This is not about flooding the market with his name. It is about releasing specific pieces with intention. The list below covers everything the V.A.A. x Nike collaboration has produced so far, from an accessible garment-dyed tee to the most anticipated Jordan release of 2026.

Read More: The 10 Most Iconic Sneaker Moments In New York Knicks History

What Is The Virgil Abloh Archive?

Virgil Abloh passed away in November 2021. In the years that followed, his estate began the work of organizing and preserving everything he left behind. The result was the Virgil Abloh Archive, a collection of over 20,000 objects spanning his entire creative practice.

Sketches, prototypes, pitch decks, personal items, finished products, and unreleased concepts all live inside it. Shannon Abloh, his wife, serves as founder and president. The archive’s stated mission is straightforward: keep Virgil’s ideas alive.

The V.A.A. is not a brand in the traditional sense. It does not operate like a label trying to generate revenue from his name. Instead, it functions more like a living museum, selectively sharing work from the archive with care and intention.

The partnerships are chosen deliberately. The collaboration with Nike is the most significant one to date, and it represents the first time the archive has released product to the public at scale.

What Does The V.A.A. x Nike Partnership Actually Mean?

Virgil Abloh’s relationship with Nike began in 2017 with The Ten collection. That collaboration changed sneaker culture permanently and established Abloh as one of the most influential designers of his generation.

When he passed, Off-White continued releasing posthumous products for a period before the estate shifted direction entirely. Off-White, now owned by Bluestar Alliance, is no longer part of the equation. The V.A.A. x Nike partnership operates separately and directly through the archive.

The new chapter began publicly in September 2025 when Nike and the V.A.A. co-presented Virgil Abloh: The Codes in Paris. The exhibition drew thousands of visitors over ten days and showcased nearly 700 pieces from the archive.

From there, the partnership moved into product. The goal is not to flood the market with Virgil’s name on everything. It is to release specific pieces from his archive deliberately, with the context and care that his work deserves.

4. V.A.A. x Nike “LOGO” Tee

This is a V.A.A. edition of a tee Virgil Abloh originally designed in 2017 called the “OFF CAMPUS” tee. The update swaps Off-White branding for the V.A.A. logo on the upper left chest.

On the right sits a hand-drawn Nike Swoosh with “LOGO” written above it in quotation marks, a classic Abloh move. Putting the word “LOGO” next to a logo was his way of making you think about what a logo actually means.

The tee itself is built well with arment-dyed 7.3oz cotton, sewn in Los Angeles, available through Canary Yellow for $70. It is a simple object that carries a lot of context. As an entry point into the V.A.A. x Nike partnership, it is accessible in a way the sneakers are not.

3. Virgil Abloh Archive x Nike Air Force 1 Low “Green” Sample

This pair surfaced at the Virgil Abloh: The Codes exhibition in Paris in September 2025. Unfortunately for sneakr fans, it has not officially been released… yet.

Pine green leather covers the entire upper from toe to collar. A silver stitched Swoosh sits on the midfoot with an orange tab directly below it. Yellow “AIR” text on the midsole and a white zip tie stamped “V.A.A. Codes” complete the look. The branding on the side panel reads “V.A.A. for Nike” in place of the Off-White text from earlier versions.

Only around 200 pairs are believed to exist. The Air Force 1 was the silhouette Virgil pushed into museums and onto runways more than any other. This green sample feels like unfinished business.

2. Off-White x Nike Cryoshot “Virgil Abloh Archives”

The Cryoshot is unlike anything else in this list. It is a soccer cleat built on the Nike Tiempo framework, reimagined as a lifestyle shoe with Abloh’s signature design language applied throughout.

White leather upper with a clean red Nike Swoosh and red zip tie. The “AIR” text sits on the lateral midsole in black. A translucent outsole encases the cleat studs underneath, keeping them fully visible from below.

Abloh worked on Nike Football projects during the 2018 World Cup, and the Cryoshot connects directly to that chapter of his career. It is set to release in summer 2026 alongside the FIFA World Cup.

No other V.A.A. release operates in this space. It is the most forward-looking product the partnership has produced.

1. V.A.A. x Air Jordan 1 High OG “Alaska”

This is where the Virgil Abloh Archive went public. The “Alaska” was released on April 3rd, 2026 as the first global product release drawn from the archive. It is a V.A.A. edition of the 2018 Off-White x Air Jordan 1 “Euro” colorway that most of the world never had a chance to buy.

White leather upper with light blue-tinted overlays on the toe box and collar. The exposed foam tongue, floating Swoosh, and “AIR” midsole text are all present. The blue zip tie and orange tag carry updated V.A.A. branding.

The side panel reads “V.A.A. for Nike” instead of “Off-White for Nike.” The packaging featured circular cut-outs inspired by Abloh’s Lot 50 Dunks and a booklet bearing the phrase “MODERNISM IS NOT NEW.”

