The Dunk lineage is one of Nike’s most revered styles, paving the way for the modern collaborative industry as its roots in skateboarding, basketball, music and culture have gone on to define the streetwear scene that surrounds us today. Friends and Family iterations, such as the Wu-Tang Dunk High from 1999, are pivotal as a scene-shifter, and now one pair in a US 9 has appeared for sale courtesy of the luxury consigner Justin Reed.Taking the familiar “Black/Goldenrod” colorway, this sneaker was assigned to the Wu-Tang Clan as part of a special “Be True” release from Nike as it complemented the 1998 album The Swarm, a project made by the group’s associates, the Wu-Tang Killa Beez. The “Be True” collection was re-released in 1999 and to celebrate this Nike made the special Wu-Tang edition, of which only 36 pairs were ever produced.It was an apt collaboration at the time, as Nike’s Dunk series was on its come-up alongside the then-reign of Wu-Tang, which had made a name for itself as New York-based rappers and creatives, spanning more than just the music industry as the group dipped into representing and defining culture.In celebration of everything and everyone involved, Wu-Tang added its signature emblem to the lateral rear-quarter panel and tongue. The yellow and black colorway adorns a premium leather upper — although these materials were quite common for Dunks in the ’90s and ’00s — and the sneaker never saw a general release.Now, Justin Reed has got his hands on a pair in a US 9, and has listed the sneaker for $50,000 USD — far more than what it cost on the resale market in 2019. Head over to Reed’s site to own this piece of sneaker culture history.In case you missed it, check out this week’s issue of Sole Mates.Click here to view full gallery at HYPEBEAST
