Some console fans will spare no expense to show their loyalty to their chosen brand, but we’re guessing the $2,500 price tag of these one-of-a-kind Xbox themes sneakers will make even the most committed Microsoft devotee think twice.

The custom shoes — which aren’t endorsed by Microsoft or Nike — are handmade by Sole Junkie, a California-based artist who specializes in customized sneakers. And they’re not the most expensive ones he’s ever made. “I have made shoes with 22k gold and diamonds on them,” he told us in an interview. “I look at my creations as functional art…not just ordinary sneakers.”

That would be functional in shoe terms, not in a gaming sense. Although you might hope that the $2,500 price tag would buy you cool Xbox interactivity, there’s no hidden hard drive or controller functionality. Instead, the Xbox logos light up, courtesy of embedded fiber optics and a hidden switch.

According to Sole Junkie’s eBay auction, “These are an exclusive pair…only one of its kind. Patent leather back with embedded fiber optic wiring in the shape of the XBOX logo. Battery placement is in the tongue as well as on and off switch that has 2 settings: Strobe or Constant light functions. Gradient lime swoosh faded to black. The toe is painted in a surreal Tiger Camouflage with accents of lime and bright green. These are a men’s size 11.”

Via: Plugged In

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Sole Junkie just finished making these dope Kobe’s, thought everyone should know about them.

The other night when I was seeing DJ Logic & Project Logic perform (with Hub from The Roots on bass), I received a text message from our good friend Sole Junkie.  He was texting me to let me know that he was in a book about custom sneakers that was just released (and real psyched about it too).  Sole said he made a small yet considerable appearance in the book on pg 210!

The name of the book is Custom Kicks. It was written by Kim Smits and Matthijs Maat of MAKI Design who are based in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

This is what Kim & Matthijs had to say about the book when they broke the news about it on their site at the end of February:

We’ve been working on a book about customized footwear for a long time now.  It is called Custom Kicks and will be published by Laurence King Publishing in May.  The book features the works of about 140 artists including Skwak, Steve Harrington. Chuck Anderson, Mike Perry, Boris Hoppek, Jeremyville, Emil Kozak, Jon Burgerman and many many more.

Here are some photos from the book from the Maki site.

all images © 2007 MAKI ontwerp en illustratie

Customized Maki Design Shoes (Photos by Ciska vd Ven)

MAKI
meeuwerderweg 59
9724 EN groningen
the netherlands
info@makimaki.nl

Every now and then you come across an artist whose vision and skill is so unique that you sit back, look at their work and say “Damn, that is one talented person!“. In my opinion custom sneaker artist Sole Junkie is one of those artists.

My first introduction into the work of Sole Junkie was when he posted pictures of the Custom Superman AF1’s he painted on his blog on April 9th.

Since then I had the opportunity to interview him and get to know him and his work a lot more.

Fast forward to this week, when I got Sole Junkie on the phone to ask his advice regarding the value of a rare sneaker set that I have. During the course of our conversation, he says to me “Just finished up a new shoe….its a beast! Wait til I send you pics!”

I finally got a hold of the pictures today and I have to say that these are by far some of the coolest, dopest kicks I have come across yet in the short time that I have been posting on Rockin the Sneaks. Sole finished these sneaks on Monday for a private collector who commissioned them from him.

Don’t take my word for it, check these out and let me (and Sole Junkie) know what you think.

SOLE JUNKIE
www.solejunkie.com
www.myspace.com/solejunkie
www.solejunkiecustoms.com/blog

For this Rockin’ the Sneaks we are featuring an interview with renowned sneaker artist Steven Cedre Jr aka Sole Junkie.

In your bio on your website it says that you got into painting sneakers only after some friends and family told you about some folks in Harlem painting sneakers (not well) and making money off of them.

RD-How long did it take you to “get it right” and figure out the key to painting the sneakers to the point where they accurately reflect your art?

SJ-I don’t think I have it “right”…lol
Its all work in progress. The day you think you mastered something …you should just give up.
I like to challenge myself with every shoe..even if its just something minor.

RD-What was the first thing you painted on a pair of sneakers?

SJ-I painted a pair of AF1’s with the image of Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos (a Puerto Rican Leader and Hero of Mine) with machetes and hibiscus flowers. These were in mostly red with monochromatic portraits. I did these for myself. Put them online to show to my family and friends…and here we are today!

RD-How many different designs have you done to date and how long has it been since you painted your first pair?

SJ-Great question….Shit I don’t know how many designs I’ve done? I lost count a long time ago.
I can remember every single one…but never took the time to count.
Its been around 3 years now. I started out saying that I will just do kicks for friends and family as a hobby…but now its my life and lifestyle!
All I do is think about kicks and what I can do next!

RD-I see that your sneakers have been commissioned for / collected by people like Bobbito Garcia, Talib Kweli and Mrs Yancey (The late J. Dilla’s mother) can you tell us what designs you did for them?

