VME will donate proceeds from the sale of the Sneaker to Hip-Hop Public Health and lifelong Juneteenth activist Opal Lee’s social impact organization Unity Unlimited on behalf VME Recording Artist Niko Brim.

LIVE AUCTION SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 AT SOTHEBY’S NEW YORK CITY @ 6PM EST  - To register to bid or for auction item details click here.
 

Niko Brim’s unique pair of Nike Air-Force Ones were unveiled on June 19, 2020, designed by renowned sneaker customizer, Sierato, under the creative direction of 93-year social-impact leader and lifelong Juneteenth activist Ms. Opal Lee. The custom-painted Juneteenth sneakers will be put to auction with proceeds to be split between two organizations—Hip Hop Public Health, led by Doug E. Fresh & Dr. Olajide Williams, and Unity Unlimited, Inc.

Brim conceptualized the collectible kicks with inspiration drawn from the nation's foremost Juneteenth ambassador, Ms. Opal Lee. This unique pair, designed by famed sneaker customization artist Sierato, features a red, white, & blue color scheme, incorporating a unifying theme of freedom for all, while honoring the contributions of the African-Americans who helped build the nation.

The bold sneakers feature song lyrics from Brim's single, "Hard to Believe" and symbolic imagery, which includes the official Juneteenth flag, and the Black Power raised fist emblem, a nod to timeless, silent protest at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City when sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos hoisted their clenched fists while accepting their medals. It also features the number "2.23" across the toe box in memory of Ahmad Arbery, the unarmed African-American man pursued and fatally shot while jogging in Georgia.

As the ever-burgeoning Black Lives Matter movement continues to grow and demand accountability, reflection, and change, Brim and Lee's shoe hopes to inspire a unity that spans generations, strengthening the nation and memorializing Juneteenth as part of a holistic view of American history.

We are proud to be in Sotheby's inaugural, first-ever dedicated Hip Hop auction to be presented at a major international auction house and featured alongside coveted hip-hop memorabilia, including an iconic crown worn by The Notorious B.I.G. (aka Christopher Wallace) during his last portrait session, and love letters penned by a teenage Tupac Shakur.

For more information and to view the making of the Juneteenth custom creation click here.