<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nBun B:<\/strong> I was videotaping when I got them, and when I opened it, the pair didn\u2019t have the blue laces. I posted it saying that there weren’t any blue laces in the box. Marcus jumped in and said, \u201cyo OG, the laces only come from Trophy Room.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\nHe told me he was going to send me the blue laces. Whenever he stops rolling around in that yellow Lambo, hopefully, he sends me those laces. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Sneaker Summit Means for Houston <\/h2>\n\n\n\n NK: Sneaker Summit and what it symbolizes is important for not only the city of Houston but for relations and that nostalgic feel of sneaker culture was in its early days. What\u2019s the importance of your relationship with the people down there? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nBun B:<\/strong> Everyone knows I\u2019m tightly associated with the event and the store. They\u2019re very good friends of mine. I\u2019m one of the first attendees. It was more like meet-ups. I\u2019m so proud of what they\u2019ve been able to accomplish as a brand. <\/p>\n\n\n\nWhen they decided to open the storefront, I thought it was a no-brainer. The idea of a consignment store exists already. But it\u2019s always about the people who are doing it for love. They\u2019re the ones who usually win. Everyone who does it for a money grab doesn\u2019t always play out for them as they would like. It has to start from a genuine love for sneakers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When people come into the store, 9 times out of 10, people will not only pride themselves in the sneaker but give them a bit of knowledge about the shoe they\u2019re interested in. \u2018This shoe is a retro but originally came out in \u201885. It was brought back in \u201892 and \u201897.\u2019 They walk you through it. It\u2019s a beautiful thing to share that knowledge with people and see these kids\u2019 eyes light up when there\u2019s an actual story. Most don\u2019t know that most of the shoes they see on the shelf tell a particular story. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Evolution of Houston’s Fashion, Streetwear & Sneaker Scene<\/h2>\n\n\n\n <\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nNK: Guys like PJ Tucker and Travis Scott have added to the Houston identity of sneakers and streetwear. The impact you as an individual had and that of UGK had on the Houston scene, how has the flavor in the city evolved? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nBun B:<\/strong> There are still people who dress in traditional ways. A t-shirt, jeans, and a pair of Jordans. The beauty of the world is open, and the internet makes everything accessible. Particularly in Houston, the fashion options were limited. Stores didn\u2019t really stock these products. Everybody doesn\u2019t go to The Galleria to shop. There are people on the southside who only go to Active Athlete. Now Active Athlete needs to care about giving their customers access to what everybody else is getting access to. They have to buy different, stock different and open up people’s possibilities from a fashion standpoint. <\/p>\n\n\n\nNowadays, people have access to everything other people have. BBC to Pink Dolphin to even things like Polo and Lacoste. That\u2019s still in the inner city. If people want Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Balenciaga, or any of that, we have those boutiques as well. If people look at Quavo, Travis Scott, or DaBaby, or even Lil Baby and see them in some fresh Dior-type drip, they have access to that and get that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Houston, as an identity, is not singularly locked in any fashion or aesthetic. People are free to express themselves and now have the ability to pool access from anything. However they want their drip to look, they can do it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Music’s Influence on the Sneaker Game<\/h2>\n\n\n\n <\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nNK: The impact of music in sneakers can\u2019t be forgotten. You\u2019ve talked about the Run DMC Superstar and the De La Soul crew hooking you up with the Nike SB Dunk Low. Now people like Drake, J. Blavin, and Travis Scott have captured the recent intersection of sneakers and music. What\u2019s it like seeing this current state both as an artist and a fan of sneakers? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nBun B: <\/strong>It\u2019s about cultural impact. Fashion has always been a major component of hip-hop culture. We\u2019ve always been the people who nudge you toward a certain fashion trend. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe fact that now, more than ever, the same people who appreciate hip-hop music now value every facet of it. It allows an opportunity for people to get to know their favorite musician on a personal level. They can connect outside of just the music. Let\u2019s say every Travis Scott fan of his music appreciates his music. And if they have access to the shoe, they\u2019ll buy the shoe. But for some of those real sneakerheads, they\u2019ll look at what he\u2019s wearing and have a connection and a conversation from that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I encourage those conversations instead of \u2018what\u2019s it like being around Jay-Z\u2019 or that kind of stuff. Whenever people ask me stuff like \u2018how\u2019d you get those Doernbecher 4s?\u2019 or \u2018how\u2019d you get that\u2019 or \u2018I saw Drake sent you this and that.\u2019 It piques my interest. Those are conversations I don\u2019t get to have with people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Guys like Wale, Li\u2019l Yachty, and Offset show people another side of themselves. It gives them a different opportunity to connect with people who already support them. It gives the fans the idea that \u2018wow, I know them. They have those on. You don\u2019t know about all of that.\u2019 They feel like they’re making a deeper connection with the artists themselves. It works both ways. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bun B on Monster Energy’s ‘Heat Check’<\/h2>\n\n\n\n NK: Monster is relaying the importance of that cultural impact you mentioned. What\u2019s the value in you kicking off this series? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nBun B: <\/strong>I\u2019ve been a partner with Monster for so long with my music. They\u2019ve also been supporting Sneaker Summit in the same way they\u2019ve been supporting Sneaker Summit in a very genuine way. It\u2019s a great place for the people in the community to come together and commune. It\u2019s a family-friendly event. It’s a great place for people to gather. <\/p>\n\n\n\nTo see Monster being able to help out with that in a very early stage, I appreciate it. It goes back to my relationship with Monster. I wasn\u2019t at the height of my music career when Monster got behind me and my connection with the community. Because they support the people I support and that they support me, I\u2019m willing to support them. They support Bun B; they support Sneaker Summit. Let\u2019s have Bun B at Sneaker Summit talking about the cultural significance of it. Everybody wins. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We all speak to the same people with passion and come with them with support. We amplify their voices. I\u2019m glad to be in a partnership with a brand that\u2019s willing to do that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n