Nice Kicks: What would your dream New Balance 1500 encompass?
Calcei: It would definitely have a lot of mesh. As for the colors, it would definitely have a grey on grey color scheme. You can’t go wrong with a grey sneaker. It’s one of the most beautiful things to look at. So, it would probably be grey on grey with a few red accents. It would also have to say “Made in the USA” on it somewhere. That’s what I would like to see. A “Made in the USA” New Balance 1500 with a grey on grey color scheme. That would be the ultimate shoe. It would also have a pair of grey laces, white laces and black laces.
Nice Kicks: On your song Spastic, you talk about the desire of sneakerheads in regards to doing anything, such as lining up, to get that coveted, highly-anticipated shoe. What was the first sneaker you ever lined up for?
Calcei: I’ll be honest with you. I don’t line up to get shoes. I won’t do it. I talked about it because it’s a big part of the sneaker culture, but I’m just not into lining up like that. I’ve come close. For a long time, I wasn’t buying too many Nikes. I was only doing New Balance, Pumas and classic Reeboks. I’ve thought about lining up numerous times, but I never have. I guess it’s just like a principle thing for me. I just won’t stand in line for a pair of sneakers.
Nice Kicks: You have a song on the EP called AJ3 or AJ5. Are these your two favorite Jordan models?
Calcei: Well, I kind of left it as an open-ended question for the listeners to decide. The 3s and the 5s are my two favorite Jordans, but I would probably lean more towards the 3s. The remix was from this Detroit rapper I know named Sean Uppercut. He’s from this really dope group named Detroit City. He heard it and told me he wanted to get on it for a remix. You know, he’s on the Air Jordan 6/Air Jordan 13 song.
“When I say ‘Butter’, I wanted it to mean ‘you being you’ as it should be. Don’t follow the trends. Instead, just wear what you wear.”– Calcei |
Nice Kicks: What are your favorite colorways of each model?
Calcei: For the 3s, I probably have to go with the “True Blue” Air Jordan 3s or the “Black Cement” Air Jordan 3s. For the 5s, I would have to go with the OG black/reds and the “Grapes”.
Detroit rapper CalceiNice Kicks: You shed light on a story involving the “True Blue” Air Jordan 3 in the AJ3 or AJ5 song in which you stated that you really became interested in them when you spotted on someone’s feet. Was that personal experience?
Calcei: Definitely! When I was in school, everybody had Jordans, but my parents were not into buying Jordans. When I did finally cop them, it was like 20 years later. That’s definitely a true story. I used to look at the other kids Jordans like, “Yo, I want a pair of those.”
Nice Kicks: You talked about the Air Jordan 5 in great detail on the AJ3 or AJ5 song as well. Since it’s one of your favorite silhouettes, what elements are most intriguing to you on the Air Jordan 5?
Calcei: I like the tongue and the mesh, but I really love the clear sole. I just don’t like the yellowing though. I try to keep those things crispy. I just think that’s such a classic design. It’s a beautiful shoe.
Nice Kicks: You shouted out the Nike Air Flight Huarache multiple times throughout your Laces In, Tongue Out EP. Did the Fab Five have anything to do with your infatuation of the Huarahce seeing that you grew up in Detroit?
Calcei: Of course! I was a big fan. I watched Chris Webber play all throughout high school. He was a big man around here. Jalen too.
