Vans meets A Tribe Called Quest
Skateboarding plus the rap game. Vans plus hip-hop. Neither of those proposed combinations makes a ton of sense on first glance. In fact, you can be forgiven for thinking the culture takes an antagonistic stance towards Vans sneakers – eg: The Pack and Drino Man’s banger from way back.
But, that combination isn’t proposed at all. In fact, Vans has been a pretty constant presence within hip-hop for decades. That celebration of the genre and the wider culture that surrounds it is the central theme behind the brand’s latest: the Vans x A Tribe Called Quest collection.
A Tribe Called Quest’s significance is way beyond hip-hop
It really doesn’t get any more hip-hop than this. A Tribe Called Quest is about as synonymous with old school rap nostalgia as it gets. The collective – calling them a “group” feels woefully inadequate – represents a time of both critical reflection and spitfire rhymes.
When you hear the OGs complain about “today’s hip-hop” and they’re looking away at the distance, they’re probably getting misty-eyed about ATCQ.
The other aspect about the iconic hip-hop collective worthy of note is their collection of albums. Specifically, A Tribe Called Quest has, undoubtedly, some of the most memorable album covers in the game’s storied history.
Vans materializes the best of ATCQ
In this latest drop from Vans, a collaborative effort sees those covers brought back to life on some recognizable silhouettes. The Vans Era model is perhaps the most interesting piece here, sporting an all-over graphic print that shouts out ATCQ album covers all the way from 1990 to 2016.
Other highlights include the Slip-On, especially decked out here in embroidery to commemorate the unforgettable “We Got it From Here…Thank You 4 Your Service.”
The visual appeal here is easy to spot. As usual with Vans releases, we get a good helping of variety when it comes to colors and styles. Thanks to the brand’s long history in both hip-hop and sneakers, there was little reason to expect anything less than a collection of bangers.
Available now, check out the full series, perfect for both the OG and new hip-hop heads!
