That’s Baller: Notorious B.I.G. Air Jordan 13s Hit Sotheby’s Auction; Highest Bid Now $11k

An exclusive Notorious B.I.G. Air Jordan collaboration is expected to fetch thousands at the latest Sotheby’s auction. 

The Christopher Wallace Air Jordan 13 is a stunning ode to the late rapper, who was gunned down in 1997 at just 24 years old. Since then, a number of tributes have been released to pay homage to Biggie, but none have been quite as unique as the footwear creation. The luxury shoe design was initially made in 2017 to celebrate the rapper’s 45th birthday. However, for unknown reasons, they were not released to the public. 

Now, the collaboration is seeing the light of day during its showcase at the luxury auction house in New York City. The majority of this all-black shoe stands out with splashes of red adorning the laces and sock liner. However, it is the tongue that makes the sneaker stand out, featuring a Biggie silhouette on the front, while the opposite side includes lyrics to his hit record “Juicy.” With thoughtful attention to detail, the famed Coogi sweater print that Big was known to wear is laid on the inner sole of the sneaker. 

Head of streetwear and modern collectibles at Sotheby’s, Brahm Wachter, says the auction gives sneaker lovers a chance to own a rarity that perfectly blends “the legacies of the greatest athlete of all time with the greatest rapper ever.”

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Just one day after the 23 pairs were made available at Sotheby’s, the highest bid stood at $11,000 for a size 13 early Wednesday morning. Though likely to soar much higher for the lucky winner, all proceeds from the collaboration will benefit the Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation, which offers youth empowerment through mentorship programs, sponsorships, grants, and other campaigns. 

The auction will run through February 3rd on Sotheby’s website.