LeBron James is bringing OutKast’s classic double album, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below to your feet, literally.
On Monday (March 11), the release date for the NBA legend’s newest kicks, dubbed the LeBron 16 Low Soundtrack, was announced along with a photo of the shoe design inspired by the Atlanta rap group’s critically acclaimed LP released in 2003. The Soundtracks feature a white, black and tan colorway with a graffiti-style crown with “23” imprinted on the heel patch, as shown below.
According to the official announcement, the tribute sneaker is an ode to the year James joined the NBA and will be released on Thursday (March 28) at a retail price of $160.
“In 2003, LeBron James was drafted to the league and read to take the game by storm,” Nike’s website explains. “He was also inspired by the iconic music of that year, including a number of classic albums and unforgettable hits by hip hop legends. The LeBron 16 Low “Soundtrack” draws inspiration from the music of that time, incorporating King James’ name, number and logo, along with split color detailing, to honor the sound and style of ’03.”
The insoles of James’ Soundtracks sneaker also includes a special nod to the split album covers featured on the Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, which happened to be OutKast’s last project as a collective. The left shoe has a red insole while the right shoe has a pink insole corresponding with Big Boi and Andre 3000’s album covers, respectively.
The 34-year-old Los Angeles Laker is no stranger to the hip hop community. In February, it was announced that 2 Chainz had recruited James to A&R his new album, Rap Or Go to the League. James also has a close friendship with Drake and frequently hosts rappers on his HBO talk-show series, “The Shop.”