Wale Declares Sneaker Free Agency, Wants to Talk With New Balance. Here's Why He Should.

It seems that the Nike dream was short-lived because Wale has announced he's a sneaker free agent.

If you've followed the musical artist's professional career, you should be well-aware of his affinity for footwear. Wale has worn sneakers from handfuls of brands throughout the years, but, as dissected in the "Breaking Down the Wale-Nike G.T. Future Connection" retrospective, he's been historically partial to NIKE, Inc.: Air Max, Air Jordan, and Deion Sanders pairs from the 1990s; Nike SB Dunks from the 2000s; and most things Foamposite.

Born in Washington, D.C.—Northwest to be exact—Olubowale Victor Akintimehin credits his home city for his appreciation for and taste in footwear.

In a recent appearance on the 7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony podcast, Wale shared tidbits about D.C.—amongst them, differences between people from the U.S. capital and nearby Baltimore.

During the conversation, Wale shared an unexpected update to his relationship with Nike: "I'm a sneaker free agent right now."

None of the podcast participants dwelled on Wale's comment for long, although they jokingly brought up Carmelo Anthony's Jordan Brand relationship as a nudge that 'melo knows some people that can answer the sneaker free agency call. Wale replied that he's also familiar with those in-charge at Team Jumpman—in fact, he formed part of the global campaign for the launch of the debut Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) x Jordan Brand Collection in September 2018—quasi-acknowledging that if something was going to happen, it would've by now.

What mostly flew under-the-radar, however, was Wale pointing to the camera to follow his announcement with, "I'm talking to you, New Balance."

The Washingtonian has never been hush about New Balance—he's actually been one of the brand's most-vocal historians as it pertains to the new-age debate of which city "started" New Balances—but he's worn the brand sparingly since becoming a platinum-selling rapper.

In a September 2011 interview with UpscaleHype, Wale said the following when asked about the DMV area's influence on his style: "I just know I grew up on Foamposites and Jordans...and New Balance...I don't really wear New Balance that much on stage, or, you know, it just ain't my thing, but...I still got a couple pair of New Balances here and there."

He wasn't lying. Finding pictures of him wearing New Balances during the late 2000s and early-to-mid-2010s is virtually impossible. Outside of a random photo of him in a blue pair of the "Elite Edition" New Balance 1600 from 2013, Wale lived in the spotlight mostly wearing Nikes and Air Jordans, with the occasional adidas, ASICS, and Saucony break.

Wale's lack of public appearances in "N"-branded footwear is somewhat peculiar given his background, which includes having worked sneaker retail for DTLR (Downtown Locker Room) at Prince George's Plaza in Maryland. DTLR has famously put together special activations, campaigns, and editions of numerous New Balance sneakers throughout the years. Its work with the Boston-based company has ensured Washington, D.C, Maryland, and Virginia remain an important part of New Balance history—in particular as it relates to premium Made in USA product from the 99X series.

New Balance's story in Wale's D.C. begins with hustlers in "Chocolate City" who took a liking to the New Balance 990 when it launched in 1982. As the first running shoe priced at $100, the sneaker doubled as a status symbol without the gaudiness of designer footwear of the era. Its cushioning setup provided all-day comfort while reflective elements on the grey-heavy pair allowed folks to shine when captured on camera—famously at go-go event photo booths hosted at venues like Capitol Centre, The Black Hole, Masonic Temple, and The Reeves Center. Known as "getting flicked up," this tradition became a fashion statement, as recalled in the short film, DC’s Shoe: The Origin of New Balance in Washington DC, by Jacob Garibay.

A go-go-enthusiast and participant, and product of the 1980s, Wale is surely well-aware of this connection between D.C. and New Balance.

Him working with the brand, then, would be a sort of "homecoming," right? After all, November 10 has been officially recognized as "Wale Day" in Washington, D.C. since 2023.

The Instagram account @folarin_fits has been crucial to documenting the many outfits of "Ralph Folarin"—especially considering the artist tends to purge his social media profiles.

Some of Wale's most-viral 'fit pics have shown him wearing basketball shoes off-the-court. A strong proponent of the Air Total Foamposite Max once co-signed by Tim Duncan, the adidas Anthony Edwards 1, and Nike Kobe series, the everything is a lot artist has inspired conversation about getting "fly" in hoops shoes again—a trend that peaked in the early 2010s.

This may be an issue for any potential Wale-New Balance partnership because the brand has neither the modern appeal nor retro heritage of Nike and adidas Basketball. Folarin has arguably looked his coolest while wearing some visibly-technical performance model (extra points for straps). Outside of some New Balance Running product and what was coming out of the company's Tokyo Design Studio, it's difficult to find NB designs that fit the description—more so when taking into account Wale's "Ice" G.T. Future collaboration from December 2025.

Before dropping his take on the futuristic Nike Basketball silhouette, the Attention Deficit rapper told Flight Club the following when asked about his dream shoe collab: "I'd build off the Foam Max. I know where fashion is going, so I think I can do some interesting things with that."

The world will have to use its imagination because a Wale x Nike Air Total Max is off the table (for now).

New Balance doesn't have anything remotely close to the "Duncans," but that hasn't stopped the Washingtonian from rocking with the brand. Over the last few years, he's worn sneakers designed by Salehe Bembury and Joe Freshgoods, two important collaborators within the New Balance universe.

Wale has stepped out in the 2002R, a modified running shoe from 2010, as well as heritage options like the 992 and 990v3. He's also worn the ABZORB 2000, a futuristic silhouette that quickly got the approval of viz-tech fans across the globe.

