Van Grack
» Published by J.R. Ewing
When this clip entered our office we were all blown away by the rarity of this brand that no one east of Portland, Oregon had really heard about. Mix in the fact that Craig G drops some science as the sponsored rapper in the clip and it started to take on legendary status.
We had only scratched the surface on what, in a hot hip hop minute has restructured our entire thought process behind Michael Jordan, Rob Strasser (Nike VP) and your new favourite vintage sneaker brand, Van Grack. The sneaker conspiracy so juicy we traded both of our unopened copies of Sir Ibu’s, The Piece Maker to bring it to you first.
First off, press the play button and let this amazing commercial, shot during the golden age of rap endorsements play. Craig G, 1989’s version of a Jadakiss or Nature was cold ripping the game. A mean freestyle rapper who parlayed just that into two legendary singles both produced by Marley Marl, Droppin Science and The Symphony. Interestingly enough Craig signed a deal with Van Grack a from the West even though most of his fan support was in the tri state area.
Now to the nitty gritty. Van Grack had been building an empire for years prior to the below seedy series of event in 1988. A huge women’s collection and contemporary shoes program for the ‘yuppy’ had pushed Van Grack to huge selling years. Think Ewing brand from 90-93. Van Grack had one problem – the athletic shoe market. They had not found a way to break Nike’s stronghold on what had become the most lucrative slice of the footwear market, basketball sneakers.
From a far Nike looked like a well oiled machine, with record sales numbers in both there apparel and footwear divisions. Design, Marketing and Athletic scouting were all making the right moves at the right time, but trouble was a brewing in the highest ranks. Rob Strasser – former VP for Nike had become disgruntled with the way Phil Knight was running the show. Behind Knight’s back, Rob struck a deal with Peter Moore – owner of Van Grack to form a new hip hop/basketball division under the Van Grack banner. The two had courted Mike’s agent David Falk for month’s on a possible contract, and as a last bid invited MJ and Falk for a game of 9 hole and number crunching on the day that Mike was to unveil the Jordan III to the world.
What makes this so amazing is the fact that not only was an upstart company trying to steal Mike away from Nike, but during the release of if not the most, one of the most sought after and legendary shoes ever created.
Obviously Mike didn’t take the bait, he walked out on the proposed deal to make him a Van Grack endorsed athlete. Arriving 3 hours late for his press conference in LA for the Jordan III. The video above is probably the clothing and hip hop composite that would have gone along with MJ’s own Van Grack gear. Could there possibly be prototype Jordan Van Grack samples in the back of Rob Strasser or Peter Moore’s garage?
Big ups to House on the footage.
September 9th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
you really traded away two sealed copies of the peacemaker?! i wouldve kept atleast one
ps. “Mike didn’t take the bait”. if intentional, that was very clever of you to add that in there!
September 10th, 2008 at 4:59 am
Yo…this site has become my new favorite addiction. The topics are on point and cater to my love of hip hop…just wanted to show some love and say keep up the good work. If you get a chance come check us out at iLLVibes….PEACE
September 10th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
WOW.
J.R”no mutherfucking joke” Ewing.
Kudos, my mellow.
“Freshly dipped off the rack, never the Van Grack”
September 11th, 2008 at 9:12 am
The new addition coming on strong. No homo.
fat shout to J.R. for this one.
November 16th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
After reading 4 posts, this is already my favorite site. Outstanding post.
November 22nd, 2008 at 9:49 am
Hey! I like your post “Van Grack” so well that I like to ask you whether I should translate into German and linking back. Greetings Engel
November 23rd, 2008 at 10:18 am
Running Shoe Brand Sales Market…
This is one of the more useful reads I have had today….
December 8th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
yo. where can i get some van grack!? do they even have an official site!?
May 22nd, 2009 at 11:24 am
its so amazing to see this old clip……i am a true shoe amd perserver of the culture we created…..i remember we i coped my first pair….i sleep with them on….on my first day back to school……i was the first @my school to have them, i also was the freshest….but to this day i always and still want the one cool j had on in “walking with a panther” album………….p.s ..also big respect to dapper dan……it was his vision who started the shit…….not karl kani…..
May 22nd, 2009 at 11:27 am
but no disrepect to that brother which i had the pleasure of meeting @ the magic show in vegas……..love what u do and do what u love and thank god above…ya digg
October 20th, 2010 at 12:02 pm
running shoes made of synthetic rubber are great and some of them are water resistant too”`*
November 9th, 2010 at 3:31 pm
adidas running shoes are the best in the world and i alway use them in cross country `
November 18th, 2010 at 10:56 pm
I remember when i first saw vangrack shoes i thought that was the slickest shoe out.All i want to know is ware can i get a pair . I had all colors in the 90s what wrong why can’t i find any? And if it mean any thing M.J didn’t sale me the style did .If posible post location asap i realy liked the low top shoes and sweat suits.
November 29th, 2010 at 4:16 pm
I have 3 vintage deadstock Van Grack T-Shirts 2 new with tags the other no tags and a pair of mustard Van Grack jeans. Also have some Major Damaged Troop and a bit of Cross Colors. Im going to list most of it on ebay pretty soon. Get at me if anyone is interested in it. Decent sizes too!
December 14th, 2011 at 7:59 am
Wholesale Jordans…
[...]TheMeaningOfDope » Blog Archive » Van Grack[...]…
November 11th, 2012 at 7:05 pm
1989 Budwieser Superfest Giant Stadium Medowlands NJ silk gouch shirt Calvin Klien sforts tan brown vangracks i got so respect they were like 120.00 $ SO IF YOU WEREN’T GETTING ANY PAPER YOU WERE STILL ROCKIN BRITISH WALKERS! I WAS THERE IM A OFFICIAL O.G.
February 23rd, 2013 at 1:36 pm
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