It retailed for $230 and resold immediately above $600. Everything the V.A.A. x Nike partnership stands for landed in this shoe.

Read More: Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low “Pink Pack” Receives Official Images

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When he finally lifted the trophy on the pitch, fans noticed something beyond the silverware. The PSG manager celebrated one of the greatest nights in the club’s history wearing Air Jordans on his feet.

The sneakers appear to be an Air Jordan 1 Low, though the exact colorway is tough to confirm from the photos. The shoe features a white leather base with a grey Swoosh and what looks like red detailing near the heel.

It is a clean, understated choice for one of the biggest nights in European football. Enrique kept the rest of his fit simple with all black, which let the shoes do the talking.

Luis Enrique has always carried a different kind of energy as a manager. He is vocal, expressive, and clearly does not take himself too seriously off the pitch. Showing up to a Champions League final in Jordans fits that personality perfectly. It also puts him in rare company among coaches who actually have taste.

Winning the UCL is the height of club football. Doing it while wearing Jordans on the touchline makes the story just a little more interesting for sneaker fans everywhere.

Read More: MJ Melendez Hits Walk-Off Homer In Air Jordan 11 “Legend Blue” Cleats

Luis Enrique’s Air Jordan 1 Lows

The Air Jordan 1 Low has become one of the most versatile sneakers on the market. Coaches, artists, and athletes across every sport have gravitated toward it for years.

The silhouette works in almost any setting, which is part of why it keeps showing up in unexpected places. Enrique’s pair looks well worn, which actually adds to the story. These were not a fresh pair pulled out for the occasion.

He clearly wears them regularly, which says a lot about how comfortable he is in the shoe. The grey and white colorway is one of the cleaner AJ1 Low options out there, and the red detail near the heel adds just enough personality.

Seeing a Champions League winning manager celebrate in Jordans is the kind of crossover moment that sneaker culture genuinely appreciates.

Read More: 50 Cent Reacts To Diddy’s Alleged Leaked Sex Tape With Daphne Joy

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As he rounded the bases the camera caught something worth talking about. Melendez was wearing a custom Air Jordan 11 cleat build inspired by the iconic “Legend Blue” colorway.

The cleats feature a white mesh upper with a bold royal blue mudguard covering the ankle. The combination works better than it has any right to, and the timing of the moment made it even better. Walk-off celebrations and heat on your feet go hand in hand.

Jordan Brand has been pushing deeper into baseball for a while now. Seeing a player wear an AJ11-inspired cleat in a walk-off moment is exactly the kind of organic exposure the brand dreams about.

Melendez did not just deliver a big hit for the Mets. He also gave the Jordan 11 cleat its biggest on-field moment in recent memory.

The photos from the celebration spread fast across sneaker socials. Fans picked up on the colorway almost immediately. Overall, it was a great baseball moment, and an even better sneaker moment.

Read More: Every Air Jordan Dropping In June 2026

MJ Melendez Air Jordan 11 “Legend Blue” Cleats

The Air Jordan 11 translates remarkably well to the cleat format. The silhouette’s high ankle collar and patent leather-inspired mudguard carry over naturally to the baseball version.

Jordan Brand adapted the classic design with cleat-specific construction while keeping the DNA of the original intact. The “Legend Blue” colorway has always been one of the most popular AJ11 makeups, so seeing it on a cleat makes a lot of sense.

Melendez wearing Mets-colored accents on top of that foundation makes the whole thing feel personal rather than generic. Jordan Brand athletes wearing team-colored PE builds during big moments is nothing new, but this one landed differently.

Overall the walk-off just gave these cleats a story nobody can take away.

Read More: Sneaker Politics Just Opened Its Biggest Store Yet

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DJ Vlad claims the alleged sex tape from earlier today is, in fact, real. Social media has been reacting to the tape, and there have been plenty of jokes thrown Diddy’s way. 50 Cent could not resist chiming in, as he took to Instagram with his take on all of it.

As you will read, 50 Cent fired the first shot at Daphne Joy, noting that this must be hard for his son to watch. Meanwhile, he made sure to get some jabs in on Diddy’s manhood.

“She’s not a victim, SIRE is can you imagine going to eighth grade to find out this is your mom. The court system in LA thinks it’s fine,” Fif wrote. “Free Diddy he has gone through enough being born with no penis. LOL”

Read More: It’s About Time Lil Wayne Retires “Tha Carter” Series

50 Cent Speaks Out

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A pair of reactions from 50 Cent should not come as much of a surprise. As we all know, he is the type of person to make these comments whenever something happens to his foes. This situation just so happens to be a slam dunk for Fif, given the parties involved.

Between this and the Jay-Z freestyle, there is no denying that today has been an eventful one in the world of hip-hop.

