Troop Pro Edition
 As the demand climbs for vintage sneakers and older brands climbs, the possibilities of the brand returning to the market grows as well. Lately we have seen the resurrection of British Knights, talk and rumors of Ewing brand returning, and now Troop.
Created in the Bronx, New York in 1986, Troop was one of the first brands to be adopted by the hip-hop community. Consisting of both apparel and footwear, the brand was popularized in the mainstream by pioneering rap acts like LL Cool. With 95% of sales to African American and Latino customers, it is no surprise that a rumor that TROOP stood for “To Rule Over Oppressed People” and was owned by the KKK killed its credibility and thus sales. Nelly announced last February that he is bringing the brand back through a licensing deal. These Troop Pro Editions are samples of what is to come. Photos from Sneaker Freaker. |
Troop Pro Edition - Red
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nope doesnt do it for me
Comment by ?four! — July 14, 2008 @ 3:44 pm
i had a dope troop jacket
Comment by gold — July 14, 2008 @ 4:09 pm
Nike biters. I’m disgusted.
Comment by Chris — July 14, 2008 @ 4:13 pm
I had a pair of LL COOL J Cooling system Navy and white blickas in 88. I stopped wearing them once that Klan rumor broke out. I gave them to my dad and i think they are still in the house. I’m in my hometown today and I’m about to go check his closet.
Comment by J.King — July 14, 2008 @ 4:16 pm
I am starting to get irritated with all of those who call anything a bite of something else. Troop was HUGE back in the day because they were doing something that no one else would.
I am happy to see it come back, but hearing that Nelly is behind the comeback has me concerned. I like what I see so far, but if Nelly tries massing this out to mall stores, I won’t call this a good look.
Comment by sneakFREAK — July 14, 2008 @ 4:30 pm
ugly
Comment by greenmaker24 — July 14, 2008 @ 4:32 pm
What? Nelly? This is just crazy……this whole sneaker game is just crazy. Wtf does NELLY know about Troop? I bet he doesn’t even know they were an R&B singing group back in the day. smh @ what this shoe culture is becoming.
Comment by TechNutt — July 14, 2008 @ 5:34 pm
nah not feelin these. these kicks look like bootloeg Nikes.
Comment by JC — July 14, 2008 @ 5:55 pm
Born in 76 and brand was the shiznit. But yeah dosnt look so good now
Comment by areezee — July 14, 2008 @ 6:02 pm
Troop! wow..now that is a throwback. Not sure I can fux withem now tho. Somebody will be rockin these tho. Look for these on BET..lol
Comment by Jerronimo — July 14, 2008 @ 6:02 pm
I bet Hammer since he dropped the M.C. Would be proud
Comment by solesaved — July 14, 2008 @ 6:32 pm
ewww…Troop is a little too late to make a comeback.
Comment by Sneaker Rats — July 14, 2008 @ 6:49 pm
the back of shoe is a little clustered and the midsole is kinda ugly
Comment by pup — July 14, 2008 @ 8:28 pm
Cement should not appear on any shoe other than the Jordan 3.
Comment by Swood — July 14, 2008 @ 9:04 pm
they look like nikes fused wit bk’s not a good idea at all
Comment by tru3billion$ — July 14, 2008 @ 9:41 pm
TechNutt these kicks have no ties to the R&B group “Troop” - U PHAIL!
But yes, people stating this and that shoe is “biting” obviously are are KIDS, thinking they know what they’re talking about.
Aside from the toebox design and the strap across the top, this shoe is NOWHERE NEAR what an AF1 looks like. What a dummy he was.
But people shouldn’t be surprised about this Nelly thing, because I think a year or two ago, he was wearing a Troop jacket, or maybe it was Fila? Can’t remember.
Comment by Darneezy — July 14, 2008 @ 10:31 pm
Hmm Hmm Hmm, where do I start with this one?
Well lets see, since I was ALSO a kat born in ‘76 I definitely remember seeing these and owning a pair myself and these (the name only TROOP) bring back some great memories…Now as far as the brand goes I’m glad to see them make a comeback AND HOPEFULLY they retro the shoes ONLY instead of trying to do new things, otherwise it wont last, especially considering Nelly is behind the project BUT SHOUT OUT TO MY DUDE NELLY for making it happen…these shoes specifically arent all that and I agree with my dude above “swood” that cement belongs only on Jordans…lets just hope this is only a sample or an after thought and they stick to just retros….these new cats now a days dont know anything about this right here!
Long life the classics : Troop, Elisse, BK’s, Ewings, Bo Jackson’s LOL, Saucony, Pony, L.A. Gear LOL, Brooks LOL, ETC ETC…
Karl Kani where you at? LOL its your turn baby!!
Comment by D-Block — July 14, 2008 @ 10:50 pm
I respect Troops for sure but never liked them personally. I hate when youngins come around saying they’re nike biters
Comment by Flatsole — July 14, 2008 @ 11:19 pm
^^^Since we talking comebacks not many people are old enough or just don’t remember “Brooks” when the Human Highlight film Nique was wearing them wayback in his glory days and Them “Etonic’s Olajuwon the Dream was rocking in his early days and shout out to John Wallace he was the only i can remember that was signed to Karl Kani kicks when he was with the Knicks back in the day. Almost forgot Derrick Coleman and his BK Dyma Cells.
the Dream Olajuwon was wearing before we signed with spalding and John Wallace when he played with the Knicks
Comment by solesaved — July 14, 2008 @ 11:53 pm
Solesaved is on the money! I feels good to read something that makes sense on here. No disrespect to younger sneakerheads but 31 does not make me an old head. It means I was eating solid food during the golden age of sneakers. Youngsters, PLEASE read a kick book or something. Every kick is not a copy of the AF-1. I wish more individuals were knowledgeable of the culture. I WISH I had the spauldings Hakeem shook David Robinson in back in 95. Heck, I’d rock a pair of the Xanthus kicks rocked by Xavier McDaniel. Shoot, how about the shoes Magic Johnson came back in during 96 and shook Sprewell out of his jock. Did you see the Warner Bros. kicks rocked by Glen Rice in Charlotte and Los Angeles? Who remembers the WB shaqs? I have always been a sucker for on court shoes. I’m waiting on the Ewing comeback like the kicks come with forgiveness!
