The connection between rappers and fashion, specifically their sneaker obsessions, has never been stronger than it is today. Guys like Kanye West, Wale, Drake, Fabolous and Meek Mill have all collaborated with different brands to create their own personalized sneakers but this isn't a trend that just started- see Run DMC.
Furthermore, these rappers used to appear in commercials to promote the actual shoes themselves, even those who didn't have any direct affiliation with the sneakers design or inspiration.
For instance, the classic Reebok Answer 5 commercial featuring Jadakiss and Allen Iverson. The sneaker that Jada was promoting wasn't a collaboration between he and Reebok or Allen Iverson, but that ad was so influential that it is still being remembered 15 years after the fact with this newly introduced "A5" Reebok Question.
That iconic advertisement is just one of the many memorable sneaker commercials that featured some of hip-hop's elite, which we'll reminisce about in the slides above.
Ice Cube x Nike SB
Back in 2009, Ice Cube was one of many celebrities featured in a Nike SB commercial promoting the P-Rod, the signature sneaker of skater Paul Rodriguez.
While Kobe Bryant, Lance Mountain, Eric Koston and others were included in the making of this commercial it was Ice Cube who made the commercial memorable, by running over P-Rod's skateboard in his Impala and scowling at him as he peeled away.
Furthermore, the use of his track "Today Was A Good Day" solidifies this as one of the greatest rap inspired sneaker commercials of all time.
Run-D.M.C. x Adidas
You can not have a discussion about rapper appearances in sneaker commercials without mentioning Run-D.M.C. and their iconic televised collaborations with Adidas.
In fact, this particular "My Adidas" commercial they did in 1985, in which the trio hops out of a Run-D.M.C. x Adidas branded helicopter, was named as the best music ad of all-time.
These guys birthed the hip hop sneaker culture and this commercial will forever go down as one of the most memorable rapper x sneaker ads of all time.
Jay Z x 50 Cent x Reebok
"I'm hot man, I rock Reeboks man" is an actual line from this epic 2003 Reebok commercial promoting both 50 Cent's G-Unit sneakers and Jay Z's S. Carter Collection.
We all know how both of their signature lines panned out but that doesn't take away from this unforgettable collaboration between 50, J and Reebok.
And as a bonus, you can check out two more of 50's more memorable sneaker commercials with Reebok, including his "I Am What I Am" campaign.
Rick Ross x Reebok Classics
Rick Ross, women in bikinis, flamingos, and egg yolk all over his all-white Reebok classics.
This Reebok "White Hot" commercial from 2013 is one of the most memorable rapper x sneaker commercials of all time and there isn't even any dialogue in it. Make commercials great again.
Mos Def x Air Jordan XVI
Air Jordan sneaker commercial cameos have largely been reserved for New York Knicks superfan Spike Lee, but there was a time [2001] when Mos Def made an appearance in promotion of the newly unveiled Air Jordan XVI.
There was a shortened version of the commercial which also featured NBA stars Ray Allen, Eddie Jones and Michael Finley that aired on tv, but you can find the full extended version accompanied by Mos Def's "Umi Says" below.
Jadakiss x Reebok
Reebok has had more than a handful of rapper appearances in their sneaker commercials over the years, some of which we've already seen on this list, but none were more iconic and influential than the Jadakiss x Allen Iverson Reebok Answer 5 commercial.
Jada's lyrics, Iverson's ball handling and the beat featuring bouncing basketballs, squeaking sneakers and the sweet sound of swishes make this one of the most memorable rapper x sneaker commercials in the history of advertisement.
The duo doubled down for an Answer 6 commercial, but it's the A5 that will forever be embedded in our brains.
Juelz Santana x Nike
Juelz Santana doesn't physically appear in this Nike Basketball commercial from 2010 but it's too good to leave off the list of memorable rapper x sneaker commercials.
"The Second Coming" commercial is a classic that features Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, LeBron James and Amar'e Stoudemire among others, soundtracked by none other than Juelz' "The Second Coming."