A$AP Rocky Made the Most '90s Skate Shoe Ever

A look at A$AP Rocky and Puma's skate-infused Puma Suede.

A$AP Rocky started this year with a bang, shortly after releasing Don’t Be Dumb, his fourth studio album, he proceeded to dominate the zeitgeist and the runways in more ways than one. In addition to high-profile ambassador gigs for capital “F” fashion houses like Bottega Veneta and Chanel (where former Bottega designer Matthieu Blazy has since taken the reins and reinvigorated the French couturier), Rocky also debuted the third collection for his burgeoning AWGE fashion line.

Showing the collection at New York Fashion Week in February 2026, the looks featured plenty of collaborative gear from Puma, with whom Rocky has had a creative partnership with since October 2023. Originally starting as the creative director of its long-running Formula 1 program—where he reinvented silhouettes like the Speedcat and Mostro—the legendary mind-meld has since revved up into something much bigger.

And while there were plenty of automotive-inspired looks and freakboulish footwear on display, one of the best looks of the collection channeled multiple eras of uncanny aura. Part 2000s-era Pharrell, with hints of the bright skater style pioneered by Rocky’s close friend Tyler, The Creator, a look pairing a Superman-blue zip hoodie with exaggerated cargos was finished with a low-key pair of sneakers: the humble Puma Suede.

But it wasn’t your run-of-the-mill Suede release, rather, one that had gone through the nuances of a AWGE vibe transplant. While Rocky himself has never skated, there’s always been a mutual appreciation between the self-policing culture of very opinionated skaters and the very tasteful Harlem artist. His earlier songs, many of which created surreal, haunting soundscapes with producer Clams Casino, ended up in the soundtrack of multiple skate videos.

Turns out that many of his tracks are the perfect background for so many legendary parts. Can you imagine a better synergy than seeing Chewy Cannon body some absolutely clean lines in the Palace Skateboards “Tres Trill” video while A$AP Rocky’s aptly-named, atmospheric “Palace” is on full blast? Truly, how real is this?

Likewise, seeing the entirety of the DGK team get introduced on “Blood Money” to the tune of “1 Train” really evokes the spirit of some real New York shit, channeling the gritty street skating the city is known for developing while treating viewers to an insane edit. Woogie’s part starting right during Kendrick Lamar’s verse is a thing of beauty.

Despite his status as a non-skater, there have been plenty of times that Rocky has let his admiration for skate culture shine through. In the past he’s done projects with iconic skaters, and taken inspiration from different aesthetic eras of skate style for his own outfits and his burgeoning AWGE fashion line. But the latest iteration comes in the form of the Puma Suede ‘94, a year synonymous with the peak of Mad Dog-swilling, Marlboro Red-smoking, schwag joint-rolling dirtbag skaters.

Over on Lafayette Street, a little brand called Supreme was just opening its doors before SoHo was a shopping mall, and filmmaker Larry Clark was shooting teenagers like Chloe Sevigny and Leo Fitzpatrick to make seminal coming-of-age flick Kids.

The Puma Suede ‘94 reflects that attitude and then some. The tongue features a raw edge and padding for extra reinforcement, while the OG slimmer tooling shape, longer toe vamp, and era-accurate logos keep it as true to the original as ever. But of course, it wouldn’t be an AWGE shoe without the nuanced nods like the gold dubrae (a nod to Harlem hip-hop’s tendency for bling), and the slightly thicker laces that also nod to ‘80s style.

All of these references aren’t lost on A$AP Rocky, in fact, they’re intentional. It’s a way for him to put wha he sees as one of New York City’s signature sneaker back in the forefront.

Taking something as iconic as a Suede is big, it’s a shoe with big connotations in places like Harlem. Was it a sneaker you were familiar with growing up?

A$AP Rocky: I got my first pair of Puma Suedes in 2009, but of course was always aware of Puma. I think they were biggest in the ‘80s—I was born late ‘80s—but it’s always been an iconic shoe.

You grew up in uptown New York, where Harlem and The Bronx shaped modern sneaker culture. What’s Puma’s place been in that conversation?

Puma has always been heavy in NYC culture. There’s the Puma Suede and its affiliation with Walt Fraizer, who’s a Knicks legend.

In some ways skating and sneakers are places where culture has melted together and united seemingly different communities, how have you seen the barriers between different worlds continue to break down?

Skateboarding has always been something that lived in counterculture. And all of these different cultures connect there through sneakers. From record store folks, skateboard folks, street folks, basketball folks, musicians, and rappers—we all connect through sneaker culture.

What’s it like working with Puma as a partner? What would be the dream shoe to make?

They’re great. They always entertain my wild ideas. We do everything from skateboarding, to racing, and everything in between.

To take things a bit further, on Sunday July 12 HIDDEN will be giving out a limited number of pairs of the Puma x A$AP Rocky Suede ‘94.

Channeling the vibe of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater and its “Secret Tape” scavenger hunt, stay tuned to IG stories to see where a few pairs will be dropped, and get the chance to be on the early flow team ahead of the sneaker’s release on July 16.