TOP TEN OTJ (OTHER THAN JORDAN)
What is about the perfect sneaker that makes the loyal stand in line hours, sometimes days? What is about the perfect sneaker that began many conversations and end in exchange of phone numbers, connections, etc.? And what is about the perfect sneaker that makes people grow violent and fight, steal and kill?
This is/was/will be the reality of the sneaker culture as far back as I remember. As our greed-infested society is on the constant search to outdo their peers, sneakers are the one asset that we can all grasp, and in relatively speaking terms, are more affordable than cars, real estate and other tangible assets.
I remember years ago being on a MySpace group called Collector’s Kicks (CK). There, I saw some of the dopest kicks that I was oblivious to. Dunks, some Air Maxes, certain Foamposites, Pumps, etc. This discover opened me up to some many other styles. I guess I am not as devout as some Jordan connoisseurs, so I had to settle or maneuver to more accessible sneakers.
Without further delay, I give you my Top Ten OTJ (Other Than Jordan):
#10 (Tie) REEBOK PUMPS - Although bulky to the eye, these are some of the most comfortable shoes I’ve worn.
#10 (Tie) AIR MAX 90 - These are simply comfortable and classic. In many sort after color ways since (infrareds, clerk packs, and DQM Bacon), these are a demanding sneaker in any sneaker head’s arsenal.
#9 NIKE LEBRON 9 - I put these at #9 because I have yet to try them on and well, these are the ninth additions to the Lebron Sneaker Saga. I must admit, the Lebron’s get better looking with each release.
#8 ADIDAS CRAZY 8 - I never did own (NDO) a pair, but I can’t fathom an Adidas basket shoe that rivals this one. Maybe the new Adidas Crazy Light (Derrick Rose’s signature shoe) can compete with the Crazy 8.
#7 REEBOK QUESTION MID - I NDO a pair of these. I have hear all the accolades throughout the years as these being arguably Reebok’s best effort towards a basketball sneaker.
#6 NIKE HUARACHE - Most, if not all, of the variations of Huaraches are incredibly comfortable. I will surely be looking forward to picking up a pair of the 2012 joints.
#5 NIKE DUNK HIGHS - I couldn’t believe that I slept on these thing for that long. The High Premiums and the SBs are surprisingly accommodating to the feet.
#4 REEBOK DMX RUN - So comfortable. The problem that the shoes encounter were that the gumshoe soles started to peel after a while.
#3 NIKE AIR MAX 95 - I am still bitter that I gave these away only to be revealed that they were using them to work in a dusty a$$ factory. Oh, well can’t cry over spilled milk, but I can damn sure be bitter about it.
#2 REEBOK DMX RXT - These are totally off nostalgia only. NDO, but would love for for RBK to solve the gumshoe problem it had with them and put these back out.
#1 NIKE FOAMPOSITES - Whether it be the original Blue Penny’s, the Eggplants or the Galaxy’s, the Foamposites are most definitely a neckbreaker. Though many of the shoes on this list smashes the Foamposites when it comes to comfort, the wow factor is enough that you get from the Foamposites.
YOU DON’T WANNA BATTLE!!!! PT. 8
BUSTA RHYMES
This roaring dungeon dragon has been in the game for 20 years plus. A veteran’s vet, he had time to hone his rambunctious and, on certain tracks, charismatic flow. Busa Busss can spit bullet-paced lyrics or mellow it out. He is the only artist, that I can think of, that has successfully switch multiple, relevant record companies (J Records, Aftermath, Universal Motown, and Cash Money) and still be a success. From the BET 2011 cypher:
I said please Steven Hill, don’t even put me in the cypher/
Cause only when I’ll come is when I get a lil hyper/
You gon start seeing niggas get nervous with their shook ass/
Ya! Ya! Ya! Cause I’m merciless with the whoop ass/
Don’t get shook now what you sliding for/ so when u slide u’ll get stuck like a nigga with sliding doors/
I’m f*ckin parking my coupe/ so I can run circles around you niggas like I’m stiring a soup/
Betta move out my way before you niggas get pushed down/
When these whack niggas spit, you’ll be hearing a shush sound/
Not shush, cause we wanna hear you lil niggas on the come up/
But shush, lil homie sshhhhut the f*ck up!
