• The Best Sneakers of 2009

Complex magazine will be releasing a top 10 list each day of the week, centered around fashion, music, movies, and video games, to commemorate the best releases during the first half of 2009. They started it off today, Monday, with The 10 Best Sneaker Drops of 2009 (so far) and Kanye West’s collaboration with Nike, the Air Yeezy, is appropriately ranked as the #1 sneaker release during the first half of 2009. Other sneakers included the Supra TK Society and the Air Jordan V Toro Bravo Pack.

Complete list of The 10 Best Sneaker Drops of 2009 (so far).

Source: Complex

• 10 Essentials: Kanye West

Kanye West is arguably the most influential fashion icon in today’s Pop culture world and has single-handedly changed the perception of the typical Rapper uniform. Everything from brand synergy, coordination, and presentation; Kanye’s got it down to a science. Details magazine recently featured Kanye where he breaks down his 10 fashion essentials, which includes items like the Nike Air Yeezy, flat-top sunglasses by RETROSUPERFUTURE, and RRL jeans.

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• Behind the Scenes: Louis Vuitton Collaboration

Everyone enjoys behind the scenes footage. Everything that goes on in between the concept and completion stages always makes for great content because it reveals the labor of love and dedication that was put into the final product. Complex showed some of the preliminary stages of the creation of the Nike Air Yeezy in one of their latest issues and I’d have to say that it made me appreciate my pair even more. Now, the Belgium-based publication, DSM (De Standaard’s weekend annex), provides the public with a great article and photographs of the creative process that went on between Kanye and Louis Vuitton designer Fabrizio Vitti.

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• Air Yeezy VS Rocawear Evolution

After Kanye West emerged the victor of Style War against Jay-Z, Complex is at it again for another competition between the two. Kanye’s Nike Air Yeezy sneaker VS Jay-Z’s Rocawear R+ Evolution sneaker. The two are the first Hip-Hop artists to release a sneaker in 2009, so this battle makes sense. Besides, who doesn’t enjoy a little sibling rivalry?

To Vote: Nike Air Yeezy VS Rocawear R+ Evolution

Source: Complex

• Kanye West Wins Style War

Kanye West has won the Style War competition beating Jay-Z in the Finals by receiving 77% of the votes. Kanye arguably had the toughest route of everyone in the entire 64-man competition by defeating other notable trend-setters in the Hip-Hope world– Lupe Fiasco, Pharrell, and The Fresh Prince. Here is Kanye’s response via his blog:

MAN I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY. THIS IS A REAL HONOR! THIS WHOLE YEAR HAS BEEN SO OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE…. FROM THE YEEZY’S TO THE LOUIE VUITTONS…. FROM HEARTLESS BEING THE NUMBER ONE SONG ON RADIO FOR THE FIRST QUATER OF THIS YEAR TO AMAZING BEING THE THEME SONG FOR THE NBA PLAYOFFS. IT MEANS A LOT TO BE ABLE TO GET RESPECT FROM MY CORE AND PEERS EVEN THOUGH EVERYBODY KNOWS I GET A LITTLE CRAZY WITH THE CLOTHES SOMETIMES. I’M ON VACAY RT NOW WITH A WHITE T ON. IT’S NICE TO READ SOMETHING POSITIVE FOR A CHANGE! PHARRELL PIONEERED WHAT I DO NOW. HE WAS THE ORIGINAL TO BREAK DOWN DOORS BETWEEN “REAL FASHION” AND HIP HOP WORLDS, DOING BEATS FOR NOREAGA AND RUNNING AROUND WITH THE MODEL CHICKS. ROSS GET’S REAL FRESH. TI HAS A GREAT EFFORTLESS SINCE OF STYLE. JAY HAS SET MAD TRENDS AND IS THE SINATRA OF OUR ERA. NOBODY IS AS FRESH AS RALPH LUAREN HIMSELF, ONLY ANDRE 3000 AND BENTLEY GET CLOSE BUT THERE’S STILL WORK TO DO. I THINK OLD MEN DRESS THE FRESHEST, NOT TRENDY AT ALL BUT SOMETIMES STILL COLORFUL AND INTERESTING. THEY’VE FIGURED OUT WHAT LOOKS GOOD ON THEM AND THEY STICK IT. THE UP HILL BATTLE WE HAVE AS HIP HOP ARTIST IS HIP HOP IS ROOTED IN TRENDS. TRUE STYLE AND TRENDS VERY SELDOMELY MEET. THAT’S WHY WE HAVE A TENDENCY TO WEAR STUFF THAT’S LAUGHABLE 2 YEARS LATER. WHEN I CAN SEE CRAZY STUFF I’VE WORN AND PEOPLE LAUGH AT ME, ALL I CAN DO IS LAUGH WITH YOU AND THINK, I HAD FUN THOUGH. THANKS AGAIN, MR. WEST

Source: Complex, Kanye UniverseCity

• Style War Finals: Kanye VS Jay-Z

After edging The Fresh Prince, Kanye West will now compete against his “Big Brother,”Jay-Z, for the winner of Nah Right and Complex’s Style War. What started off with 64 of the most stylish rappers in Hip-Hop has come down to 2 member from the Roc. Complex Blog stated it best with,

One final reminder to everyone: this competition isn’t about who the better rapper is. This isn’t a popularity contest. STYLE WAR is all about the look, not the lyrics. Cast your votes wisely!

TO VOTE: Kanye West VS Jay-Z

Source: Complex