Since the start, Kanye West has always cared about what’s on his feet and fans have just the same. Seldom slacking on the footwear tip, the man of many creative caps has made more noise with his feet than most tap dancers, relishing in retros before they were the norm and sporting his own signatures on music’s biggest stages.
For Kanye, one of those common stages has been music videos. A man known to care about his craft in every which way, it’s not sold short on Mr. West the importance of Michael Jackson breaking MTV’s color barrier in the ’80s nor the influence of coming up in the Hype Williams ran mid-to-late ’90s. Whether teaming up with Spike Jonze or sitting in the director chair himself, one thing is for sure: a Kanye clip is going to be memorable and it’s going to break the mold. Storytelling and cinematography aside, you’re also going to remember what he wore.
From “All Falls Down” to recent guest verses, get a complete kick catalog of Kanye’s music videos and guest appearances.
“All Falls Down”
Kicks: adidas Superstar Black/Black & Air Jordan 7 “Raptor”
Year: 2004
Back when they thought pink Polos would hurt the Roc, the Dropout went first person POV for his introspective introduction to the mainstream, “All Falls Down.” Spitting with a heavier heart than “Slow Jamz” and following up his sped-up sample but very in the moment start seen on “Through the Wire,” his third single saw him appealing to anyone and everyone while showcasing a style that was entirely his own both musically and aesthetically.
Polo’d down to the socks in an era where throwbacks and Timbs were prerequisites, the student suddenly became the teacher by making his own rules and paying no mind to norms or stereotypes. Dressing pretty and boo’d up just the same, the video begins with Kanye glancing down at a pair of all-black adidas Superstars but famously finishes with him going through TSA in his “Raptor” Air Jordan 7s. The latter would lace him for much of his Dropout-era run and later inspire Ye protege Big Sean to wear the same 2002 style during his respective come up.
“Jesus Walks” (Version Three)
Kicks: Nike Air Force 1 Mid White/White
Year: 2004
Equipped with his Ones that’s clean but no shirt with a team, Kanye kept it classic and relateable for the third version of the “Jesus Walks” video. Portraying more of his (or anyone’s) daily walk with God, this visual serves as a literal and liturgical take on what still serves as one of if not the most powerful records in his catalog.
“The New Workout Plan”
Kicks: Nike Zoom Miler
Year: 2004
Part Billy Mays, part Billy Blanks, “The New Workout Plan” saw cameos, captions and comedy in this inspirational infomercial. Dressed to sweat in Mascot (his unreleased, bear branded clothing line, pre-Pastelle, pre-Yeezy Season) and Nike’s running shoe of the moment, the Zoom Miler, this clip showcases the sense of humor and social commentary that made fans fall in love with Kanye way back when.
“This Way”
Kicks: Air Jordan 7 “Raptor”
Year: 2004
If your dollars up, please pop your collars up. Making more off The College Dropout than an art degree would’ve got him, ‘Kanye To The’ proved still conscious and on the backpack beat with his verse on Dilated People’s “This Way.” Retro 7s were still intact as was the trademark polo.
“I Changed My Mind”
Kicks: Air Jordan 4 White/Green
Year: 2004
The Kanye-Keyshia Cole connection was always a good one. While the “Impossible” video never saw the light of day, “I Changed My Mind” caught Kanye on the roof of an SUV with that year’s White/Green Air Jordan 4 release.
“Whole City Behind Us (Where You At?)”
Kicks: Air Jordan 4 White/Green
Year: 2004
The early days of #paidcontent saw this monster mixtape cut from The Game turn into a music video turn into a Boost Mobile commercial. Keeping his horses in the stable in favor of his own Mascot polo, Kanye continued to keep it classic on the foot with the White/Green 4s.
“Down & Out”
Kicks: Bathing Ape Bapestas
Year: 2005
If you claim this to be the greatest song ever made you won’t get any complaints from this author. One of many standout singles from Cam’ron’s Purple Haze (previously written in 2001), “Down & Out” had Kanye on beat and hook duty, appearing in the video in a pair of Bathing Ape Bapestas.
“Diamonds From Sierra Leone”
Kicks: adidas Rod Laver Vintage
Year: 2005
Tennis anyone? While Kanye’s supported the Stan Smith in its recent run, he’s always been a fan of classic adidas models even dating back to his mixtape days. During his Late Registration run, the adidas Rod Laver Vintage was a favorite as its lux and minimalistic style took well to the grown man garb he favored during his sophomore stint.
