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Legendary MC, entrepreneur, husband, and father, Jay Z is a lot of things to a lot of different people.
The ex-sinner, Grammy Award winner has also been known to be a tastemaker. Once dubbed “the E. F. Hutton of hip-hop.” His influence has been felt in everything from what bottle of alcohol gets table service at the club to the luxury timepiece the jet-set prefers to rock on their wrist.
The first time I experienced S. Carter’s influence was back in high school. The Rocawear clothing brand he co-founded with ex-business partner Damon Dash was everywhere! If you didn’t have the latest designer Roc jeans and jacket, you were lacking. No bootlegs or knockoffs either!
Since selling Rocawear for a cool $200 million, Jay hasn’t left the fashion world hanging.
He started the popular Paper Planes streetwear line, whose eponymous fitted hats can be seen on the domes of countless athletes and celebrities today. He’s also taken charge of the creative direction of other brands, such as the third largest sportswear manufacturer in the world – Puma.
Two Icons, One Brand
Ok, so technically speaking, Rihanna holds the title of Creative Director of the 74-year-old athletic brand.
Meaning Jay had to ‘settle’ for being the Creative Director of the brand’s revamped basketball division. When this partnership was first announced back in 2018 many were skeptical, including me.
After all, when I thought about Puma, the first thing that came to my mind was soccer, where the brand is a mainstay. Unbeknownst to many, Puma was the first brand to sign a basketball star to an endorsement deal in 1973.
Fast forward nearly fifty years and I’ve been pleasantly surprised by some of the collaborations and items the revamped Puma Hoops has churned out. But basketball gear aside, what’s been even more intriguing is Jay’s various Puma-style pairings over the years.
We’re looking at the very best of these and where you can get the look too.
Jay-Z Puma Merch Guide
Sneakers
Kicks of the day or #KOTD is more than just a popular social media hashtag with over 9 million posts on Instagram.
For those of us, that appreciate a fresh pair of kicks, it’s a way of life. Far from a hype beast or re-seller that’s just looking to cop the latest drops, I’m personally more into making sure my kicks of the day, match the outfit I’m wearing on any given day. The status or popularity of the sneakers is an afterthought.
The less I see other people wearing a particular pair, the better. Jay seems to share this sentiment.
#01 Puma Wild Rider Layers
The original Rider was released in the 1980s as a performance running shoe, before turning into a casual everyday sneaker along with the rising popularity of streetwear.
The Wild Rider Layers is a fresh take on the original, with more layers of material as the name implies, and a chunkier sole. This makes them ideal for walking the unforgiving concrete of city streets.
Jay rocked a pair of these understated sneakers last year while posing for a pic alongside LeBron James and Bad Bunny during the filming of an episode of HBO’s The Shop: Uninterrupted.
You can get your pair online for less than $90.
Pros
- Multi-utility sneaker
- Lightweight, and breathable
- Great for wearing with 80s and 90s-inspired fits
Cons
- Online reviews suggest this is not the trainer for wide-footed wearers
#02 Jay-Z x Puma Clyde 4:44
Long before Jay ever took on a formal role at Puma, he teamed up with the brand in 2017 for the release of his 4:44 album.
This collab came in the form of an extremely limited drop of 44 Puma Clyde sneakers. The kicks came in a peach hue colorway – the same as the album cover and featured 4:44 branding on both the insole and inner midsole.
The last pair of these sold for a modest $150 on the reseller market as per StockX.
If pink hue ain’t your cup of tea, you can get your hands on an original pair of Clyde’s in a multitude of colorways starting for about $60 on Amazon. This includes the core white/black edition, which Jay has also been seen sporting on numerous occasions.
Pros
- Affordable classic shoe with a classic style
- Shoes for all seasons and occasions
- Can be worn with both casual and more formal attire
Cons
- Low-cut sneaker with no ankle and limited foot support
#03 Puma x Rhuigi Suede Trainers
Although not a Jay-Z design or collab, the Roc Nation founder was one of the very first people to sport this pair of trainers before their official release last summer.
Designed by the founder of the Rhude fashion brand, Rhuigi Villaseñor, which Jay is also a known fan of. These low-top trainers reimagine the suede silhouette, using leather along the upper sole and heel, with earth tones as the colorway of choice.
At the time of their drop in July 2021, the Puma x Rhuigi Suede retailed for only $90. Now that they’ve been sold out for the better part of a year, your best bet is to find a pair on the resale market. They’re available in the $120 range for men’s size 9 and up.