YOU DON’T WANNA BATTLE!!!! PT. 7
KENDRICK LAMAR
New comer and Compton raised rapper Kendrick Lamar has blessed the Hip hop world with lyricism that just do not come to often with today’s rappers. He is one of several rappers that over the past several years that have dropped mixtapes that sound like original LPs (original beats and lyrics). A sample of his spit:
Pushin’ a hoopty bumpin’ the Fugees/
My life is a scary movie, your life is a male groupie/
Kendrick Lamar broke the handle with 22 Uzi’s/
Stuffed it in my mouth and cack, cack, cack killed the rappers that knew me/
Compton’s most wanted I live my life in a dungeon/
Came out of a dragon I can probably touch the sun with/
My bare hands, what are your plans to win a Grammy/sweet taste of victory like Oprah’s punany
YOU DON’T WANNA BATTLE!!!! PT. 6
CANIBUS
This Jamaican born, New York raised rapper is known for his scientific flow that was either ahead of his time or a style from the past. The calculating concept that are constructed by Canibus will have you running for a thesaurus. His raspy delivery boasts while leaving competitors saddened:
I'm the illest nigga alive, watch me prove it I snatch your crown witcha head still attatched to it Canibus is the type who'll fight for mics Beatin niggaz to death and beatin dead niggaz to life When you look at me long enough, I start to read your thoughts if the signal was strong enough, and then I'll call your bluff like, "Yo, how many rhymes you got?" I think I'll go on for more Milleniums than Mazda's got on the car lot And there's nowhere to run ta, when I confront ya Nigga, I call your bluff like you had a phone number Who wanna see Canibus get wild, who wanna act fly and get shot down with a surface-to-air missile I take em on in all shapes sizes and forms and spit on anybody who ain't close enough to sh*t on Zero to sixty? I'm already doin a hundred when I'm blunted and I give it to any nigga that want it
YOU DON’T WANNA BATTLE!!!! PT. 5
CROOKED I
This Long Beach based rapper has been tested with the old and new West Coast talent. Crooked was signed to Death Row while The Dogg Pound was still in attendance. his flow is complex, witty and gangsta rolled in one. All the long trying to break through the industry, Crooked I only got sicker with the flow:
I’ll tell you you ain’t sh*t
Plus gangsta rap aint dead, it never died
It took steroids to the head and became Crooked I
On the book “Placed by the Gideons”
We can feud like cowboys and Indians
Or Israelis and Palestinians
I didn’t wanna resort to this
But my cerebral cortex is a fortress where metaphors exist
Hit you with the force of Morpheus after I transform my fist
To a hammer too heavy for Thor to lift
Through a course of metamorphosis
The U-gang is more than sick
Sicker than newborn porn, swinging on some George Forman sh*t
YOU DON’T WANNA BATTLE!!!! PT. 4
CHINO XL
This Puerto Rican, Jersey native is known for his rapid, complex style that holds back no punches. Lines like “You wack like Will Smith, your rhyme style is pansy/ I f*ckin’ murder your young style like Jonbenet Ramsey” are ruthless. Chino is most definitely a rapper you do not want to see in a battle cypher:
Burn in Heaven, no weapon can harm me
These homos been in the closets so long I’ma donate them to Salvation Army
Calmly tearin’ ya flesh like the claws of a falcon
Write songs ‘til my wrist develops Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
And there’s no feelin’ in my right thumb, my knuckles white and numb
You should see the muscular development in my forearms
I’m swarn human heron from here on
Consider Chino XL a monster, f*ck Charlize Theron
YOU DON’T WANNA BATTLE!!!! PT. 3
EMINEM
This Detroit native can speed it up or slow it down, however, there’s one thing for certain-his lyricism is unstoppable. He has never been the one to hold his tongue or two middle fingers. Slim Shady has put is heart on the line: constant public battles with his mom and ex-wife, legal battles with fans and addiction to drugs and alcohol. This, in my opinion, made him a more dangerous emcee. Em is always ready to spit venom:
I just beat you to death with weapons that eat through the flesh
And I never eat you unless the f*ckin’ meat looks fresh
I got a lion in my pocket, I’m lyin’, I got a nine in my pocket
And baby I’m just, dyin’ to cock him, he’s ready for war, I’m ready for war
I got machetes and swords for any faggot that said he was raw
My uz’ as, heavy as yours, yeah you met me before
I just didn’t have as large an arsenal of weapons before
Marshall will step in the door, I lay your head on the floor
YOU DON’T WANNA BATTLE!!!! PT. 2
TECH N9NE
This ferocious fireball hailing from Kansas City, MO is a force to be reckoned with. With his mouth set to rapid fire, Techa Nina is one of the most tongue-twisting orators to grasp the mic. He knows that not everyone can flow at his pace and some of those who can, he offered World Wide Choppers . Rapidly, he spits:
How can I make you understand Im a general/ Even if you poppin’ the competition is minimal/ Can’t see the killers and you can bet that we criminal/ The demon inside of me keep on tellin’ me when to go
