Part and parcel of being a world-famous hip-hop artist is having the drip to match. For Canadian rapper and singer Drake, this means having an extensive collection of stunning sneakers. Whether he’s basking in the action courtside at a Raptors game or laying out melodies on stage, this lyrical legend always brings his A-game when it comes to sneaker style. From exclusive collaborations with Nike to custom designs, here are 15 Drake Nike shoes showcasing his unique style and love for footwear.
1. Air Jordan 12 “White OVO”
Drake’s Air Jordan 12 “White OVO” hit the market on October 1, 2016, which coincides with the rapper’s birth month and his brand, October’s Very Own. However, it’s worth noting that Drake was already seen sporting these stunning sneakers as early as May 2014 during the 6th game between Toronto and the Brooklyn Nets. The Air Jordan 12 boasts a crisp all-white high-top design, enhanced by gold accents such as lace buckles and corresponding branding details scattered throughout its design. But here’s a bit that should have fans, including us, in anticipation – the Holiday 2024 release of the Air Jordan 12 “Phantom” may share some similarities with this much-adored “White OVO” style. So, this upcoming AJ 12 colourway could be a satisfying alternative to the original, especially considering the difficulty in snapping up a pair from the actual release.
2. Nike Air Max Plus “For Stage Use”
In 2018, in the heat of rumours about Drizzy jumping the Nike ship for adidas, the rapper made quite the statement with a pair of specially designed “For Stage Use” Air Max Plus kicks. Nike had personally crafted these for his Aubrey & the Three Migos tour stopover in Vancouver, British Columbia. As expected, these weren’t your everyday Air Max Plus kicks. These sneakers showcase the kind of lavish details we’ve come to expect from Champagne Papi’s tour footwear. They sport unique features like an external lacing system that extends all the way from the toe box to the heel, a singular pop of colour on the heel shank, and a captivating webbed effect achieved with the rope-style laces. Drake slipped into both a white and crimson red as well as a black and blue rendition of the sneaker for the tour. While the original pair is not available for purchase, Nike does offer a similar Air Max Plus with white and red detailing.
3. Eminem x Carhartt Air Jordan 4 “Black Chrome”
2015 was a banner year for Eminem who not only scored Best Rap Album at the Grammy Awards but also launched an exclusive sneaker collaboration with Jordan Brand and workwear brand Carhartt. The limited-edition footwear featured Carhartt’s trademark black canvas fabric with Eminem and Shady Records graphics, showcasing his famous hockey mask and backwards “E” logo on the heel. A total of ten pairs were auctioned on eBay, where each fetched over $20,000 USD to benefit the Marshall Mathers Foundation. The remaining pairs were presented as exclusive gifts to Eminem’s inner circle. Drake was among the privileged few to receive this sneaker, which he proudly wore courtside at the Air Canada Centre that same year.
4. Air Jordan 8 “White OVO”
Marking the NBA All-Star weekend, Jordan Brand and Drake’s OVO Banner rolled out a unique variation of the Jordan 8 shoe. This ‘White’ version is all about elegance, featuring a white suede and tumbled leather upper, red highlights on the tongue’s Jumpman logo and gold details on the toe box, heel pull tabs, and midfoot paintbrush streaks. These kicks, which were first spotted on Drake during a performance at the OVO Fest in Toronto in August 2015, can be yours for nothing south of $336 USD on platforms like StockX.
5. Off-White x Nike Air Force One
Nike’s Air Force 1 is rightly considered a classic in the world of sneakers. Drake has a particular liking for this legendary model, frequently stepping out in various renditions. Among them, you’ll find his own collaborations like the NOCTA x Nike Air Force 1 Low “Certified Lover Boy”, as well as the ageless all-white pairs we all adore. But the cream of the crop, our top pick of Drake’s best Nike Air Force 1 sneakers, has to be the highly sought-after Off-White x Air Force 1 Sample sneakers that he added to his collection in 2021. This stellar sneaker delights with a white leather upper, enhanced by Virgil Abloh’s distinctive style cues, including a striking stitched-on metallic silver swoosh on the side.
6. Off-White Nike Air Max 97
As part of “The 10” Collection, Virgil Abloh added his characteristic flair to the Nike Air Max 97 silhouette. Drake proudly sported a pair of these unique kicks during a Toronto Raptors game in December 2017. What sets this sneaker apart is its translucent upper, which softens the iconic wave-patterned lines and highlights the shoe’s shape. On the side panels, a bold, black Swoosh playfully contrasts with the upper. As you’d expect, any collaboration between these brands wouldn’t be complete without Abloh’s signature touches – tie tags, Helvetica print and ‘Air’ emblems all included. Now, it’s not unheard of for them to sell for less than $950 USD on StockX.
7. Supreme X Nike SB Blazer
Drizzy has given us many memorable sneaker moments, particularly with his choices for his frequent basketball game appearances. One of Drake’s best Nike shoes, seen at the 2019 Eastern Conference Semifinals, was the exceedingly rare black Supreme X Nike SB Blazers. Its luxe design offers quilted black leather uppers with snakeskin-embossed Swoosh and gold trims complementing the tongue branding and D-ring heel tag. The back showcases a striking checkered green and red textile reminiscent of Gucci patterns. Prices for a pair have skyrocketed since their initial release in 2006. Even with prices falling on StockX, these kicks will still set you back around $930 USD.
