Long gone are the days when the term “sneakerhead” was used to describe a very particular shoe-obsessed collector. Nowadays, boys and girls of all ages and walks of life can comfortably call themselves the once-coveted term without having to worry about offending the sneaker authorities. Complex’s Sneaker Shopping series has featured an array of guests, from rap stars to athletes to models (like current “It” model Bella Hadid who famously said while on the show that “homeboy could get it” if he’s pulling up in a pair of Air Tempos.

Now that the floodgates have been opened wide, just about anybody can ride the wave. There are books, movies and even exhibits curated in some of the world’s most distinguished museums centered on sneakers. At this point, there’s probably a sneaker for everybody. Here, REVOLT pinpoints a few must-cop footwear picks for 2018.

Nike’s Black History Month Collection (due January 15)

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day this year (January 15), Nike will unleash its much-anticipated Black History Month series. Comprised of the LeBron 15s, Kyrie 4s, and KD 10s, the collection features a mixture of premium materials clad in black, red and green.

Air Jordan 4 x Levi’s (due January 17)

A$AP Rocky turned heads at the 2017 Met Gala when he pulled up in an all-denim costume. The dressed-down look, courtesy of the fashion lord Raf Simons, would’ve been a perfect combo for this year’s Jordan x Levi’s Strauss drops. The super-limited, all-denim Air Jordan 4 will land at select retail spots in several colorways starting this month.

Air Jordan 18 “Royal” (due January 22)

Jordan

Michael Jordan’s final farewell to the game of basketball came in 2003 when he officially retired from playing the very sport that he helped revolutionize. The normally fashion-backwards icon went out in style though. He spent his last year in the league rocking the, at the time futuristic, Air Jordan 18s. Back for the first time, the Washington Wizards-inspired colorway is one of the most buzzed about sneakers of 2018.

Kendrick Lamar’s Nike Cortez (due January 28)

Kendrick Lamar was caught switching sides in 2017 when he jump ship from Reebok and joined the Nike wave. Paired with the iconic Cortez, the legend-in-the-making is ready to release a very special edition of the silhouette that started popping up on cool kids in NYC a few years ago. Expected to be released the night of the Grammy Awards, Kung Fu Kenny’s red, white and black kicks come with some advice: “Don’t Trip.”

Air Jordan 3s in OG Retro Black Cement (due February 17)

undefined

A must-have among most Jordan connoisseurs, the Air Jordan 3 was given new life when Kanye West re-introduced the classic kicks to his regular footwear rotation during his My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy era. Jordan Brand re-released the sneakers about a year later. Soon after, sneaker blogs started to tease that the revered kicks would once again return, but this time accompanied by the coveted Nike Air logo. The wait is finally over. Next month the OG Air Jordan 3 are back with its original branding in tact.

Off-White x Nike Air VaporMax (TBD)

Kanye West may have had a falling out with his big bro JAY-Z, but that doesn’t mean that he still can’t claim that “ain’t nobody fucking with his clique.” Especially when his creative confidant, Virgil Abloh, has been pretty much unstoppable as of late. The first run of re-imagined Nike classics, part of his The Ten collaboration with the leading sneaker brand, sold out almost immediately after hitting a select list of retailers. Expect the forthcoming Off-White x Nike Air VaporMax in white and black colorways to continue Virgil’s hot streak.

adidas YEEZY Powerphase “Core Black” (TBD)

As one of the most successful musicians of the last decade and a half, Kanye West has had his fair share of pushbacks to deal with. His latest hold-up on the release side is related to his Yeezy line of sneakers. Originally slated for a 2017 release, the forthcoming “Core Black” version of his retro-leaning tennis shoe is sure to make a splash when it finally does receive an official premiere date in the coming months.

Balenciaga’s Triple S (TBD)

WWD opened its review of Balenciaga’s Spring 2018 collection with the word “appropriation.” For its Triple S sneaker, the high-end fashion brand relied on the bulky and normally ugly footwear synonymous with out-of-style dads. Piggybacking off the still-lingering normcore trend from a few years ago, the “dad shoe” was a hit among hip fashionistas in 2017. Retailing at a hefty price point, the luxury kicks are set to be unveiled in new colors in the coming months.

“Melo” Air Jordan II (TBD)

It’s been 15 years since OKC’s Carmelo Anthony first graced the NBA’s hardwood. With his young OG status in tact, it can be easy to forget some of the All-Star forward’s highlights from his rookie season. One major move from his entry year in the league that’s still fresh on the minds of many sneaker collectors is the limited-edition “Melo” Air Jordan II. Outfitted with light blue and yellow accents, the mostly white athletic shoes were an ode to the first franchise Melo would play with, the Denver Nuggets.

Versace x 2 Chainz (TBD)

Migos made “Versace” a hot song, and now it seems 2 Chainz is about to make the famed fashion house a hot sneaker. The “Big Amount” rapper took to Instagram to preview what looks to be a chains-inspired (get it?) piece of footwear that we are expecting to learn more about soon.