Super Collector Abdul Says Dirty Air Force 1s Are OK to Wear | The Complex Sneakers Podcast

The Complex Sneakers Podcast is co-hosted by Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty. In this week's episode, the trio is joined by Abdul, sneaker scene mainstay with powerful friends and a powerful collection. You may not know exactly who Abdul is or what he does, but you've definitely seen him in the background or at the front of the line at footwear happenings around the world. In the episode, he talks about his 30 years collecting shoes, dirty white Air Force 1s, whether or not Mids are acceptable, and how he obtained some of his rarest shoes. Also, Joe breaks down Dave Matthews' out-of-body BBQ experience, Welty relives his out-of-T-shirt weekend, and Brendan returns from vacation.
EPISODE CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - beginning of episode
05:00 - The guys talk their weekends.
10:00 - Welty recaps his weekend soccer game.
15:00 - Welty busts Brendan's chops on his vacation in Ireland.
20:00 - The guys talk about bar lacing and their favorite ways to wear their laces.
25:00 - The guys give away Tiffany Dunks to the giveaway winner.
30:00 - Abdul joins the guys and they talk sneakers on feet.
35:00 - Abdul talks how he's so connected in the industry.
40:00 - Abdul talks his sneaker collection.
45:00 - Abdul talks where he finds his rare pairs but he doesn't give away too much.
50:00 - Abdul talks his relationship with Clark Kent, they even FaceTime him!
55:00 - The guys talk dirty AF1s, is it OK?
1:00:00 - Abdul talks not wearing Air Force 1 Mids.
1:05:00 - Abdul talks Patta's upcoming release of Air Max 1s.
1:10:00 - Abdul shares his Hot Sauce releasing and possible sneaker boutique in Baltimore?!
1:15:00 - Wrap up the episode.
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COMPLEX is a community of creators and curators, armed with the Internet, committed to surfacing and sharing the voices and conversations that define our new America. Our videos exemplify convergence culture, exploring topics that include music, sneakers, style, sports, and pop culture through original shows and Complex News segments. Featuring your favorite celebrities, authoritative commentary, and a unique voice, our videos make culture pop.

[@Complex]

How clean do you keep your sneakers?

[@vividalexanderfilms]

Everything is worn cause wear your fucking kicks. But everything is pristine , mostly PADS but gotta keep some “rainy days” and “beaters” for all purpose use.

[@QUiNTiNBANKS]

Soap and water

[@Aerochalklate]

Kanye Klean

[@AyeeJayyy]

Jason Markk

[@Mrchrishenri]

Alkaline water an organic soap

[@gfeast4518]

I like hearing their little stories about what they’ve been up to, it like hanging out with my sneaker uncles or something 😂

[@jlmunny]

Uncles wow that’s cold

[@gfeast4518]

@@jlmunny well they’re about my uncles age, not like I’d be hanging out with dudes 10-15 years older than me haha

[@arimaslit]

Deadass that’s like my fav part of the podcast

[@joeypetty4723]

Abdul was beautifully honest: Abdul - You know what I don’t want? I don’t want them to retro old (AF1) colors. Keep them sacred. Welty - When Ronnie did the retro Linens did you get those? Abdul - I got those. Please have him on again sometime soon. Such a great episode. Would live to see him an Clark on a show together!!

[@locnguyen7245]

Abdul is definitely the man, I highly respect this dude because he’s a genuine sneaker collector who actually wears that heat n laces his daughters up too ❤️💯

[@zuology3437]

EASILY one of the top 3 episodes/guests of this podcast so far. Give me 3-4 more hours of the Abdul extended cut straight to my sneaker veins. The topic of lacing needs to be an entire podcast too.

[@luden1046]

That hit different when Abdul said “Kids these days just don’t have the same spark as I did when I grew up”🥴

[@RobiYorkMusic]

The jean cuff tied into the laces was a HUGE thing back in the day. I can’t believe they never seen this! If you wore NBA jerseys in this era, than you for sure did this lol

[@justinbriggs9550]

Welty rocking the Gel Lyte III SneakerLAH x Hundred% made me feel so good. One of my favorite pairs & so underrated.

[@d0ntchange]

This show is such a high point for me during the week. Much thanks to the greatest shoe discussing trio, super producer Dave Matthews, and the rest of the crew behind the scenes for another incredible episode 🙌🏿

[@lilclipps]

I really appreciate you guys doing a shoe cam! Awesome to see a pair of shoes and collab I didn't know of before. Abdul is a complete legend for wearing his Paris Dunks, what an iconic shoe. Also, love seeing Joe get excited about a story. Excited for next week !

