MF DOOM’s influence in the rap game is immeasurable, with the lyrical mastermind inspiring today’s rap heavyweights as well as countless fans across the globe. I got introduced to his work while at university through a workmate as I was first getting into the sneaker game as well, and I instantly fell in love with the music; it was damn near the only thing I listened to through my second year. At the same time, I was buying near enough every single pair of shoes I could afford, with my wages from a retail job going straight back into the company I was working for, leaving my bank account before my online banking app could even refresh. An unhealthy addiction? Quite possibly, but the 19 year old me was living a good life.

I’d gotten interested in Dunks because of the near infinite choice; something that could be seen as overwhelming for many people became the exact property of the Dunk I loved so much. I could go on eBay, search “Nike SB” and scroll for hours, never seeing the same pair twice simply because of the massive history and breadth of choice. Being a massive DOOM fan, and possibly the biggest vintage dunk buyer in the northern hemisphere at the time, the crossover between the two became the pinnacle of the Nike SB offering. As such, never did I think I’d get my hands on what I perceived as such an intangible item.

In the space of about 6 months, I’d had about 50 pairs of dunks pass through my hands, constantly buying and selling with the idea of making a bit of cash; this idea never worked out because I just ended up buying more and more. One morning, I was on my eBay trawl – on the number 56 bus from my Nottingham student house to a 9am lecture, of all places – and saw that a pair of MF DOOM Dunks had been put on sale for a ridiculous price of £250 (even two years ago, this was a good deal). With far less than that in my bank account, I bought the pair with conviction and ended up with these beauties. I’d never wear them, nor did I buy them planning to, but I think they’re just one of the best Dunks of all time in terms of detailing. The ostrich leather, the super villain lace dubraes, the art visible through a translucent midsole – everything comes together to make what is a perfect product. Nobody has mastered collaboration like Nike SB, especially so the golden era in the noughties, and sneaker brands today could do a lot of learning from them.

On top of all of this, the sneaker was the very first pair I covered when I joined Hartcopy in May 2020, marking my entry into a whole new world and a big deviation from my degree in chemistry. Without this sneaker, which I sent to the Hartcopy account via DM asking if I could write about them for the account, I’d not be where I am today, and I’d never even have gotten my foot into the door of writing and content creation.