Pusha T is the lyrical rap fan’s favorite lyrical rapper. From his work with his brother as the duo Clipse to his Kanye West-produced debut solo album, My Name Is My Name, he’s received rave reviews from critics and fans alike, who have for years enjoyed the unapologetic snarl with which he delivers verses.

When it comes to his fashion sense, Pusha’s often been on the cutting edge, whether it was being one of the first people on the planet to rock Pharrell’s Icecream sneakers, or helping to bring back the militant all-black-everything look of the ’90s alongside Mr. West. Like the two of them, Pusha’s now got his own collaboration with Adidas in the form of a cream-colored EQT Running Guidance 93. At first glance the sneaker looks just like a monochromatic version of the retro style, but upon further inspection, fans of the rapper’s music will easily recognize the inspiration. Fish scale accents, cracked leather, and a gum sole are all subtle nods to Pusha T’s street hustling past. We sat down with him to talk about the EQT, his feelings on Adidas’s year, Lil Wayne, and his famed Gucci Chuck Taylors. ----------

Growing up, what did Adidas mean to you? What did the brand stand for?

I’ll start off by telling you that for my 5th grade talent show, I was RUN DMC. Also you should just know the rate at which I cried to my parents to have an Adidas tracksuit and shell toed [Superstars]. My brother [Malice] is five years older than me, so when I was nine, he was fourteen, and my parents acknowledged that because he was going into high school, he needed to be fresh. But me being nine, I didn’t have to be as fresh. I felt like I was missing out, crying, going upset. I had to have it. It just goes to show how in-tune Adidas has been with hip-hop style and hip-hop culture.

Obviously the Superstars have been extremely important to hip-hop culture, so how did you settle on the EQT?

It’s just about doing something off the beaten path a little bit. And I think the EQT is just a dope silhouette people can rock with today’s fashions. I wanted something that would complement a whole outfit. And that’s how I get dressed. I think of the whole silhouette. You can’t think of the shoe without thinking about the way denim will look with it, and the whole ensemble.