8. Air Jordan 3 Retro Drake v/s Lil Wayne
During the summer of 2014, Drake and Lil’ Wayne set out on a 31-stop tour, aptly titled Drake VS Lil’ Wayne. A surprising twist to the traditional concert format, the duo would trade musical jabs in a one-on-one style performance (reminiscent of a versus battle) and cap off each show with combined performances of crowd favourites such as “HYFR” and “The Motto”. And here’s the kicker: there would be a victorious ‘fighter’ crowned at every gig, ramping up the competitive spirit of the show.
Nevertheless, with Drake being an ambassador of the Jordan Brand, he was presented with unique Street Fighter-themed Air Jordan 3s to mark the event. Each pair sported a monochromatic black or white upper with striking red and yellow accents on the collar lining and laces. The cherry on top? Unique custom insoles featuring a ‘Drake vs Lil Wayne’ graphic. A pair of these rare shoes, in size 12, surfaced in 2015. These coveted Drake VS Lil’ Wayne sneakers were listed for auction on eBay with a jaw-dropping starting bid of $25,000 USD. Perhaps not the worst price for owning a piece of rap battle history.
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9. Air Jordan 8 “Calipari” Pack
In 2017, Drake showcased an elusive Air Jordan 8 Calipari pack on his Instagram account. However, even before then, NBA fans would have already caught sight of these. In 2016, Drake was sighted strutting these sneakers during NBA All-Star Saturday Night. These kicks are named after John Calipari, the coach of Drake’s favourite NCAA team, the Kentucky Wildcats. The set comes with two pairs of kicks, each with different ‘Home’ and ‘Away’ colour themes. The White pair has a leather top with a Kentucky blue and red Jumpman symbol, while the Black pair has a suede top with the same blue hue. Drake shared little else about these kicks, but one pair from the set appeared on Flight Club’s website in 2018, priced at a whopping $40,000 USD.
10. Air Jordan 4 “Raptors/Drake OVO”
In 2018, the Air Jordan 4 “Raptors/Drake OVO” should have seen its launch alongside Travis Scott’s “Oilers” 4s. However, due to ambivalence surrounding Drake’s association with Nike, the Jordan Brand chose to release a pair without his stamp of approval present on the shoe tongue. However, the brand saw an opportunity following the Toronto Raptors’ reach to the NBA Finals, releasing the sneakers with Drake’s signature adorning the tongue. The sneaker, which featured black nubuck with red and purple accents, dropped in a surprise launch in June of 2019 via the Nike SNKRS app and in no time, they were completely sold out. Now, it is a rare and coveted sneaker that sells for upwards of $393 USD on resale platforms like StockX.
11. Nike TL Shox “Sunrise”
Nike introduced the TL Shox “Sunrise” back in 2019 as part of their summer collection. It’s no surprise that fans were clamouring to own a pair of these striking shoes that take inspiration from the beauty of dawn. Boasting an impressive colour gradient of orange and yellow across the mesh body, the shoe gets some contrast from black detailing on the Swoosh and at the heel. Not surprisingly, Drake managed to get hold of a pair despite the model selling out instantaneously. You can now find these sneakers on StockX for approximately $304 USD. But keep an eye out, as there’s talk of a Nike Air Max Plus x Swarovski set to come out in a similar shade in Holiday 2024.
12. Nike Nocta Hot Step Air Terra
The line-up of best Drake Nike shoes wouldn’t be complete without a mention of the hip-hop maestro’s very own signature Nike shoes. Attentive sneakerheads might remember first seeing the Nike Hot Step sneaker in the rapper’s ‘Laugh Now Cry Later’ music video from 2020. However, it wasn’t until early 2022 that Drake’s NOCTA line finally launched the Air Terra Humara-inspired footwear. Sporting a bulky design, these kicks impress with their luxurious leather exteriors, metallic Swooshes, an exposed Air bubble in the heel and reflective detailing on the perforated leather upper.
13. NOCTA x Nike Glide
Flashback to April 2022, when the spotlight was on Drake during the Toronto Raptors and 76ers game – not just for his courtside presence, but for the then yet-to-be-released Air Zoom Flight 95-inspired sneakers on his feet. Showcasing a white and black palette with metallic highlights, this sneaker marries mesh construction on a sturdy rubber midsole. Notable features are the metal oval caps – a nod to the Flight 95’s signature bug eyes – the glossy jewel Swooshes, the striking carbon fibre panelling, and a stunning translucent outsole.
14. Drake Custom Pink Nike Nocta Glide
Here’s a selection that has definitely generated some debate among us here at Sneaker Fortress. In 2023, renowned sneaker artist Dominic “The Shoe Surgeon” Ciambrone performed his magic on a set of Nike NOCTAs exclusively for Drake. The Canadian hip-hop maestro gave the world the first glimpse of the pair during his “It’s All a Blur” tour gig in Los Angeles. They boast a stylish low-cut upper adorned with pink ballistic mesh and a snazzy internal lacing system enhanced with reflective elements. Opinions are divided on this one – let’s just say it’s one of those looks you either hate or love. However, I think they are one of Drake’s best Nike custom sneakers.
15. Solid Gold OVO x Air Jordan 10
In all honesty, these are less like sneakers and more akin to unwearable works of art. However, the OVO x Air Jordan 10, beautifully crafted by artist Matthew Senna in 2016, remains one of Drake’s best Nike shoes given they are one of the most unique and visually striking pairs. Crafted from 24-karat gold, the creation would have put Drizzy back roughly $1.9 million USD, based on gold prices at the time. It’s the ultimate testament to luxury and exclusivity.
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So, what’s your favourite among Drake’s Nike shoes?