[@jayratjayrat]

Whenever you guys have a guest, can we incorporate them during the Ebay Question segment? It'd be cool to hear their thoughts on the shoe that's being gifted.

[@mjmcguire4511]

I never did the lacing thing, but going to high school in the early 2000’s, a lot of us would put rubber bands at the bottom of our jeans and hide them so you could see the shoes and your baggy jeans didn’t cover the shoes or drag on the ground. Especially in the winter to avoid the snow/slush.

[@kevincollins8620]

I remember people doing this. I used to laugh at it. I wore women's jeans so I wasn't free from jokes... Fortunately the world followed me and made it the norm.

[@at2130]

Always had to have extra runner bands on deck

[@phoenixtodaro-ali6519]

Yooooo! Welty’s voice crack was phenomenal

[@freestudiosdc]

Abdul is a genuinely good dude. Always honest.

[@JostenDooley]

If they retro air forces from back in the day that I couldn’t get , I’m going to get all of them.

[@AvalancheBT]

this was one of the best eps, abdul is the man

[@1306sjain]

Best episode by far

[@Doc74]

Still the best episode!! I really like the real sneaker head vibe! Not a famous dude but a legend nonetheless

[@G-spookyk4zs]

I remember back in the early 2 thousands me and my friends used to bar lace our Adidas superstars and phatt farms with thick laces so you couldn't see the gap between it.

[@giancarlotumanggor3201]

Fr dis is my favorite ep so far. Love all the story and all the energy in it. Thank you guys so much. 03.00 am in Indonesia watching this and boost me that much.

[@BigMacMarvin15]

That voice crack at 1:06:22 had me dead

[@Sneakahead555]

Beautiful question for a beautiful shoe ! It's only right to redo your laces once you get them ! Over never under The sneaker cam is on very on point ! Kick game was amazing ! Damn, what another amazing episode ! Love how much detail each story has every time 🔥

[@omarsalimabdulaziz8183]

“I won everything”. Boss energy

[@xdepredatex]

Wow 🤩 y’all been giving away HEAT lately! Always love the show gentleman, appreciate y’all Fr.

[@travisbutler1195]

Complex sneaker podcast keep the vlogs coming glad 2 see ya together for real 💯💯💯👍👍👍

[@Poise716]

Tying the jeans in the laces is or was definitely a thing. Kid from Brooklyn we definitely did that

[@michaeljackson8390]

💚I help expose our evil government (the Illuminati) i have 2,145,212+Total views💜 [The about section will blow your mind]🤯

[@shoppure3396]

We did that In dc too def a thing

[@marcuswright4787]

@@shoppure3396 I was about to say the DMV homies at NC A&T was doing this heavy in the early 2000’s

[@ghettospokezman]

Yes sirrr

[@shoppure3396]

@@marcuswright4787 100% I graduated HS 2002 niggas put rubber bands at the bottom of jeans to

[@torosammy]

do you wear AF1s more than once? Clark: “I’m different”

[@alekay2256]

54:37 for those who came here to listen to them talk about dirty af1s

[@TheBeautifulMynd]

Abdul 🙌🏾 much respect for one of the sneaker community greats

[@thomaspayton_]

Thanks for making my Friday mornings at work more great

[@jeffdickinson32]

Another great episode, my favourite podcast to listen to. Please bring back Mayor we need a video version instead of just the audio episodes

[@Freeskiingisdabest]

Love the podcast guys! Keep up the good work

[@JoshHoodSucks]

also shoutout Bones Brigade for starting Abduls journey

[@johnrobinson1217]

What Welty is talking about around the 25 min mark with the jeans tucked in is hilarious. We had dudes do that where I grew up but with a rubber band, way before skinny jeans and joggers were common. Dude used to wear bapestas and the pants like that to show them off

[@AyeeJayyy]

That bar lacing story is big feels coming from retail HAHAHA , glad company finally changed it 😅

[@michaeljackson8390]

💚I help expose our evil government (the Illuminati) i have 2,145,212+Total views💜 [The about section will blow your mind]🤯

[@Wavestarter_TV]

Great episode been following Abdul since I went to DC for the JFG pop up good guy ✊🏿

[@jlmunny]

Re: shoelace tying: main branchpoint is whether your distal lacing comes OUT of the first two holes or INTO the first two holes . . . For the shoes with the laceplates then sure, they must go INTO the first two holes but otherwise, they should come OUT of the first two holes so the “bar” of white isn’t too distracting to the rest of the shoe and toebox

[@Behzey2fly]

how does joe and B-dunn not know about the baggy jeans under the laces era? wtf... i LIVED IT HAHAHah

[@Behzey2fly]

i am disappointed in Joe and Dunn... smh

[@AkumaQ1987]

I support Mr. Welty I used to do that with my sneakers.. what he means in shorter terms is that when your jeans are baggy enough so you won't get them dirty...you grab the front part of the jeans place the jean then tie your shoe lace over lapping the jean for extra lift that was a mass new england thing I guess. @complex

[@DanielRamirez-fp2zp]

Welty ain’t lying about the laces over the jeans i did that goofy shit in middle school… with some team jordans too 🥴

[@bakon321]

Super dope guest. Awesome energy

[@BookerT69]

Another great episode!