SJ-Bobbito was the first…its not like you can’t have a conversation about shoes and not bring this man up! lol
I did a replica of the first pair of kicks the Albizu AF1’s in baby blue and red on all whites.
Talib’s joints were portraits of the super talented man…in warm browns, black and red accent on all whites.
Mrs. Yancey’s kicks were a range of pinks on all white AF1 Mids of her late son…the Legend…J DILLA.
They had two different portraits of him with the Shinning logo on the outer parts of the toes. I tried to capture him as best as possible…she said I did a great job! Sometimes money ain’t everything…that meant alot! I also wrote something for only her somewhere on the shoe…she and I know what and where.

RD-What design is the one you are most proud of?

SJ-All of them…lol
If I had to pick it would be my Latin Gold series…Tito Puente, Big Puns and Roberto Clemente’s.
I did these with portraits and real 22k gold and on the Tito’s real diamonds! These people don’t have to mean shit to anyone but me…I felt they left a great impact and were great. So I did these to appease myself. Turns out that there were a bunch of other people who liked them too.

RD-Is there a person who has commissioned / collected your work that made you say WOW when you found out?

SJ-I would like to say GOD… himself came down and was like: “Yo! I need a custom pair of Sole Junkie kicks!” lol
But seriously, everyone who’s ever purchased a pair from me deserves my respect and gratitude. I can’t thank one person more than the other…that’s not fair to them. I can however, thank them all for supporting me, my art, my passion, and most of all my family for letting me do what I love. Paint!
So yeah…thanks to everyone who’s ever supported me and copped some kicks from me!

RD-Your canvas work which can be seen at Gallery 33 East in Long Beach Ca mostly reflects your hometown…New York City. Why did you decide to focus on NYC themes such as graffiti, subway stations and Harlem streetscapes?

SJ-I focused on these themes because they are what I missed out here in California. It made a direct tie or connection to life outside “The City”. I can’t say I miss everything about back east, but there are certain things that I absolutely miss. So my paintings let me bring some of that with me.
The funny thing is that my paintings were void of any figures…and now I paint portraits on kicks! Go figure?

RD-What upcoming paintings/projects do you have in the works that you can tell us about?

SJ-Well I have a few things cooking…
I have my own paints! SOLE JUNKIE CUSTOM PAINTS! A major step for me. I used to get more emails about what materials I used than sneaker requests. Media was supposed to be a industry secret…I said…why not help another artist and myself at the same time? Its a win win situation and the world can always use more art! Who knows…maybe I can get big enough to where I can sponsor artists! Thats a goal I always keep in mind.
I have a book that I’m working on. It will be a small press and limited run on my art. I will try and keep my writings and verbal usage to a minimum. lol I want to show some processes on how an artist thinks, how I create and maybe a few things about me so you don’t feel like some crazy dude who likes to paint on shoes made a picture book!
I have a T-shirt line that will hopefully expand and open more doors.
Lace Locks and Inserts coming soon. Everone else has some type of crease prevention product…why not me? I figure if you invested this much money with me I want your kicks to last. Stay fresh forever!

In regards to paintings…I paint everyday on shoes. I haven’t been able to really concentrate on my canvas work.
In regards to commissions…no major stars or athletes on the horizon…they get so much for free….they forget people outside of their tax bracket still need to pay bills. Thats why I am exceptionally thankful to the few stars and athletes that bought from me so far! Thats big.

RD-What kind of music do you listen to when you paint? Who are some of your favorite artists?

SJ-I listen to HIP HOP, SALSA, REGGAE, REGGAETON, minimal Rock n Pop and SPANISH HIP HOP and REGGAE (yes there is a difference between that and Reggaeton!)
Wow that list is huge and ever evolving…
I’ll give you a few:
Talib ( I was a fan before the kicks and still am.)
Nas
Rakim
Joell Ortiz
Tego
Voltio
Bob Marley
Beenie Man
Buju Banton
El Gran Combo
Hector Lavoe
Ismael Rivera
Frankie Ruiz
Gomba Jabari

Damn …to many to name!

RD-How can people buy a pair of your hand painted sneakers or canvas work if they are interested?

SJ-First a little info…
Price point will match quality…in other words you get what you pay for.
So if you do decide to make that investment expect to compensate for your request. Kicks alone are a $100…so it will be more than that! lol
But I will answer all serious inquiries. Thanks

Man…there is no way that you CANNOT get a hold of me:

www.solejunkie.com

www.myspace.com/solejunkie

www.solejunkiecustoms.com/blog

(The Blog and Myspace are updated quicker than the website…Flash sites are more delicate. lol)

Or you can just do a plain google on my name should do it! lol

Thanks and I look forward to any and all emails!

Peace, respect and kicks!

SOLE

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