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He started his comments last night by saying Hov is “unhinged,” joking about Alzheimer’s. “I liked the Afro … bro finally owned up to stabbing Un Rivera 30 years ago,” the streamer and commentator wrote. “Na jigga on timing … who he mad at tho… seems like be spiraling… nobody been mad at him. Calm down hov don’t catch a body!!!!!!”

“At least we know Jay Z a fan of ICEMAN. It’s okay champ,” the journalist added. “Jay Z literally went to rap for 4 minutes acapella cuz he thought Drake dissed him on iceman. Bro.. got a whole yankee stadium show he coulda done it at but iceman bars getting to him he ran to Philly to get it off his chest .”

Read More: It’s About Time Lil Wayne Retires “Tha Carter” Series

DJ Akademiks Disses Jay-Z

From there, Ak recited Drizzy’s “Janice STFU” diss to the Roc Nation mogul (“THE JIG IS UP!!!!!”) and brought up how Jay-Z previously criticized rap battles. “iceman really got n***as acting out of order,” he wrote.

DJ Akademiks also questioned Jay-Z’s disses towards Nicki Minaj, arguing it’s not like him to bring up other people’s children. For those unaware, he seemed to reference her husband Kenneth Petty’s sex offender status and how this provides distance with his kids.

Akademiks claimed he let Tory Lanez know of Jay’s disses towards him (“Let the games begin!”) and claimed the Brooklyn rapper is “spiraling” because the OVO mogul broke one of his Billboard records with ICEMAN.

Finally, Ak dissed DJ Hed for praising Jay’s set after editing “2 Hard 4 The Radio” and also clowned LeBron James for losing 0-4 to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA playoffs this year. Bron had just shown love to Hov on his IG page.

Read More: The Villains Of Hip Hop: Power, Chaos, Scandal, & Survival

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As caught by No Jumper on IG, the NBA legend posted various clips from the night to his IG Story, such as special guest performers like Freeway and Beanie Sigel and, of course, Jay-Z’s Roots Picnic freestyle dissing Drake. However, the specific clip that the Los Angeles Laker shared does not include the bars most folks are interpreting as Drizzy shots. But still, the sentiment stands for most Internet users who came across Bron’s praise.

We will see if any of these stars has anything else to say, whether directly or subliminally, about these dynamics.

Read More: It’s About Time Lil Wayne Retires “Tha Carter” Series

Drake Disses Jay-Z

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For those unaware, Drake dissed Jay-Z in various ways on ICEMAN, his chart-topping new album. “We know how you OGs rocking already, my n***a, the jig is up,” he rapped on “Janice STFU.” This could refer to Epstein allegations surrounding Hov or previous conflicts with the 6ix God. He also spoke on picking $500K over dinner with Jay and had many more shots on the tracklist for him.

Hov responded to The Boy by flipping that “the jig is up” bar. “My next update, the jig is up, n***a, I’m up ten / Wrong chart champ, you got to look up again / N***as look up to Hov, I never looked up to them,” he rapped at Roots Picnic.

As for Drake and LeBron James’ beef, they used to be very close until Bron showed love to Kendrick Lamar amid the 2024 battle. Since then, the basketball superstar has gotten various shots his way, especially on ICEMAN. But he’s always been a Jay-Z fan, so maybe this social media activity would’ve happened either way.

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Complex Music shared a clip on Twitter of the Roots Picnic freestyle, highlighting specific bars that seem intended for the Canadian artist. “The Roc’s not crumbling, the leprechauns have magically run out of pranks / Your son on the federal jail-line mumbling something about having, too much in his drink / You know how dumb that is?” Hov rapped.

Not only does this mock Lanez’s height, but it also speaks directly to Tory Lanez’s father Sonstar Peterson and his Roc Nation criticisms. Sonstar spoke out against Jay’s companies and teams, claiming they sabotaged the case. His son also made similar accusations. But with this response, the Brooklyn mogul seemed to refer to a recorded phone call between Tory and Kelsey Harris in which he said he got too drunk and offered an apology for what went down. To be clear, he didn’t explicitly say he shot Megan in that call.

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Jay-Z Disses Tory Lanez

We will see if the Brampton MC or his camp respond to any of this, whether in court, from behind bars, or online. Folks have peddled conspiracy theories about Jay-Z allegedly manipulating the Tory Lanez case for a long time now. So maybe this adds fuel to that fire.

Elsewhere, Jay also sent shots at Kanye West, Oschino, Jaguar Wright, and Tony Buzbee, among others. A lot of folks really loved this Roots Picnic freestyle, whereas others continue to clown and criticize it. The divisive reactions shouldn’t surprise anyone familiar with Jay-Z discourse on the Internet, especially with so many targets, leading to fanbases stepping out to defend them.

