The 1989 Spike Lee joint Do The Right Thing features one of the most memorable sneaker moments in film history. If you're not familar, Buggin' Out, the film's politically-minded Brooklyn native, experiences the ultimate sneakerhead nightmare when a man scuffs his brand new Air Jordans. And when the movie came out, the Air Jordan IV "Cements" were the hottest shoe in the country. Hell, 25 years later they're still one of the most stylish Js ever hit to the hardwood (or pavement). And while they've been retro-ed as recently as 2012, the highly-coveted kicks haven't been on sale since in their original, Nike Air logo glory—until now.
That's right: Saturday's release will feature "Nike Air" on the heel. (Most Jordan retros over the decade-plus have featured a Jumpman logo.) While that may seem like a small cosmetic detail, it's indicative of Jordan Brand's re-commitment to the level of quality that made Air Jordans so ahead of their time before and after Do The Right Thing. And, as any Jordan collector will tell you, it's the details make all the difference. The 2016 Cement IVs will also feature speckled gray details that are almost identical to the 1989 version, instead of the darker, less speckled version found in the 2012 release.
And while the world has come a long way since 1989, some things never change—like the pain of box fresh Js getting scuffed. The same could be said of parting with your hard-earned money for some new kicks. Of course, back then Buggin' Out was shelling out $100 pair. In 2016, his game changing sneakers will run you $220.