Air Jordan 4 Retro "Bred"

Legends return, as they say. Weeks after the Air Jordan IV made a rousing comeback, and if that wasn’t enough, the Jumpman is readying the two-years-older Air Jordan IV in its original black and red colorway (later nicknamed BRED). Thirty years after “the shot,” fans still clamor the feeling that Michael Jordan spread with his never-ending hangtime and game-winning shot over Craig Ehlo. That slow-motion feeling gets better and better over the years, with VCR nostalgia (not the current VHS look trend) adding to MJs status as the pivotal figure in the game. Celebrating, jumping up high, writing, no, chiseling his name into the history books, Michael Jordan wore the black/red mid-top Chicago-jersey-inspired silhouette on this iconic 44-point game, to advance to the next round of the NBA playoffs.

When in February 1989 the original Air Jordan IV released, there was no Jordan Brand yet, it was Air Jordan from Nike, Jumpman on the tongue, “Flight” signature below, “Nike Air” on the heel and with an iconic advertising campaign series featuring Spike Lee aka Mars Blackmon (started for the Air Jordan III) the pinnacle was within one’s grasp. Sure, “Do The Right Thing” directed by the New York legend helped to boost the sneaker, helping to eliminate any doubters that the Air Jordan IV was here to stay. A clever move by the Swoosh to co-sign the movie.

Let’s talk heel, box, and hang-tag. Contributing evidently almost as much as the design and look of the retro basketball sneaker to the appearance of the Air Jordan IV, are minor features which bear great importance. Responsible for the hysteria is undoubtedly the Nike Air heel addition, but just above sits a rubber flap that is outshined by the bigger picture but has quite the critical job (besides faster on and off), keeping your Achilles safe when wearing no socks. One of the unique strengths of the release is the return of the (almost) original box, with the black top, cement speckled print and Jumpman graphic. It is this knack for recreating this icon that makes the release so exciting, with minor detailing that hints to the legacy of the Air Jordan IV, like the ever-changing over the years developing orange hang tag (which was and still is a sign of box-fresh swagger).

Built on the same midsole as the Air Flight 89, which can be linked to production costs or just a excellent tooling design (who knows), the Tinker Hatfield designed sneaker featured a Durabuck upper, a trademarked name owned by The United States Shoe Corporation, which produced the synthetic leather, making the shoe lighter and more durable. Believe it or not, while the materials changed over the years (the retro pair from 99 features a different upper material, though synthetic), the icon remained, leaving off the Swoosh, like with earlier predecessors. To put it into context, the Jordan line by Nike fit right in-between the current end-90s trend of b-ball, nesting comfortably amongst the Flights and Forces, one for the lighter and one for the more massive players. By adding the “Flight” to the tongue, the Jumpman on the tongue became the epicenter of the shoe, and with visible Air Max cushioning (not peeping the encapsulated forefoot Air wedge), breathable mesh-net, flipped AIR JORDAN inner-tongue label and through four lace locks, the wearer was blessed with countless ways of lacing.

Time to double up; one to rock, one to stock and join the legendary Michael Jordan “Flight Club.” After the Retro+ releases, the semi-original returns featuring the Jumpman on the heel, it was about time that Nike and it's Jordan Brand bring the true OG back, that continues the legacy 30 years after its first release.

Nike Air, check! Hang-Tag, check! OG Box, check! Thanks for checking all the boxes, Nike.

The Air Jordan IV in Black/Red Raffle is now live, sign up here.