Please, Let me Breathe – I've Got YEEZY Fatigue
Cast your mind back to 2015 – Kanye West has just made one of the sneaker industry's notorious statements of all time by saying, "Everybody who wants to get YEEZYS will get YEEZYS!"
At a time when releases were as exclusive as and sought after as Supreme was, and the BOOST 350 v2 "Copper," "Red," and "Green" were still fetching upwards of £500 ($670), this promise felt like a complete myth – another one of Ye's grand plans that would go undelivered.
Seven years later, it's clear that the infrastructure required to make this a possibility was, in fact, put in place, as YEEZY's have become easier to purchase than ever – but at what cost?
With near-constant releases offering up countless restocks on pre-Balenciaga fan favorites like the 350 "Zebra" and "Beluga," alongside a whole host of zany new colorways and bonkers new silhouettes, it's hard not to feel a heavy sense of YEEZY fatigue.
Whether you feel the slump or not; is for you to decide, but here's a look at some of the adidas YEEZY releases that have left some fans scratching their heads.
BSKTBL KNIT "Energy Glow"
With the DONDA academy in full swing, and given West's love of basketball and Jordans, it shouldn't be surprising that a basketball sneaker would eventually find its way into the adidas YEEZY lineup.
Don't get me wrong, there are some serious tired Jordan silhouettes out there, amongst other signature athlete shoes, aside from the assumedly comfy knit fabrication, these look super clunky.
I'm all for the colorway (in fact, I'd go as far as to say it's one of the strongest knit colorways released thus far) on this pair and would love to see how the green and black blocking could work on an alternate silhouette, but this isn't one of the brand's strongest kicks. YEEZY may have jumped over the Jumpman sales-wise, but on the court, I doubt anyone is rushing to switch out their Js for these.
350 v2 CMPCT “Slate Red”
Unlike Drake – "I'm keeping it G, tell her don't wear no 350s round me" – I'm not mad at the YEEZY 350. They're one of the most comfortable sneakers I've ever worn, and for those warm summer days, few silhouettes beat it out. That being said, the v2 CMPCT iteration feels like somebody took the original v2 and drove over it.
If you're still pining for what many would consider being the Yeezy glory days, those of the Air Yeezy 2 "Solar Red," or "Red Octobers," as they're affectionately known, then maybe these are for you. This release marks the second time Ye and adidas have put together a triple red sneaker, the first being the Foam Runner “Vermillion.”
While the Foam Runner looks great in any color, it feels like "Slate Red" could have been reserved for a stronger silhouette – perhaps, a high top for a true homage.
NSLTD BT "Khaki"
Few YEEZY releases have caused quite the stir that the NSLTD BT (short for "Insulated Boot") did. First introduced at YEEZY's Season 8 runway show is the definition of making a statement – the type of statement that left fans scratching their heads.
There's a lot going on with this construction; from the midcalf length quilted upper reminiscent of an oven glove and sole that's part Dune survival gear and part Foam Runner, it's pretty overwhelming.
Unless you're looking for some traction and warmth for when you hit the snow like Migos' OFFSET, I'm not sure that these will be getting dusted off for a permanent place in your rotation anytime soon – but I'm always happy to be wrong.
KNIT RNR "Stone Carbon"
Along with the 450 (which appears further down this list), the announcement of the KNIT RNR felt like a marked shift in the design direction at YEEZY.
Sure, Ye's team doesn't always knock it out of the park, but these felt completely out of the left field. Even though they look like something your grandparents might be able to whip up with a ball of wool, you can't deny how comfy these look, and if Crocs can shine, why can't these, too?
To be honest, after seeing these on feet with a few different fits, the "Sulpher" colorway is a guilty pleasure of mine. Sue me.
450 "Sulphur"
I'll be straight up – these might be the worst YEEZYs ever made. I'm all for taking risks and trying to push the boundaries of design, but I think the design team missed the mark with these.
Given the popularity of the 350 and 700, which are both pretty difficult to slander, these feel like a step backward in the evolution of the brand. Sure. they're experimental, but that doesn't mean they're good.
If these were fabricated to offer the wetwork performance of a Merrell 1TLR Hydro Moc, then maybe we'd look at them a little differently.
I'm yet to see a pair of these out in the wild, and judging by fan reactions on the post above, that may never happen.
