Aminé Reveals New Balance 740v2 Collab

Aminé dropped his first New Balance sneaker in 2023 and is now back with a new project in 2024.

Following last year’s 610 “The Mooz” collab, the Portland artist is now the first to touch the new 740v2 silhouette, an update to the original 740 mesh runner from around 2010. Aminé has dubbed his collab the BTEE740 and dedicates the shoe to his alma mater, Benson Polytechnic High School.

“My love for making music started at Benson High School,” says Aminé. “The radio program gave me my first taste of what was to come. My teacher, Mr. Naganuma, was the coolest man out and would let me and my friends use the radio equipment to record freestyles after school.”

The BTEE740 by Aminé comes dressed in Benson’s school colors, with orange used for the mesh base and blue used for the overlays. Iridescent chrome hits are sprinkled in through the upper, including at the toe, ankle, and heel. On the heels we see the letters CL and BN, which stand for Aminé’s Club Banana, with additional custom branding on the tongues that includes “Club Banana Research,” “Benson Poly Tech,” “BTEE 740,” “Class of 2012,” and “Radio KPBS.” A custom version of Benson’s crest appears on the insoles, and custom graphics are found on the translucent outsoles. The shoes come in special packaging made to look like a high school student’s laptop.

Without the Radio KBPS program at Benson Tech, Aminé would not have a career in music or a sneaker with New Balance. That’s why in addition to dedicating the shoe to his high school, Aminé is also donating $25,000 to support the Radio KBPS students with cash scholarships to help with college expenses.

The Aminé x New Balance 740v2 is set to drop on November 1st. Sign up for the release via Laylo and stay tuned to Modern Notoriety for updates.

Aminé x New Balance 740v2 “Benson Tech”
Release Date: November 1, 2024