Central Cee has always been a Nike guy. On the track “Limitless,” from his debut album Can’t Rush GreatnessCench rapped: “Open my mind, I’m feelin’ limitless / Just like the film, popped two pills / It’s a full-circle moment, I come out the Nike HQ with a shoe deal.” That deal in question was the Syna World x Nike Air Max 95. Needless to say, when the musician stepped out yesterday in a pair of kicks that didn’t have a big Swoosh slapped on the side, sneakerheads did a double take.
Joseph Okpako
At Wireless Festival, the British artist was spotted in Louis Vuitton’s latest silhouette: the LV Buttersoft. Unveiled as part of creative director Pharrell Williams’ fall-winter 2025 collection, it’s a mash-up of ’70s-era track shoes (it bears an uncanny resemblance to the Nike Cortez) with 2000s-era hip-hop design codes. As the name very strongly suggests, it’s dripped out in some of the loveliest leather out there. There’s a bit of calfskin. There’s a bit of lambskin. And like all of Louis Vuitton’s best sneakers, it’s crafted in the maison’s very prestigious factories in Italy.
Williams loves dropping as many color combos as possible. In 2015, he linked up with Adidas on the legendary ‘Supercolor Pack,’ releasing the Superstar in a mad 50 colorways. For the LV Buttersoft, he dialed it back slightly, but still served up 24 different shades. But even with so many options to choose from, Central Cee still went with the cleanest of ’em all: ‘Luxury White.’
Just like how Jordan obsessive Bradley Cooper couldn’t resist a pair of Salomons a few months back, or how Nike stan Kendrick Lamar recently dabbled in Asics, Central Cee was swayed by Louis Vuitton. And while it might not be a permanent brand switch, it’s a reminder that even the most loyal sneakerheads aren’t immune to the temptation of next-level leather.
This story originally appeared on British GQ.
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