How great are the Beastie Boys? Rhetorical question, the answer is “objectively very great.” They’re a New York institution, a legendary unit who changed the worlds of both rock and hip-hop, as well as those of millions of kids around the planet who found their music at the right time. I can’t speak for everyone but some of my most cherished memories from adolescence involve driving around with my best friends, blasting “Rhymin’ and Stealin’” over the car radio.
Their influence doesn’t stop with music, though. You’d also be hard-pressed to find many musical acts more vital to the story of adidas than Beastie Boys (Run-DMC aside, for obvious reasons). The legendary trio weren’t just musical revolutionaries but style icons in their own right. Their fits made adidas essential to hip-hop culture as a whole and it’s hard to imagine where the brand would be today if not for their influence.
(Photo Credit: adidas Skateboarding)
As such, it feels only natural that the brand would commemorate the 30th anniversary of the band’s second (and easily most influential) album Paul’s Boutique with a collaboration. Fortunately for fans of both adidas and the Beasties, both really went the extra mile for this one.
Through August fans of the band can hit up Beyond the Streets gallery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York to take in a exhibit on street art, including a section dedicated to the Beasties’ influence on street culture. The installation contains everything from photos to memorabilia that paint a vibrant picture of the band’s heyday.
(Photo Credit: adidas Skateboarding)
And on July 25, the anniversary of the official release of Paul’s Boutique, the centerpiece of the adidas x Beastie Boys collaboration will be available: the adidas x Beastie Boys Americana. It’s a classic adidas skating silhouette harkening back to the golden age of the ‘90s in skate culture.
The colorway is pretty low-key and stripped-down, featuring an off-white and light grey upper and a classic gum sole. The signature adidas three stripes are in a slightly darker grey on each side. It’s capped off on each tongue, which displays artist Eric Haze’s iconic Beastie Boys logo.
Aside from a select few skate shops, the shoe is only going to be available at Beyond the Streets gift shop. Supplies are limited so it looks like the shop runs a pretty good chance of selling out quickly. Fans in the New York area looking to cop a pair can pick them up at the gallery on the day of the release. Anybody else is probably best served by keeping an eye on the sneaker resale site of their choice.
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