[@Jeffreynelius]

I say it every time they pop up anywhere 😂 but I’ve gotta say it again, I had those Bmore high top AF1’s in middle school. Didn’t know what I had, wish I would’ve held onto them.

[@heartytworaw6338]

He was right about the jeans & laces back in the day

[@rodrigocarrillo3663]

That Brendan guy is pretty quick

[@DavidAMoore-ux7nc]

Great guest. Love that he reps Baltimore but still has a Nats hat on. Nobody in the DMV supports the Orioles.

[@kevinlouzau8494]

MW def not lying. The bit of jean through the laces loop is big in Puerto Rico

[@dgoody84]

Never ever ever saw somebody tie they're laces around they're jeans. And they kind of passed on the question pretty fast imo like dunne didn't even talk about how he ties his sneakers. Could have listened to them talk about lacing for alot longer.

[@gfeast4518]

Almost copped those gel lytes welty has on when they were on sale but wasn’t sure how they’d fit and look on me all metallic

[@LesibaIsaacSephoka]

Shout out to you guys all the way from South Africa 🌍🌍🌍

[@bern717]

Abdul is a real one. Love him

[@daniel-so7so]

Great episode

[@drparham]

Gotta love Welty authentic on so many levels.......baggy jeans era where u had to tie ya laces wit your jeans cuff......done right was a classic look

[@CatcherOfBass]

I remember what Welty was talking about when people tied their laces around the bottom of the jeans.

[@rawsanity27]

Damn, Abdul came wearing the Nike SB Paris. No big deal, just a $60,000 sneaker on his feet.

[@88bsides]

I have always bought white AF1's with the INTENTION of multiple wears....They just never really make it past 1 good wear. I will even clean them 4 or 5 times and consider it a few more but they almost never make it back on my feet.

[@elementle]

Brendan Dunne with the Lando Norris reference hahaha

[@qaasimibnjean-paul4796]

I know exactly what he's talkin bout with the lacing the jeans into the sneakers..... That was Poppin in highschool

[@zenalien8620]

Great episode. "Wear what you want."

[@maigamoulaye7740]

VERY CLEAN

[@jonathanq94]

Weltys right about people used to tying their jeans into their shoelaces. I remember people doing that in like 5th grade in like 05/06 cause they thought it looked cool lol

[@SeymourKitty]

What's the time stamp where he explains why its cool to wear dusty af1s

[@vividalexanderfilms]

55:00

[@chaserehm2192]

Dunne for sure had the best heat on feet this episode. Those SNS Adidas with the gum sole are 🔥🔥🔥

[@Orochi7K]

What’s the name of the shoe dunne is wearing. Looking everywhere for it. Thanks

[@omarmac1]

Joe in dallas.. Travis Scott in sneaker shopping episode coming up . 🤎🤠

[@JoshKoshBGosh1]

Welty is telling the truth on the jeans tucked into laces that’s how you know he was in the hood, Welty’s about that life.

[@kevincollins8620]

I remember this as well.

[@MSalih-lj1jk]

Word, Welty spittin facts about the jeans thru the shoe laces. I was definitely on that in 03 - 05. Size 48 waist jeans and tying the bottoms with the xtra long laces of my black forces. We was different back in the day

[@dardastar]

They talked about City Blue and Joseph’s in Philly. I was down Frankford yesterday where Joseph’s at. Yup they still close. #PHILLY

[@anthonyL610]

Them 2 stores was legendary! We would always goto Joseph’s and get shit super early..remember grabbing royal 1’s like a month early same wit bred 11’s talking 2001 and that same week my cousin was at city blue and they had 1 pair of bred 1’s that someone returned in a 9 n he grabbed em

[@anthonyL610]

And Joseph’s closed cause they got there Nike account pulled cause her and her husband started upping the prices and holding shoes for certain people and fuckin over there og clients and people got pissed and shortly after that they stopped getting stuff. This was a few years back

[@dardastar]

@@anthonyL610 I go to the barbershop Taha across the street from Joseph’s. The bul that cut my hair said the lady died I don’t know if that’s true or not.