“I Still Love H.E.R.”
Kicks: Kanye West x A Bathing Ape Bapesta
Year: 2007
While you can’t quite see Kanye’s feet in this video, fresh guy Verbal does his manager and his guest a solid by plugging the Kanye West x A Bathing Ape Bapesta just after 3:20.
“Can’t Tell Me Nothing”
Kicks: Gucci Shaman Moccasins
Year: 2007
While A$AP Rocky deservedly gets credit for the modern marriage between streetwear and designer duds, Graduation-era Yeezy was in many ways the originator. Rather than mix and match staple items like the PMF, Kanye rocked high fashion favorites in a contemporary manner while also acting as the human spark for the collectible culture that birthed the blog boom in the late 2000s.
“Stronger”
Kicks: Ato Matsumoto Cow Hide Boot
Year: 2007
If Kanye is worth both MJs, then the shutter shades from the “Stronger” video are his one glove moment. While the eyewear went from ‘what are those’ to blogs posting cut-out kits to make your own (thanks, Mom!) to eventually being available in bootleg fashion at every mall stand in the world, his Ato Matsumoto Cow Hide Boots had fashion fanatics calling for connects out East.
In fact, Kanye was so hush-hush about these sneakers he wouldn’t tell Complex Magazine what they were in a fantastic style spread from Fall ’07. When he later broke them out at Summer Jam and ‘heads saw them in their full glory, he even had NikeTalk’s elite questioning if these were the Air Yeezys way before the general public had any idea that there ever would be Air Yeezys.
“Champion”
Kicks: Nike Shox Turbo VI & Nike Cortez Black/White
Year: 2008
Why is Kanye the best? Because he works with the best. Always looking to improve his own craft and product via collaboration, the whimsical “Champion” music video showcases both. Puppetry by Jim Henson, who worked on that summer’s Glow in the Dark Tour, is the catalyst for both comedy and character, while his Nike partnership was on display via that summer’s Olympic Windrunner jacket push. Now if only they could’ve got him in a pair of Lunaracers…
“Stay Up! (Viagra)”
Kicks: United Arrows x New Balance 997.5
Year: 2009
Costume Kanye? Leave it to 88 Keys to pull the goofy side out of everyone. The two friends, producer/rappers and forever fans of Ralph Lauren got their old man steeze on for the “Stay Up! (Viagra)” music video. Despite deals with the Swoosh and LV, Kanye wore the United Arrows x New Balance 997.5 on the reg during that time period and in this music video. If you’ve never heard the album this song is off of, 88 Key’s The Death of Adam, it’s a great listen.
“Karaoke”
Kicks: Nike Air Yeezy 1 “Net”
Year: 2009
Though Kanye contributed no verse to this T-Pain track, he did make a comical cameo in the “Karoke” video wearing the “Net” Nike Air Yeezy 1. Based on outfits and timing, it’s safe to assume he wore these kicks in the “Go Hard” video though you can’t see his shoes. Epic Khaled rant in this video, too. Sidebar…
“Knock You Down”
Kicks: Nike Air Yeezy 1 Black/Pink
Year: 2009
Even though Kanye had shoe lines out with Nike and Louis Vuitton during the 808s-era, none of the album’s videos really saw sneakers. His guest verses at the time were a different story, though. The video for Keri Hilson’s “Knock You Down” saw the debut of the Black/Pink Nike Air Yeezy 1.
“Ego”
Kicks: Louis Vuitton Hudson
Year: 2009
Inspired by G.O.O.D. Music import Mr. Hudson, the lowest launch from the Louis Vuitton line got prominent product placement in the video for the always popular remix of Beyonce’s “Ego.”
“American Boy”
Kicks: Vans Sk8-Hi
Year: 2009
Over the course of his career, Kanye has been low-key loyal to Vans. In recent years he wore the WTAPS collabo on the Sk8-Hi, but he kept it clean with an all-white pair in Estelle’s “American Boy” music video.
“Good Morning”
Kicks: Nike MAG
Year: 2009
From a visual standpoint, the first song on Graduation became the last single from the album in late-2009 — far after its followup had been released. Never pushed to radio, this Takashi Murakami clip finds the fashion forward Dropout Bear rocking a 2-D take on the Nike MAG from Back to the Future.
