Joe Freshgoods Unveils Rap Music Video-Inspired New Balance Sneakers

Joe Freshgoods will take on one of New Balance‘s freshest models for his next sneaker collaboration, but he’ll do so through the literal lens ’90s and 2000s hip-hop music videos.

The Joe Freshgoods x New Balance 1890 Finger Waves and Naughty Things deliver two colorways inspired by the vibrant visuals in old-school hip-hop music videos. Special packaging leans even deeper into the theme with a box made to look like a diamond metal plate featuring an oval-shaped window to channel director Hype Williams’ signature fish-eye lens shots of the era.

Joe Freshgoods announced the capsule Friday with an Instagram post reminiscing on running home from school to watch music videos and calling out visuals from Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliott and Juvenile as some of his favorites.

The sneakers themselves both get a mesh base printed with a tie-dye-esque pattern. The orange variant goes primarily black and gray for its overlays and sole unit, while the purple edition opts for more matching shades throughout. “JFG” is printed onto to one of the lateral heel overlays, and a new “JFG” logo is applied to the heel.

New Balance introduced the 1890 through an Action Bronson collaboration in January before giving the model a wider inline launch in March. Its aesthetic pulls from New Balance runners in the 2000s and 2010s, including a series of overlays shaped like streaks of liquid with tear drops stacked on top as a third layer.

Williams was a prolific director of music videos in the ’90s and 2000s, with Busta Rhymes’ “Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check,” Missy Elliot’s “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” and Juvenile’s “Ha” all employing the fish-eye lens as hallmarks of the time period.

A release date hasn’t been confirmed for the Joe Freshgoods x New Balance 1890 Finger Waves and Naughty Things, but the designer himself said they’ll be “coming soon.” Footwear News will keep you abreast of any updates.