Despite discrepancies as to the exact year Hip Hop started -some still state we haven’t hit the 50 year mark yet- Last year many celebrated the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop and there are few basketball shoes more connected to the earlier days of the movement than the adidas Rivalry and Conductor.
Since their introduction in 1986 both made a name for themselves on and off the courts, a jump that took the shoes popularity from the Hip Hop, Metal and House scene in NYC to streets of Europe and sub-cultures beyond. Whether it was on the feet of music icon like Run DMC and Anthrax or showing up in photos from legends like Jamal Shabazz and Janette Beckmann these models solidified their reputation as cultural icons from court to concrete. For 2023 adidas -in collaboration with the ‘Collective’ – a group of 4 collectors and curators of footwear and lifestyle story telling- have brought back a special release of the beloved models -both of which are available at OVERKILLSHOP Â You Can Purchase THE ADIDAS RIVALRY HERE Â and the ADIDAS CONDUCTOR HERE
About the the adidas collective:
The adidas Collective is a group of four OG creatives within the footwear industry from various parts of the globe including Julia Schoierer -better known as SneakerQueen-, Ernst-Heinrich Beckmann aka Erniepunk, Tom ‘Tommy Triggah’ Römer and Scott Frederick Founder Of DeFY. New York. All  have made their own individual contributions to the industry and have had far reaching influence to many brands and creatives over the past two decades.
Berlin born and raised photographer SneakerQueen is a total vintage nerd that shares her footwear love on her blog sneakerqueen.de as well as by curating international exhibitions. With her interdisciplinary passion spanning nearly 3 decades, Julia has been part of the culture and industry both as a collector, creative and as an advocate for a more diverse representation of females within the footwear industry.
Labeled as a Sneaker Culture historian by Hypebeast, Ernie Beckmann -aka Erniepunk- spent his youth in the Lower Saxony province of Braunschweig growing up on the basketball courts in the late 80’s, listening to Punk and Thrash Metal. It is at this time that his passion and interest in sneakers grew eventually leading to an incredible collection featuring some of the most sought after and rare basketball shoes adidas has ever created. A true partner of the three stripes, his vast archive and knowledge has helped bring various models back to the market. As a contributor to the Overkillblog.com and in the realization of the True Originals book, Ernie has solidified his position as a staple in the OG community.
Tommy Triggah, known as Tom Römer -in official circles- hail’s from the Netherlands. With an unwavering passion for Hip Hop and an insatiable appetite for collecting, Tommy has established himself as a prominent figure in the world of sneaker culture. Collecting since the early 90’s, he has amassed an impressive collection of sneakers and other memorabilia, making him a true connoisseur of street fashion. His keen eye for detail and appreciation for artistic expression have earned him the opportunity to collaborate with many renowned brands. His dedication, knowledge and contribution have solidified his position as a highly regarded tastemaker inspiring sneaker heads and streetwear enthusiasts alike.
Founded in 2007, DeFY.New York has strived to bring you the most in-depth and varied information regarding footwear, music, art, fashion and more. The site’s founder -Scott Frederick, born and raised in Freeport, New York- has been a life long footwear and music enthusiast -as well as collector- that has been a staple within the footwear community dating back to the mid to late 90’s. Named one of the best Footwear websites globally by Complex twice and featured on FUSE and MSG Networks.
The Shoes
Paying tribute to the era of exotic materials and flash while keeping in line with the shoes high tech on court history, this release features OG spec details, special materials like Italian leather, snake skin accents, premium suedes and golden details telling the story of an era that would change the world forever.
One half of the ‘Collective Series’ this limited edition Rivalry 86 Low celebrates the decade obsessed with customized luxury goods, as well as the shoes’ transition from an on court performance basketball model to the streets of NYC and beyond. While keeping in line with the Rivalry’s original 1986 tech, this release brings with it additional features like a subtle premium suede vamp and tongue, tasteful hits of Italian debossed leather overlays, gold accents and a special edition NYC subway token key chain.
The other of the two silhouettes in the ‘Collective Series’ is this limited edition Conductor Hi which celebrates both the shoes reputation as a top on-court performance basketball shoe and its evolution into a fashion staple on the streets of NYC and beyond. Presented in a beautiful white Scarlet red and navy blue color way -that further nod’s back to the 79 season where the Knicks changed their teams colors-, this release of the Conductor Hi features tasteful customized details like a game ticket inspired tongue label with hidden features, full grain leather upper, Italian debossed tumbled buck around the collar and teasel suede on the iconic three stripes. Additional details like a special NYC inspired subway token keychain, three sets of laces, commemorative wrapping tissue paper and an OG spec box will keep this release as one to treasure for decades.
