Nike isn’t the only company with a rich back catalog of signature sneakers. In fact, Reebok has quietly amassed quite an impressive collection itself. And in recent years, it’s been reminding people how dominant it was in the ‘90s and ‘00s.
But amidst the Iverson Answers and Shaq Attaqs, Reebok was also tapping into the hip-hop scene in a big way. With 2003 partnerships with Jay-Z and 50 Cent’s G-Unit, the company was treating rappers like footwear brands typically treated signature athletes.
While Jay-Z’s S. Carter sneaker was the first out the gate, the G-Unit G6, only released a few months later, became a household name. Soon, Reebok released kids’ and toddler versions too! (As an aside, I strictly remember my summer camp banning these back in the day because of the “gangster” implications of the name.)
The original launched with a reasonable $80 price tag and, according to a 2006 Forbes report, the line sold over 4 million pairs during its brief three-year run. However, for the last 20 years, the G6 has been missing from the current range. Luckily, Reebok is really tapping into its archives lately, and yes, that means the G-Unit sneaker is finally coming back.
