Get ‘em boooooyyyyy…get ‘em boy…get ‘em boooooyyyyy…GET THAT MOTHER*****’ BOY!!!
No, that’s not Michael Jordan audibly chanting and charming sneakerheads to the shoe shops this holiday weekend (that’s Dark Man X, and if you don’t know that classic line from “The Kennel,” you’re need to get on your rap game, STAT!)
Sounds like it could be the Jumpman, though, no?
Snake charming isn’t a usual method of Jordan Brand’s marketing, but with the Black Friday holiday releases forthcoming this week, they may just want to explore that tactic.
Three of the most celebrated Air Jordans in its history (namely as Nike models) are being released between Friday, November 23, and Saturday, November 24 – the Air Jordan 4 Retro, the Air Jordan 7 Retro, and the Air Jordan 9 Retro. All three shoes are black-based (a nod to the holiday shopping occasion) and each model retails at a base price of $160 (though mark-ups can be expected with the high demand).
The AJ 4 Retro (formerly Roman-numbered as “IV”) is releasing in its classic Tinker Hatfield form, in black/cement gray/fire red/white. Legendary for its net mesh side paneling, the plastic eyelet “wings” and its then-unconventional ¾ cut, the AJ 4 became one of the greatest basketball shoes ever and a game-changer in the Jordan legacy – not only for its performance, but for its style cues. They are the only Air Jordan release on Black Friday.
The other two Jordan Black Friday releases are on Saturday, the AJ 7 Retro and the AJ 9 Retro.
The AJ 7 releases in its true championship form, in black/red/purple – or as sneakerheads like to call it, the “Raptors” colorway, nodding to the Toronto Raptors’ original color palate. Worn in MJ’s 1991-1992 campaign, the AJ 7 is another revered model from the signature collection that Jordan himself played in, ultimately winning his second consecutive title in Chicago.
Lastly, the AJ 9 is a special release that departs from the prior two models, particularly in its color blocking. Titled “Slim Jenkins,” the AJ 9 has the mysterious nickname sewn onto the tongue, but takes on a familiar look. With the North Carolina ties still running strong, the Slim Jenkins version is straight black and Columbia blue.
Sandy Dover is a contributor to The Shadow League, and is a veteran feature columnist for Yahoo!, SLAM Magazine, YES Network's The Brooklyn Game and STACK Media, among other major publications. You can follow him at @San_Dova at Twitter and also find him on the web at about.me/SandyDover.