“E.T.”
Kicks: Air Jordan 3 White/Cement
Year: 2011
Back from exile and back on the radio, Kanye West popped up on Katy Perry’s “E.T.” for one of the bigger mainstream features of his career. This intergalactic clip saw the recently released Air Jordan 3 White/Cement retro on Kanye’s feet.
“All of the Lights” **Warning** Don’t Watch if You Suffer from Photosensitive Epilepsy
Kicks: Air Jordan 3 CDP Black/Cement
Year: 2011
Though pics exist of Kanye wearing the 2001 retro version of the Black/Cement Air Jordan 3s, he pulled out the Countdown Pack pair for the “All of the Lights” music video.
“Otis”
Kicks: Air Jordan 6 Black/Varsity Red
Year: 2011
Kanye made it easier to beg for more Air Jordan 6 retros when he broke out the Black/Varsity Red pair from 2010 in 2011’s “Otis” video. A longtime fan of the “Infrared” retros from 2000, Kanye’s probably the most synonymous person with 6s this side of Mike.
“N*ggas in Paris” **Warning** Don’t Watch if You Suffer from Photosensitive Epilepsy
Kicks: Nike Air Yeezy 2 Black/Solar Red
Year: 2011
Kaleidoscope dream, no Miguel, the “N*ggas in Paris” video made the most of live footage and live audio from the biggest song off The Throne album. While Jay and Ye did not perform this particular prog-rock remix at their concerts, they did play the standard version of the song an unprecedented 11 times in a row in Paris, with Kanye wearing the then yet-to-be-released Nike Air Yeezy 2 Black/Solar Red for the duration of the American tour.
“Lost In the World”
Kicks: Vans Authentic
Year: 2012
Much like “Good Morning” albums ago, the “Lost in the World” video dropped far after MBDTF released. The perils of perfection? Perhaps, but the end result was one of the best visuals for one of the best songs on his strongest album. While neither the track nor the visual appear dated after all these years, the studded hat is a rarity for Mr. West. Conversely, the white button down tee, ripped jeans and Van Authentics though not nostalgic are still classic Kanye as they’ve each been reoccurring pieces in his ever evolving wardrobe.
“I Wish You Would”
Kicks: Nike Air Yeezy 2 Black/Solar Red
Year: 2012
Spitting two verses in his second signature, Kanye gave fans a small taste of the tone for Yeezus in DJ Khaled’s “I Wish You Would” video.
“Birthday Song”
Kicks: Nike Air Yeezy 2 Black/Solar Red
Year: 2012
When will they start singing this when you blow out the candles at Ruby Tuesdays? Fresh out the garage and clad in black, Kanye assisted common collaborator Ta Ta 2 Chainz in the “Birthday Song” video wearing his trademark Yeezy 2s.
“BLKKK SKKKN HEAD”
Kicks: Nike Air Yeezy 2
Year: 2013
Yes, that’s Kanye in KKK masks at the beginning of the video. For all those that claim to give no Fs, Kanye pointed his middle finger in each and every direction on the Yeezus album. The “BLKKK SKKKN HEAD” saw cyber Yeezy spazzing in, well, cyber Yeezys. The earlier analogy proved very literal on the interactive portion of the video, which allowed users to slow down the speed of the visual and turned the cursor into a black middle finger.
“Blessings”
Kicks: adidas Yeezy Boost & adidas Yeezy Duck Boot
Year: 2015
Showing feature love to Sean Don, the “Blessings” video sees Kanye’s kick collection with adidas on full display. Only lacking the Yeezy 350 Boost, the Yeezy 750 Boost and Yeezy Duck Boot both get on-screen endorsement from their designer.
“U Mad”
Kicks: adidas Yeezy Duck Boot
Year: 2015
And you say Chi City. Kanye brought out the boots for the very aggro and also alternative visual for Vic Mensa’s “U Mad.”
“Figure it Out”
Kicks: adidas Yeezy Boost 550 Grey/Infrared & adidas Yeezy Boost 750 “Glow in the Dark”
Year: 2016
Guesting aside Nas for French Montana’s “Figure it Out,” Yeezy Season 3 was on full display in the mixtape cut turned video.
