Zack Schlemmer 
From the first-ever mass-produced Nike Men running shoe in 1971 to a hip-hop favorite of the late 1980s and ’90s, the Nike Men Cortez can now be considered and all-time classic of the sneaker world. If ever there was a Sneaker Hall of Fame, the Cortez would be a first-ballot entry right up there with the likes of models like the Converse Chuck Taylor, Nike Men Air Force 1, and adidas Superstar. And just like those three sneakers, there’s been no shortage of sightings of the Cortez within pop culture throughout the years.
Holding a special place in sneaker history as the first Nike Men running shoe is one thing, but you can’t talk about the Cortez without touching on its importance to the hip-hop scene, as well. An important piece of west coast rap culture, the Cortez has been found on the feet of anybody who’s anybody throughout the years from a young Snoop Doggy Dog to current hip-hop hero Kendrick Lamar. Oh, and don’t forget Forrest Gump. For a run down of a few of the Cortez’s biggest moments in pop culture, hit up the special feature from The Drop by Champs Sports.