Comment by J.King — July 15, 2008 @ 12:25 am
Can a brother get some classic Pro Keds? I copped plenty of the old modles before Dash went haywire with the new stuff. The Skyhawk lo destroys any AF-1. Ask a highschooler what a skyhawk is…
Comment by J.King — July 15, 2008 @ 12:29 am
hhhmmm ive never seen elephant print on anything before
Comment by JumpmanJr. — July 15, 2008 @ 12:34 am
kix no,jackets most def!!!! 87-88 u aint have 1,u were nobody!
Comment by JA-$O! — July 15, 2008 @ 1:20 am
I think people forgot it was a year or two ago Nelly performed at the BET awards Troop’d out.
Comment by BlazeNJ — July 15, 2008 @ 10:22 am
just what I’ve been waiting all those years long and I don’t care if Nelly is behing the scene, bring back my “destroyer II”
Comment by rageur — July 15, 2008 @ 10:43 am
if they ha a 1988 costume party, i would be killin.lol
release it in so gucci colors and i’ll think about it
Comment by scout — July 15, 2008 @ 1:06 pm
They fresh. I am young but i love learning about the old brands and things like that. I already liked the Troop stuff Ive seen so i hope Nelly dosent mess this comeback up with something stupid.
Comment by A. Morrison — July 15, 2008 @ 2:07 pm
OK THIS IS GARBAGE. ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO TROOP RESURFACED,THE STORE I WAS WORKING AT,PICKED UP THIS JUNK. IM ALL FOR RETRO ITEMS,BUT WHOEVER IS DUMPING THIS ON THE STREETS IS STUPID.HERES THE STORY THEY BROUGHT IT BACK AROUND 2005,EVERYTHING FROM THE LL COOL J JUMP SUIT TO THE RETRO SHOES.NOW THE PLASTIC-LEATHER SHOES WERE LOW BUDGET-GENERIC PAINT SPLATTER-WEAK ELEPHANT PRINT,SHOES WERE UNCOMFORTABLE,SOLES YELLOWED IN THE BOX WITHIN 6 MONTHS.THEY WERE TRYING TO MAKE IT LIMITED RELEASE TO STORES AND THE PRICES REFLECTED,YOUR TALKING JORDAN APPAREL-SHOE PRICES($60-150) FOR XJ900 QUALITY. WITHIN 2 WEEKS I HAD PEOPLE COMING IN TALKING ABOUT THE KKK, I NEVER KNEW OF THE CONSPIRACY UNTIL THEN.AFTER A YEAR OF MULTIPLE MARKDOWNS,IT TOOK US 2 YEARS TO GET RID OF THE CLOTHING AND SHOES FOR 10 BUCKS A POP.TALK ABOUT A LOSS. BUYER BEWARE.
Comment by FOOTCLAN — July 15, 2008 @ 5:30 pm
This is a retro brand that will not do well with the masses. The Ewing however is a different story my friend!
Comment by J.King — July 15, 2008 @ 10:42 pm
Yo, I remember when the KKK referrence came out. That killed the brands fame. I was in LA at the time. Everyone stopped rockin them after that. Was there any truth to that?
Comment by jerronimo — July 16, 2008 @ 1:09 pm
blah
Comment by fgdh — July 17, 2008 @ 5:36 pm
I remember these. Troops were IT back in my HS days - I’m talking late 80’s. I had the black/grey Ice Lambs. http://playershouse.ocnk.net/zoom/1293
I actually have these, a white pair trimmed in green/red now. http://static.px.yelp.com/photo/_BGb7z2lf8OZaOkNR154Hg/l
I had the red suede sweat suit back and a blk/wht track suit in HS too - got rid of it all due to the KKK rumor - feel stupid now. Love to see Troop coming back, but like many said, just to revive the classics, I don’t think a new Troop line will fare well today…
Comment by B No — August 22, 2008 @ 4:16 pm
I am one of the guys in charge of this shoes. I was given this project with very little help. A massive XEROXED catalog and a ticket to China. I was told to “upgrade” the Troop footwear to a premium based product. From what I have seen from the last recent release. I was pretty confident that I can easily make the line much better. What you are seeing is a second round prototype hence the cement. Also upper leather is not actually Elephant print leather but a Rhino print (the size is a tad smaller when comparing to your Jordans) on *GASP* full grain leather. The lining is real pig leather. FYI pigskin is now a premium product for some reason (this is what the Chinese supplier is telling me)… I advised the merchandiser to add air for fun and see if people would notice it (air is on the exposed midsole - inside view). So far I got mixed reactions but overall alotta people seem to like the detail. I had to restrain my self many times to add my extra touch and in doing so keeping to the original styling of the Troop. There are much more original Troop pieces emerging from the development office as well as some original pieces heavily influenced from that time period (chunky patterns, retro tech, plenty of logos, etc.). I tried my best to learn from Troops past mistakes. I hope the KKK thing blows over since it really is a ridiculous statement. I am reading every comment as constructive criticism and will apply if needed.
Comment by LTN — August 28, 2008 @ 9:01 pm
I like the TROOP brand coming back, I think these kicks looks good and I would like to see more. Is there a whole troop line or this is just a one shoe thing????
Comment by Cachimbo — August 29, 2008 @ 8:38 am