If you were around in the mid-1990s, you’ll remember that one of the most significant moments in Sneaker History happened when Tupac Shakur laced up a pair of Grant Hill Filas for a photo shoot that would end up becoming the centerfold for his All Eyez On Me album in 1996. Not only was the double album a first for hip-hop at the time, but it was also the first time a sneaker became the talking point for an album’s artwork. While other artists wore heat for their album covers over the years, the pose and placement of the Fila Grant Hill 2 were so prominent that it likely remains in the memories of even the biggest of Tupac haters. 25+ years later, the craziest part about the Filas landing on Tupac’s feet, is that it was completely organic.
Grant Hill shared the story a number of years ago, explaining, “We actually had a mutual friend and when he got out, just sending love, I sent some (shoes) not even sure if it would happen. Then when he had them on his album cover, I thought that was cool. It was just a good time.” While he wasn’t looked at as a sneakerhead the way modern rappers are, ‘Pac was always wearing heat, and because of the success of the album, which sold over 10 million copies, the Fila Grant Hill 2 will always be closely tied with Tupac’s legacy.
The market for sneakers was much different then and the Fila Grant Hill 2 would go on to be one of the most popular sneakers of the era, even amongst other legendary sneakers like Air Jordan 11 and Nike Zoom Flights that were released during the same era. To celebrate the legacy of 2Pac and the Grant Hill 2, Fila is dropping new colorways of the low-top version this month. One colorway is white and navy, similar to the one that Tupac wore, and the second colorway features a white and tan colorway. Both feature co-branded details and elements that will surely make some feel nostalgic. You can grab a pair now directly from Fila, along with a number of other collaborative pieces.
