- Words Liam Cattermole
Portland rap hotshot Aminé has his first New Balance sneaker on the way, here’s what we know so far.
Boston footwear staple New Balance has signed up a star-studded roster of musical ambassadors over the past few years. From Action Bronson to Jack Harlow and Jaden Smith, the universally loved sneaker brand are unwilling to be confined to any box. Perhaps epitomising this better than anyone is Aminé: the Portland wordsmith with a propensity for eclectic productions and swaggering lyricism.
A year since joining the New Balance team, and Aminé has just announced their first collaboration. In a video posted to Instagram, the rapper and two friends stare longingly at a billboard adorning the streets of his hometown. “A Kid From Portland Has His Own Sneaker” reads one half, while the other is consumed by boxes of bananas – a reference to the multifaceted artist’s merch line, ‘Club Banana’.
Little else is known about the collaboration. In the video, Aminé dons the trainers but only their toes can be seen from the baggy denim jean he pairs them with. Matching the billboard, a yellow and brown colourway looks to be the first offering but on which model is still difficult to confirm.
Rising to fame with his viral hit “Caroline”, Aminé has since been on a limitless trajectory. Last month, he whipped the hip-hop world into a frenzy with ‘KAYTRAMINÉ’: a collaborative album alongside Toronto producer prodigy KAYTRANADA. After releasing a remix of his hit “About A Girl”, KAYTRANADA caught wind of the rapper’s inherent star qualities and they’ve been mates ever since.
With an arsenal of party-ready tracks and a vibrant New Balance debut on the way, don’t be mistaken, Summer 2023 is all about Aminé.