If Wale were to work with New Balance, maybe he should go with this third route as it would grant him access to technical heritage, experimental shapes, and broad color executions. Additionally, working on ABZORB models like the New Balance 1890 would allow him to operate within the gap between youth culture and older dressers while honoring D.C.'s fandom for running shoes.

Maybe New Balance could relaunch the NB1 custom shoe program with Wale; expanding it to include non-Made in USA footwear like the AC Runner could also be fruitful given Wale's penchant for bold, sometimes disparate color schemes.

A hand in NB1 could also give the 41-year-old similar fun to what was once NikeiD, and substantial responsibility he never received at NIKE, Inc.

As New Balance Basketball continues to make inroads on the performance-front, more and more hoopers are seriously considering the brand's lineup of product. Kawhi Leonard led the way when he joined in 2018, but his reserved off-court personality and inconsistent availability to play has staggered his signature sneaker line's popularity.

Newer signees like Cooper Flagg and Cameron Brink have re-energized the New Balance hoops roster, but they're still looking to truly transcend the game. The recent announcement of Tyrese Maxey's debut signature shoe—the Maxey v1—has a lot of potential for off-court approval. The Philadelphia 76er has been a consistent force over the last few seasons, but he still needs a few big moments under his belt to become a household name.

Wale is just the man to help Maxey and New Balance get the streets' approval, but he understands that footwear linked to athletes must first resonate in their respective sports.

Over 10 years ago, he sat down with Sneaker Watch TV and said: "These athletes that was bigger than life..Deion Sanders…Michael Jordan…[they’re] part of the reason that we have such a…undying…love for sneakers…we believed in like these superheros…we wanted to be like them."

Shohei Ohtani and Francisco Lindor have inspired countless individuals to work on their game—and inspired many to switch to New Balance for their on-field fear—but baseball footwear's lifestyle appeal has always been a tough sell. Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood is currently sponsored by New Balance. Maybe Wale could make some appearances at Nationals Park?

Cori Dionne "Coco" Gauff has been celebrated in and outside the world of tennis, but her signature collections haven't translated into the lifestyle space.

Many of these New Balance athletes are still in the early years of their sponsorships, meaning they have time to transcend sport and firmly plant themselves as cultural figures that move the needle within fashion. However, collaborators like Bembury, Mr. Freshgoods, Teddy Santis, and Ronnie Fieg have proven that non-athletes have earned deals that are on-par with traditional signature deals.

On the music-front, New Balance has found resounding success through partnerships with Action Bronson, Rosalía, and Aminé. The Spanish pop star has mostly just co-signed the trendy 204L, while both rappers have reimagined proper silhouettes that breathe life into the NB archive.

Wale could certainly hit the ground running if he partnered up with New Balance, going from running to hiking expressions seamlessly like Action Bronson and Aminé have.

Signing with the Boston-based stalwart right now also makes sense because of company culture.

Joe Freshgoods has lauded New Balance for being a partner that strives to best accommodate the people it works with—whether external collaborators and internal employees. When he approached the brand to speak candidly in the aftermath of George Floyd's murder—a period in which many corporations were pressured into publicizing what they'd do for the Black community—leadership at New Balance welcomed the topic and worked with him to be better within the moment and for the future. The "Conversations Amongst Us" initiative was founded through this mutual understanding and desire to ensure a historically-overlooked community is seen, heard, and celebrated.

Being able to have authentic conversations with decision-makers at New Balance has been pivotal in Mr. Freshgood's pursuit of using his platform to tell genuine stories—Black ones in particular—with meticulous, industry-leading attention.

What couldn't Wale do with the same support?

JFG now largely operates in a creative director role at New Balance, meaning he's had his hand in projects that aren't branded with his name. Thus, he's a one-of-a-kind force that Wale would find at NB and nowhere else, a creative that's also unabashedly himself. Plus, he tapped in with people in Washington, D.C. before the launch of his "Outside Clothes" 990v3 to better understand New Balance heritage and its connection to Black people.

Other personnel strengths for New Balance include the Black Soles associates and Myles Williams, Associate Product Manager for Made in USA Lifestyle. Williams is a DMV-native—specifically from Columbia, Md.—and he's ensured his area's importance to NB is celebrated properly.

On April 2, two pairs of the New Balance 993 launched, described by Williams as "a tale of two cities...rooted in culture, history, and resilience...Inspired by the DMV, built for the community." A red option drew inspiration from the signage at Faidley's Seafood, an iconic business that's been considered "Baltimore's Best Crab Cake" for years. The accompanying shoe sees a softer color palette that draws from the purplish twilight sky that looms over Washington, D.C. every so often.

Williams and Wale, then, should speak a similar language. Given that the "Watching Us" songwriter has historically felt misunderstood and dismissed by the music industry for being authentically D.C., a connection with Williams could start at a place others might not have been able to.

The end to Wale's sneaker free agency seems obvious, but Folarin may not want to limit his freshness to a single brand, especially when considering he's amassed hundreds of rare and important non-New Balance shoes since his days performing with go-go bands around D.C.

If Wale's free agency turns out to be more of a negotiating tactic for a more favorable deal with Nike, so be it—just give the man his own Air Total Foamposite Max this time.

For a moment, the world was left to rejoice at the idea of Wale's sneaker story coming full circle once more—a son of D.C. speaking to D.C. with a brand that owes much to and has celebrated the city.

The partnership would be much more than product and it would be the people's—today and forever.

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