Sneaker Style Profile: Kanye West

Name: Kanye West
Instagram: None, he's like, a really "private" person
Brand of choice: Nike, Louis Vuitton
Staple pair: Nike Air Yeezy 2
Surprises: Vans, Visvim

There are rappers out there stocking more foot food in their sneaker kitchens than Kanye, sure, but we can't think of anyone in recent memory who has done more for elevating sneaker culture than Mr West. He's infiltrated the world of footwear design like no musician before him, from high fashion to the streets, rolling out unforgettable collaborations with Louis Vuitton and Nike that have been fawned over by millions but only fondled by a few dedicated heads who put in serious line-up punishment to nab a pair (and the rich folk they were resold too). Hype and hysteria definitely follows whatever this dude is doing, but you can't deny he puts out quality product too. He doesn't let a paycheck from one brand stop him repping another if he likes what they're producing, either. That means we've seen him in everything from adidas Stan Smiths and JS Wings to retro Jordans, from Visvim zen shoes to Vans Slip-Ons, and from modest Nike Free flips to Matsumoto cow hide monstrosities. Kanye keeps his sneaker game in constant flux and vibrant colour, and has shown a particular penchant for red stuff over his decade on top – we reckon we owe a bit (maybe a lot) of credit to Sir Yeezus for the current ubiquity of all-red colourways popping up across all brands. He's an Air Max fan too, and when he chooses to pummel paparazzo he does it in a fresh pair of 90s! So get your mouse trigger finger ready and take your time flipping through the flicks above from Kanye's time as the shining star of the sole-a-system.