Rumors of more new Hov music continue to swirl, but they seem quite far away. For now, fans just want to enjoy this full Roots Picnic performance, not just the freestyle.

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Via his Vlad TV platform on YouTube, after describing what’s going on, he recalled how he previously interviewed Diggler and spoke with him about this situation and dynamic. Sly alleged that Sean Combs grabbed the actor’s phone and recorded this whole sexual encounter.

“I was not prepared for what I saw in that video,” the media personality had remarked during this older interview. In his most recent video about the matter, he noted how this recent alleged video leak began with the same censored screenshot he showed back for the Sly Diggler interview.

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DJ Vlad Speaks On Diddy Leak

“That’s not coincidence, that’s not just by chance,” DJ Vlad expressed. “Someone actually took it from the very beginning… Now, I don’t know where this came from, I never owned this video. I saw the video, saw a few minutes of it. And I got a screenshot from it… But this right here that leaked is the actual video. I’m authenticating this video because a lot of people will say that this is A.I. or this is fake. But that video is 100% real. I have no idea where it came from… I don’t think Sly knows where the leak came from, either. Maybe somebody hacked his phone. I’m not sure… You got a guy that… is compensating for it in all types of extreme ways. Unfortunately, some of those ways are violent.“

Elsewhere, Diddy faces more legal trouble due to ongoing civil lawsuits, allegations, and court moves amid his time behind bars for his federal criminal conviction. A recent accusation from a friend of Cassie Ventura’s details how he allegedly dangled the friend from a balcony.

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None other than Your Old Droog posted a partial clip of the freestyle on Twitter. “You ever heard of a wunderkind? My children is some of them / Have you n***as no shame? Y’all tryna get under skin? / I really get under skin, ask Un how I’m playing / Y’all thugs with y’all thumbs again, everyone think they’re the ones insane / You’re no maniac, watch how sane he act in my presence, n***as shrink,” he rapped.

“Wunderkind,” a German compound word that means “wonder child,” places this section squarely as a response to Kanye West speaking about Jay-Z’s children. For those unaware, he caught a lot of backlash for insulting his younger kids with Beyoncé and spreading unverified allegations about their lives.

The “wunderkind” in this case may also be Ye himself, as he came up under Roc-A-Fella. But by “getting under skin” with his comments, he might make Jay look back a little too fondly about his infamous stabbing of Lance “Un” Rivera in 1999.

Elsewhere, this part of the freestyle makes reference to Kanye West’s mental health history and his notorious Twitter rants. We will have to see if Ye responds to any of this.

Read More: It’s About Time Lil Wayne Retires “Tha Carter” Series

Jay-Z Disses Kanye West

While Kanye West has recently apologized for past controversies, no one really knows the extent to which his remorse extends. Most folks (and Ye himself) focus on the bigoted antisemitism, but past controversies also include these shots at the Carter-Knowles family, wider industry dynamics with peers, sexual misconduct allegations, and more.

Elsewhere, Jay-Z’s other Roots Picnic freestyle disses included shots at Oschino, Jaguar Wright, Dame Dash, Drake, Nicki Minaj, Tony Buzbee, and more. We will see if this dynamic between him and Ye ever changes or if they ever bury the hatchet once again. For now, they continue to seem opposed.

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“That lady back on the stuff, she sound like she in love with ’em / Her Ken can’t even… Take they kids…. *Tch* enough of them / A rapper can’t be my opp, I got MAGA Republicans / Them shots came from the very top of the government, good luck with them,” he rapped.

There are a few references here that seem to allude to Nicki Minaj’s fiery beef with Jay-Z. There are drug use allegations, references to her right-wing political pivot in the United States, and more.

Read More: It’s About Time Lil Wayne Retires “Tha Carter” Series

Jay-Z Disses Nicki Minaj

But one part of these disses fans have a lot of questions about is the “Ken” bar, specifically the way Jay stumbled and seemed to lose his footing at that point of the verse. For those unaware, “Ken” is both a homophone for “kin” in possible reference to Nicki’s brother and a direct reference to her husband Kenneth Petty. Both men have histories of sexual assault and domestic violence, with Petty facing consequences for reportedly failing to register as a sex offender and Minaj’s brother behind bars.

There are some other possible interpretations for this part of that verse, such as making fun of someone’s speech. Or maybe it’s just a flub. Either way, the Nicki shots definitely rang out.

Elsewhere, Jay-Z’s bars about “MAGA Republicans” seems to suggest Nicki Minaj’s rants against Hov are indicative of much larger issues between him and U.S. political powers, with the Trinidadian superstar just being the messenger. He may be saying he doesn’t worry about an MC when he has MAGA enemies in high places of government. Or it could suggest these very same people are also in Jay’s corner, minimizing and mocking Minaj’s MAGA turn.

Of course, Nicki will respond at some point. We’ll see if it’s sooner rather than later…

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