Kevin Durant And Nike Connect Hoops With Hip-Hop With The KD 17 “Producer Pack”

For most, the conversation around “music meets footwear” starts and ends with Travis Scott shoes, but his unbelievable success with the Jumpman is just one chapter in a storied history. While some sneakers that fit into the category are solely driven by brands & artists alone, Kevin Durant wedged himself into the conversation in 2022 with three pairs of KD 15s, oding to some of his favorites behind the boards: CardoGotWings, Boi-1da and 9th Wonder. Two years later, the KD 17 “Producer Pack” releases on June 14th to honor another set of absolute heavyweights.

Metro Boomin’ is first up on the docket, likely presenting the most eye-catching pair with its lightning-struck mesh underlays. That conceptual touch is nods to the throwback 90s graphics that mark most of his tour merch from the past few years. Along similar lines, the stuntman jewel emblem on the tongue acknowledges his “NOT ALL HEROES WEAR CAPES,” but this is a sentimental edition at its heart. LJ is printed on the heel counter, a dedication to his late mother Leslie Joanne Wayne.

Largely, the Alchemist’s edition keeps to the same script, mixing personal touches with discography allusions. His ALC Records icon appears on the tongue while the full shoe is loaded with a palette of rich purples and vivid neon green. Those lilac shades are arranged in a radial gradient that works from fully saturated to pastel, adding some geometric layers underneath the Air Max Plus-inspired TPU waves. The catalog ties on this pair are a bit more obscured, but these shades of green & purple have been staples on The Alchemist’s album artwork for years, most notably appearing on his “Rapper’s Best Friend” mixtape series.

Rounding out the KD 17 “Producer Pack,” Virginia’s Bink! embraces a more solely personal theme for his colorway. His Norfolk roots are proudly stamped on the heel, while the translucent sole reveals his “Humble Monsta” moniker. Aesthetically, a mix of earthy umber, beige and brown present an overall autumnal palette, a possible nod to his extensive work with Roc-A-Fella records. If so, the gold detailing that paints the Swoosh, tongue tag and two topmost eyestays serves to drive home his hip-hop royalty status.

As stated above, each pair in the KD 17 “Producer Pack” releases on June 14th via Nike.com and select retailers. Set to launch in full men’s sizing, expect a $160 retail price for all three pairs.