Late rapper AKA’s family has reunited with sportswear giant Reebok to release a new line of sneakers, SneAKA, honouring his legacy.
Kiernan Forbes had a public fallout with Reebok five years ago. The collaboration comes as a surprise following AKA’s 2020 accusations that the brand failed to pay him for his original SneAKA line despite the high-profile partnership.
AKA’s Family Partners with Reebok for New SneAKA Release
In a statement on Tuesday, Reebok announced the launch of the SneAKA 2.0, developed in collaboration with AKA’s family.
“Five years ago, we partnered with the visionary Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes to create the iconic SneAKA—a fusion of style, creativity, and passion. Today, we’re humbled to celebrate this milestone by introducing the SneAKA 2.0, crafted in collaboration with the Forbes family to honour AKA’s enduring legacy. LONG LIVE SUPA MEGA LIVE LONG 💜♾️,” the company said.
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The announcement marks a significant shift from the tensions that clouded their previous collaboration.
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AKA’s Family Partners with Reebok for New SneAKA Release [Image: Reebok]
The Nasty Fallout
In August 2020, AKA publicly called out Reebok, claiming the brand had not paid him for the creation and promotion of the original SneAKA shoe line.
“Can you believe they didn’t pay me a single cent for this? Not one cent,” AKA said at the time, expressing disappointment in what he described as a “shitty deal.”
He also noted that while he had signed a supposed “seven-figure” contract, he did not receive royalties or compensation as expected.
Reebok, in response, had maintained that AKA was fully aware of and satisfied with the terms of the deal before its execution. The fallout had strained the relationship between the rapper and the brand.
Despite the bitter end to their previous partnership, Reebok and the Forbes family have chosen to celebrate AKA’s legacy with a fresh start. The SneAKA 2.0 is set to pay tribute to the rapper’s influence on culture and style, with proceeds expected to benefit causes that were important to him.
The SneAKA 2.0 will drop on 16 November 2024.