Pros
- Limited edition, collector sneaker
- Suede’s fit true to size and is comfortable on your feet
- Perfect for wearing alongside long pants, jeans, or shorts
Cons
- May be hard to find your exact size given the limited number of pairs in circulation
#04 Puma Ralph Sampson Lo Perf
For those that don’t know, the 7’4 Ralph Sampson was one-half of the NBA’s original “Twin Towers” alongside Hakeem Olajuwon on a monstrous mid-80s Houston Rockets team that made a finals appearance.
Puma Hoops was Ralph’s on-court shoe sponsor and this super clean trainer with his handwritten signature printed on the side pays homage to his legacy.
Jay has previously been spotted wearing the all-white edition of the classic leather trainer on several occasions, including courtside at the 2022 NBA Finals.
Once again, Puma looks to be all sold out of these, and Amazon stocks them only in limited sizes, so you may have to make another trip to the reseller marketplaces if you want to secure a pair.
Pros
- Clean, minimalistic design
- Made of durable leather material
- Can we wore with an array of outfits, from casual to more dressy
Cons
- Casual low-cut shoe, not intended for endurance sports
Apparel
#01 Puma T7 Track Pants
These go back nearly 50 years to the 1970s when the T7 two-piece tracksuit first arrived on the scene.
Now updated with a slim-cut silhouette. while keeping intact the original bold side stripes intact. Jay must have reminisced on his youth upon laying his eyes on these.
He’s been snapped rocking a pair of black T7s on at least two separate outings – last fourth of July in the Hamptons and while vacationing with his wife Beyonce back in 2019. On the latter outing, he donned a pair of Puma Ralph Sampson Lo Perf and a Dior Hawaiian shirt to complete his fit.
Pros
- Well-constructed, classic jogger
- Drawcord means can buy a size up for a looser fit
- Pant for all seasons
Cons
- Limited colorways available online
#02 Puma Classics Collection T7 Tracksuit
2017’s iteration of the brand’s classics collection saw the re-issue of the iconic Suede sneaker, a capsule collection of shorts and tees inspired by the style of 1970s Bronx DJs and B-boys, as well as a contemporary take on the T7 Tracksuit.
Jay chose the latter to lounge in while in-between stops on his 4:44 album tour that year.
The bad news, this collection has long since sold out. The good news, the T7 Tracksuit is still available in all its original glory, in three unique colorways directly from Puma.
This is the next best thing and Jay himself even wore a clean red/black Puma x AC Milan T7 Tracksuit while vacationing in Italy’s Lake Como in 2018. You can still find this exact set online for around $140.
Pros
- Iconic 80s tracksuit
- This is the one if looking for a slimmer fit ensemble
- Perfect for casual wear or light sports activity
Cons
- Not the cheapest tracksuit available
#03 Puma Basketball Gear
As the Creative Director of Puma’s basketball division, Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter is more responsible for the overall marketing direction and athlete recruitment to the brand than designing any actual garments. It’s more of an honorary title that sounds a lot better than ‘Puma lobbyist.’
True to form, Jay’s fingerprints are visible on the brand’s latest efforts. From signing the likes of young athletes like LaMelo Ball, Deandre Ayton, and NaLyssa Smith to endorsement deals and dropping the first signature shoe for a WNBA player in over a decade – Breanna Stewart’s Stewie 1.
Despite the Puma Hoops collection missing Jay’s personal design touch, here are some curated items from it that Jay ultimately signed off on:
- Puma x Joshua Vides Blaze Court Basketball Shoes
- Clyde Basketball Pants
- Clyde Basketball Jacket
- Fast Break ‘Excellence is a Mindset’ Tank Top
Final Thoughts
Jay-Z is popular culture. By associating themselves with one of the most recognizable names in the world, Puma hopes to become part of pop culture too.
So far, its mission accomplished. Since Jay was named Creative Director of Basketball back in 2018, the brand has had its name mentioned in the pages of GQ several times over, Complex, ESPN, and many more.
According to Adam Petrick, Puma’s global director of brand and marketing. Jay was the one who recommended, “going back to the Clyde sneaker and rebooting from there.”
While not a part of my childhood, the brand’s 1970’s heyday was well before my time. I own a pair of Clyde Mid’s today, which speaks to its staying power nearly half a century later. With some exciting collaborations now under its belt and a re-established name in hoops, the brand’s legacy should be even stronger 50 years from now.
FAQs
Answer: Puma is a casual sportswear brand with very accessible prices. Prices start at $30 for a short sleeve t-shirt to $60-$70 for a hoodie and track jacket.
Answer: Two of my favorites are the recent Puma x TMC and Puma x Joshua Vides capsules. Both feature a slew of limited edition items from caps to shorts and their take on classic tracksuits.
Answer: Not yet. The closest thing we have is the Puma Clyde 4:44 sneaker from 2017. But if a full capsule collection ever does drop, you can be sure it will be one of the brand’s best-selling.
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