Run-DMC celebrated Adidas in their 1986 song “My Adidas.”
The song grew from the group’s habit of wearing Adidas Superstar sneakers without shoelaces, a style associated with street fashion in New York. Run-DMC turned that everyday clothing choice into a memorable rap anthem, helping connect hip hop with sportswear and youth culture.
At a 1986 concert at Madison Square Garden, the group asked fans wearing Adidas shoes to hold them up. Adidas executive Angelo Anastasio attended the show and recognized the strength of the audience’s connection with the brand. The encounter helped lead to a major endorsement deal, widely regarded as one of the earliest significant partnerships between a hip hop act and a global clothing company.
The song is sometimes described as an advertisement, but it began as a genuine expression of the group’s style and identity. Run-DMC’s relationship with Adidas helped establish sneaker branding as a central part of hip hop fashion.