Michael Jordan undoubtedly redefined basketball. He also redefined shoes. His Air Jordans, following their debut in the late 1980s, have been producing great quality sneakers, sought by fans and celebrities worldwide ever since. Everybody wants a pair of Jordans in their closet. Everyone believed his shoes were the secret sauce, and millionaire rapper DJ Khaled was no different.

In his recent GQ interview, DJ Khaled talked about Jordan’s influence on his childhood. Khaled boasts a sneaker collection reported worth $8 million. The artist said that he would “beg” his parents to get him Jordans. He stated that his love for basketball and his love for Michael Jordan cultivated his love for sneakers.

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He also admitted that Michael Jordan was his favorite player growing up. DJ Khaled admitted that he was a collector ever since he was a child. “I basically lived in the mall”, Khaled said, owing to the fact that his parents owned retail shops in the mall. As a result, he would constantly be at Footlocker and Champs. Moreover, he even went on to work for the latter at one point.

Michael Jordan was DJ Khaled’s childhood hero

He combined his two loves and started putting his mix tapes inside the sneakers. The artists spoke about the evolution of sneakers as a culture, saying, “And it just shows you the evolution of not just Michael Jordan as a player, but just the lifestyle that he brought to us.” If there is a sneaker launch today, it is an event, and according to Khaled, that is all because of Jordan.

In another recent interview, DJ Khaled said it was a dream to partner up with Michael Jordan for his new sneaker collection.

The Jordan 5, in Khaled’s words, is “iconic”. Khaled added, “I felt like the 5 was a great way for me to step in the game.”

Even Michael Jordan approves of Khaled’s collection. Once, Khaled proudly said that anything he wanted, Jordan ordered it to be green-lit.

Jordan’s shoe empire alone is valued at around $10 billion dollars. His penetration into the mainstream culture has reaffirmed his position as a cultural icon, along with his sporting success.

DJ Khaled’s childhood inspiration has solidified into a great career and even greater connections.

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To think, it all started with a shoe!

What do you think of the Khaled x Jordan collaboration? Let us know in the comments below.