[@gfeast4518]

Dave matthews sounds like a G

[@cathalkenny]

Complex Sneakers Podcast live from Kilkenny, Ireland?

[@JoshHoodSucks]

I recall what Welty is referencing as dudes in huge Girbaud jeans with large panels and straps? Early to mid 00s with white forces. I worked at a hood gas station in Alabama where guys would come on weekends for huge white tees and specifically recall this look. Oh the memories selling fake grills, Js and clear forces. Again not 100% as I left baggy ass pants 20 years ago. Didn't need my pants covering my d3's tryna tre some 3 set or something.

[@samcauston9884]

Ok Dunne. I see your lando norris Sochi debacle mention.

[@vincenttyler4667]

Bro my cousin lives in Delaware and I have been to Cristina mall

[@88bsides]

I would also add that shoes like the pure money 4 are in the same category.

[@SIMSIH]

I think the soccerclub you were looking for is Hammarby if

[@waffledropsmymy5313]

🔥🔥🔥🔥 Matt’s sneaker

[@kendrickfromthe90s]

I used to do the jeans thru the shoe laces and tie them in just like welty is saying! Lmao it was a real thing

[@DuelMatt]

Brøndby is in Denmark and the team colours are blue and yellow, so the Södermalm Spezials have no relation. Those stories again!?

[@salahaddin1824]

36:00 aye s/o to de 🔥

[@jimmyhunter3761]

best barefoot kickers pair of kicks? I’m gonna go puma turf or nike turf? Does anyone remember the nike legend? High top? Kinda looked like a jordan. Would love to see some of the old 80s highs. Anyhow love you dudes! Peas

[@jamirjones745]

I really hope he do that we really need one bad I’m from Baltimore in I have to go online

[@prabeeshsidhu]

I’ve been around to see the older guys tie their shoelaces around the jeans ahah

[@HipHopandSneakers]

Just came to comment “It’s not Ok”

[@c6ctu578]

Matt is telling the truth about the baggy denim lace tie lol i used to bundle a bit of my jean in a rubber band so you can see the shoes. Good times.

[@bfl7688]

The colours of the Adidas/SNS Södermalm are inspired by the colours of the football team Hammarby. Bröndby is in Denmark. Södermalm is indeed a neighborhood in Stockholm, where the original SNS store is located. By the way, I’m not giving you hell for getting facts wrong 😁 … and yes, I’m a Swedish fan of you guys.

[@1andonlyhoncho]

Whiskey is the correct spelling in both Ireland and the US, because immigrants. Scotland and Japan use “whisky” because the guy who brought whisky to Japan learned in Scotland. Taketsuru built both Suntory’s whisky operation (Yamazaki distillery) in Kyoto area then founded Nikka in Yoichi in Hokkaido.

[@samueljacobs9679]

It's good to see Welti's soccer perspective love it..... Hopefully, you can come to the United Kingdom and watch proper football imma Arsenal fan

[@qaasimibnjean-paul4796]

I'm a sneaker head and I wear my AIR FORCES DIRTY ... Just like my Timbs, they become my Walmart kicks.... What the fuck are we talkin bout here..... Shoes get old.

[@nocureforyou9747]

I feel like bunny ears aren't the worst thing ever but my pants cover the top of the shoe where the laces are

[@JakeRyanMN]

S/O Minneapolis, MN! Northside! ✌🤘

[@Slammedthree]

What’s one collab you wish used a different colour way upon initial release?

[@maraniize]

asics gel lyte iii 🤩🤩🤩🔥🔥🔥

[@litasfuckdoe7949]

Welty was indeed as the kids say “outside”.

[@scfitnessmy]

what's was the name of Abdul's podcast again ?

[@andys9037]

Damn they gave away my grails this week 😭

[@legsopensarah9759]

Trashed forces are where it's at. So much better than pristine

[@dylanrupert2357]

Idk what jlp has on feet but they are crazy I kinda like it

[@Mr.Vega4]

I suppose the way you choose the question of the week is randomly. I believe my questions or some of the previous selected questions have been more interesting than this episode's. Basically this question is the equivalent of "what's your favorite sneaker?" But in laces... Next time I should ask what your favorite support system is 😒

[@Tokyohhhhhh]

Abdul got on 65k shoes and 3 year old $40 fitted.. love all his stories though

[@newgenerationbullies]

AF1s 🔥🔥🔥🔥💯💯💯💯 #NewGenerationBullies

[@GTfromAG]

DMV💯

[@kevincollins8620]

He shoulda shoe horned them roadstas into an airmax 1 sole. Whooooooo