POLLS: Macklemore & Jordan Brand -- Smart Marketing or Just Ironic?

It’s not surprising to see fashion and sports brands linking up with prominent figures in hip-hop, with Kanye‘s Nike partnership (and recent switch to adidas) standing out as one of the most prominent collaborations in recent sneaker history, and Drake‘s OVO x Air Jordan stirring enough buzz to rake in a $100,000 USD resale on eBay. What may be surprising to fans of Macklemore, however, is the Seattle-based artist’s recent partnership with Air Jordan and the reveal of his own “Northwest King Salmon” signature shoe. Having used his single “Wings” to detail the downside of an infatuation with brands and labels early in his career – explicitly singling out the excessive consumption of footwear to make his point – Macklemore makes allusions throughout the song to brands like adidas, Nike, and even Jordan Brand itself. Released in 2011 and still noted as a favorite by fans in 2014, “Wings” is often perceived by fans as a representation of Macklemore’s own thoughts on footwear, leaving several people questioning the irony over the new collaboration while others are simply keen to know if they’ll ever hit retail. Our latest poll asks if you deem this collaboration a clever marketing strategy or just ironic given his previous song, or maybe just both? Submit your vote in the poll below and feel free to further discuss this subject in the comment section.

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