Back in 2015, Packer Shoes linked up with Diadora and Raekwon of the legendary Wu-Tang Clan on the “Purple Tape” N.9000 in celebration of the 20th celebration of the The Chef’s classic solo debut album “Only Built 4 Cuban Linx.” The colorway was inspired by the purple-tinted cassette pressings of the album, which stood out next to the normally clear cassettes at the time.
A second “Cuban Linx” colorway inspired by the album’s cover art was also created, though it was a 1-of-1 for Raekwon that he wore onstage during the SOB’s performance that followed the release of the “Purple Tape” N.9000. With 2020 being the 25th anniversary of the album as well as the 30th anniversary of the N.9000 model, the “Cuban Linx” colorway is now getting a public release.
The N.9000 “Cuban Linx” carries over some of the same design cues as the first colorway, such as the parental advisory-style tongue tag, the purple “1995” embroidery on the lateral heel, and the purple insoles with the album’s track listing. The shoe comes in a red, yellow, and black color scheme to match the album artwork, and even features a checkerboard pattern on the inside of the tongue to match the silk shirt worn by Raekwon. Material upgrades like ostrich leather and pony hair accents are incorporated to match the fly international luxuriousness you’d only expect from The Chef.
The Raekwon x Packer x Diadora N.9000 “Cuban Linx” drops on Wednesday, December 23rd at 11am EST via packershoes.com for a retail price of $250 USD.
Raekwon x Packer x Diadora N.9000 “Cuban Linx”
Release Date: December 23, 2020
Price: $250 USD