done it again with the Jordan Retro 1. More of a fashion sneaker, it also performs very well. The upper is a combination of floater and nubuck leather, which is adorned with a TPU-jeweled “Air Jordan Wings” logo on the lateral side. The tongue backing features the exclusive numbering system dedicated to this retro style. An Air unit is encapsulated inside the solid-rubber cup sole while deep flex grooves and a concentric traction pattern provide increased flexibility and traction. Flexible, great traction and an air console for comfort, this sneaker reminds me of sitting in first class on a long, long flight! Champagne anyone? Available at Foot Locker.

Nike Hyperizer

This sneaker is the direct descendant of last year’s super-lightweight basketball sneaker, Nike Hyperdunk. Still light in weight, this sneaker comes in sooooo many colors ways. It’s equipped with a super-lightweight LunarLite foam in the forefoot for cushioning and support, embedded Flywire – tensile fibers that provide max support with the least amount of materials – in the upper for support, a thin TPU film with perforations that encompass the Flywire for breathability and support, a cutout area on the ankle for additional breathability and flexibility, a Nike Zoom air unit for cushioning and an outrigger on the outsole for stability. Plus the Nike Hyperize is built more efficiently than the Hyperdunk, so it’s even lighter. The outsole is state-of-the-art for the ultimate in traction; the heel treads are split to spread the force of impact more evenly. An exposed TPU shank plate helps provide lateral stability and an integrated forefoot pivot circle helps you turn quickly. Woo, these kicks are stacked! They are also available at Footlocker.

Asics Gel-Kayano 15

I am not a runner at all but if I did run, I would run in these. Asics provides cutting-edge performance running components with additions this year such as ASICS Asymmetrical Lacing design for improved fit and a new midsole platform that delivers the famous GEL-Kayano ride that runners expect. They are adorned with nylon upper and the GEL technology makes this sneaker shock resistant. These also provide advanced stability and arch support, and I don’t know about you but I could use all the arch support that I can get – I have no arches. You can find these at Zappos.com.

Adidas Nizza Hi Textile

The Adidas Nizza Hi are a canvas shoe that is etched with classic style and a retro flavor we’ve grown to love from Adidas Original. Named after a lost member of legendary Wu-Tang Clan, they will provide all-day comfort. These kicks are quipped with a durable, grippy rubber outsole that provides great traction, rubber toe cap for added protection, soft fabric lining in classic pattern so the shoe breaths and support moisture dissipation, this sneaker is so hot. Check out its cousin, the Adidas Nizza Hi-Zip. Find these at Adidas.com.

Nike Max LeBron 7

NBA superstar LeBron James is not playing around this season. Aside from releasing the film More than a Game and an international tour sponsored by Nike, he is releasing his seventh signature sneaker, the Nike Max LeBron 7. They will be LeBron’s lightest shoe ever and with a max air sole that runs the length of the shoe they will probably be one of the most comfortable. These are available at FootAction.

PF Flyers Bob Cousy All-Americans

For those of you who grew up in the 1950s, PF Flyers were a staple in your wardrobe. Now they are back and have been updating popular styles for the holidays! The Bob Cousy All-American has been revamped with luxurious glossy and metallic leathers and features leather laces for the very first time. Released in 1956, the sneaker was worn by one of sport’s first superstars Bob Cousy. The shoe features one-of-a-kind Gullwing Closure, reverse pigskin heel, counters for controlled heel movement and the authentic, model-specific logo markings and PF insole. These are perfect to rock with a suit or with a sport jacket. Between you and me, I am going to try and see if I get into the club wearing these. Available at Zappos.com.

From Quibian Salazar-Moreno:,

Every now and then an athlete will feel the need to grab a microphone and rap about how much money they got, how well they play on the field, or how nice they look when they’re dunking on people’s faces. And when these athletes do feel the need to kick a rhyme or two, we as a sports loving community of fans let them know that…. it’s not a very good idea.

Now we have the huge corporation of Nike along with Foot Locker working against our efforts. In a new commercial, Nike recruited Mo Williams, Kevin Durant and Rashard Lewis, collectively known as the Hyperizers, to spit some lyrics over an old school hip-hop beat that appears to be produced by DJ Quik (who makes a cameo in the video). The video, “Don’t Criticize (Hyperize),” features the ballers wearing late 80′s and early 90′s hip-hop garb, walking down the street with their crews, and playing basketball on outdoor courts. Sure the video is all in fun, but we don’t want to give them any ideas do we? Check out the video below:

VIA ESPN:

Nike says it is returning videotapes it confiscated of NBA star LeBron James getting dunked on at a recent basketball camp.

Nike said it is giving back tapes to two accredited journalists who filmed Xavier‘s Jordan Crawford dunking over James during a recent pickup game at a skills academy run by the superstar at the University of Akron.

The sports apparel giant said only one of the tapes captured the infamous dunk, which has been an Internet sensation.

Nike said it took the tapes based on its media guidelines that no pickup games be filmed.

This week, videos emerged of Crawford’s dunk in which he drove the lane and slammed over James, who was not guarding him and was the last defender between Crawford and the basket.

Yes, it’s true…Kanye’s got his very own Air Yeezy commercial. Take a look:

What do we think??? Is it HOT HOT HOT or a snore?

While you’re here check out some hot Kanye pics!

Check out the Jay-Z vs. Kanye West battle of the naps!

Click here to read about Kanye dumping Amber Rose!

