Biggie Smalls Air Jordans Sold At Auction For Over $30K

BYGabriel Bras Nevares8.9K Views
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His limited edition Air Jordan XIIIs were created through a partnership between Jordan Brand and the late rapper's Memorial Foundation.

The Notorious B.I.G. is arguably the greatest rapper of all time, and the only thing that rivals the history of that debate is the history of his impact. 23 pairs of Biggie Smalls Air Jordans sold for over $30K at an auction this week. The Sotheby's auction closed on Friday (February 3), with the highest bid being a 9.5 and 10.5 pair for $32,760 each. Furthermore, the Christopher Wallace Air Jordan XIII came from a partnership between Jordan Brand and the Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation.

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 1994: Rapper The Notorious BIG attends an event in November 1994 in New York, New York. (Photo by Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

While they created it in 2017 on what would've been Biggie's 45th birthday, they kept it under wraps. Much later, their unveil took place this week in honor of hip-hop's 50th anniversary. However, it's not all that this specific colorway of Jordan 13s honors. Moreover, the shoe celebrates February 3, 2023 (2/3/23), representing Michael Jordan's jersey number. What's more is that this shoe kicks off the "Jordan Year," which will presumably celebrate the raging Bull in many ways. However, the best news here is that Biggie's limited edition Jordans look really nice.

For example, the sneaker features a black and anthracite upper with images and phrases from Biggie's iconography. The tongue displays Christopher Wallace's iconic silhouette, and the shoe as a whole tributes his legacy, willpower, and faith. Also, they designed the sneaker with black and red flannel-designed sock liner and insoles. On the tongue tag, it reads, "It was all a dream" and "If you don't know, now you know." In addition, the word "dream" is etched on metal aglets. According to a post from Biggie's official IG page, all auction proceeds will go to the Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation.

Moreover, the foundation “aims to empower inner-city youth with educational learning instruments, sponsorships, grants and community-based mentorship programs and campaigns, all in line with its motto, ‘Think B.I.G.’ Books Instead of Guns.' What do you think about these limited edition Air Jordans featuring Biggie Smalls? Whatever the case, let us know in the comments below. Also, as always, come back to HNHH for more stories on hip-hop history and the enduring influence of the greats.

About The Author
Gabriel Bras Nevares is a staff writer for HotNewHipHop. He joined HNHH while completing his B.A. in Journalism & Mass Communication at The George Washington University in the summer of 2022. Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Gabriel treasures the crossover between his native reggaetón and hip-hop news coverage, such as his review for Bad Bunny’s hometown concert in 2024. But more specifically, he digs for the deeper side of hip-hop conversations, whether that’s the “death” of the genre in 2023, the lyrical and parasocial intricacies of the Kendrick Lamar and Drake battle, or the many moving parts of the Young Thug and YSL RICO case. Beyond engaging and breaking news coverage, Gabriel makes the most out of his concert obsessions, reviewing and recapping festivals like Rolling Loud Miami and Camp Flog Gnaw. He’s also developed a strong editorial voice through album reviews, think-pieces, and interviews with some of the genre’s brightest upstarts and most enduring obscured gems like Homeboy Sandman, Bktherula, Bas, and Devin Malik.
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