Reebok got rid of one of the best things to happen to them in a long time.
Rick Ross was one of the few mainstream artists who repped for Reebok all the time! Let’s be honest though, you should probably expect some sort of backlash when you rap about date rape, so we understand why Reebok was compelled to oust Ross. But the question remains: what will the shoe company do now?
The answer is simple – Nothing!
Reebok may have lost one spokesperson, but Swizz Beatz, who assumed the role of Creative Director in 2011, has done a great job of keeping the once struggling athletic brand afloat.
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Shoes from the height of Reebok’s popularity have been resurrected to breathe new life into the brand. Celebrities like Tyga, Alicia Keys, Polish rapper FISZ, and Japanese rapper Verbal have all signed on to help Reebok reach a new, younger and culture-oriented customer.
Reebok has done collaborations with the estate of famous pop artists like Basquiat and Keith Harring, and most recently teamed up with NY-based graffiti artists to curate works from their cohorts around the world on a shoe design. The project won’t be available for purchase until Fall 2013, but at least it sets Reebok up to have a good run right through the end of the year!
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We know Rick Ross was a great asset, but Reebok will be just fine. Take a look at the gallery above for some of the upcoming projects you can look out for from Reebok. Additionally, press play on the video below for a detailed video from Stash himself about the graffiti project.