VIA DX:

De La Soul’s Posdnuos recently took time to speak about the group’s upcoming album, You’re Welcome.

“We have several tracks that are coming together incredibly,” said Pos, according to Entertainment Weekly. Included amongst the songs are “We Are (For the People),” featuring vocals from Chuck D and Flavor Flav (get out those running shoes!), as well as a song titled “We Are God.”

Pos also revealed that the group also hopes to get a feature from Damon Albarn, Blur’s lead singer and mastermind behind the Gorillaz.

De La Soul met Albarn after appearing on the Gorillaz’ 2005 hit “Feel Good Inc.,” featured on their multi-platinum album Demon Days.

In addition, Posdnuos discoled that De La Soul has contributed vocals to two songs so far for the next Gorillaz album, which is tentatively titled Plastic Beach. The working titles for the songs are “Sloped Tropics” and “Electric Shock.” The latter has the same name as one of the Gorillaz demos Albarn debuted on BBC Radio 1 in January of this year.

In related news, De La Soul released a 10-track mix of running music comissioned by Nike titled Are You In?

VIA DX:

Pioneering Hip Hop group De La Soul will partner with Nike label SportMusic to release their first full album in five years on Tuesday [click to read]. The project, a 44-minute workout LP titled Are You In?, will release as the trio celebrates the twentieth anniversary of their hailed debut, 3 Feet High and Rising.

“The set we did is an actual album, with eight or nine songs, not one long deejay set,” says group member Posdnuos. “We recorded the songs and took them to Nike for feedback, and then brought in Flosstradamus to mix it all together.”

The group chose to work with Nike instead of an independent or Big Four record label and found that the brand encouraged creativity, something they felt was lacking from major labels.

Click here to read the full story! Does De La Soul make our 100 Celebs gallery list? Check below:

For some time now, Nike has held fans at the edge of their seats in anticipation of their Air Yeezy’s, a shoe to be released in a partnership with Kanye West. As the release date gets closer, it seems fans will be lining up outside of some Footlocker locations for these sneakers.

“Nike is such an important brand to me,” Kanye said in a statement released last month on Nikepedia. “Whether you are on the court, in the street, in the club, at school, Nike represents excellence, the standard in design. Growing up, we looked forward to the release of new Nike’s the way we would an album by our favorite artist. So the opportunity to collaborate on a design with Mark Smith and Nike Design has been a dream come true, and a great experience.”

To check out the Air Yeezy, please click here! Share your thoughts here in the comments section!

NBA All Star Lebron James may have a better future in acting than Jesus Shuttlesworth…

5) Glory Days
The best of the “Lebrons” commercials: “That’s a quadruple-double there, boy!”

4) Vitamin Water
I hope this is the only time we see him in court for anything.

3) ESPN “Switched Chairs”
You know you wanna kick someone in your office for doing the same thing.

2) Signs With Cleveland Browns
At 6’ 9” 250lbs this isn’t impossible. And the Browns could use all the help they can get…

1) State Farm Garage Commercial
His Kid-N-Play is pretty good…almost too good.

Bonus:

“Over And Under” w/ Nicole Scherzinger

Ah those new Jordan’s are out and I think they’re type fly, but I’ve seen some pretty ugly kicks in my day. Don’t believe me? Check the gallery.

Nick Catchdubs, DJ A-Trak’s Fool’s Gold Records partner/fellow DJ, describes A-Trak’s Running Man: Nike+ Original Run mixtape as one with a lot of “untz untz” and “beep beep.” As nondescript as it sounds, it’s hard to pinpoint the 45-minute set any better.

A-Trak, who gained recognition when he became Kanye West’s official tour DJ, is gaining almost as much widespread fame as his Louis Vuitton-donning counterpart. To anyone unfamiliar with his story, you must know A-Trak has been a ridiculous musician for a long, long time. Now 25, he won the DMC DJ Competition when he was just 15, and hasn’t slowed his skills yet. He’s recently gone on world tours with his Fool’s Gold cohorts and even did a solo European tour that wrapped just a month ago. As of late, he’s also produced and made “Pro Nails” (see video below) for his girlfriend and Chicago MC ” target=”_blank” title=”Kid Sister MySpace page”>Kid Sister.

So, its no surprise Nike asked the ridiculously relevant A-Trak to create their latest installment of the Nike+ Original Run series. Prior contributors include Aesop Rock and LCD Soundsystem, and according to A-Trak, he was “smitten” by Nike’s request.

The mixtape begins with a heart-pounding electro beat with some typical synthesized lyrics in the background, which simply say “They hear the bass and they say whoa/Whoa!/And then they get down on the floor.” The mix continues in A-Trak’s usual boom-bap fashion for the next ten minutes or so, before he kicks into a drum-heavy hip-hop beat. The next segment features rapper/singer Kid Cudi spitting a quick verse over Neptunes-inspired production.

After the only lyrics of the set are wrapped, A-Trak eases back into an upbeat electro beat and gets you into the running mood he initially meant to keep you in. While most of the set is lyric-less, A-Trak’s production is downright impressive. Not many techno DJ’s/producers can make a nonstop 45-minute set that will actually keep you interested in what you’re listening to. By changing up the tempo and the styles about a dozen times during the set, he makes it impossible for the listener to get bored.

The clever segues and up-tempo break beats will definitely provide you with great work-out/running music. And if you’re not into the whole “gym scene,” you can just enjoy listening to some great electro with none of that complicated stuff ever getting involved, like bad lyrics or radio-friendly hooks.