MSCHF recently collaborated with Lil Nas X’s newly branded shoes. The Satanic Panic spree continues in style – this time with new limited edition Nike Air Max 97s.
With the new release of his hit song, ‘MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)’, Lil Nas X is stealing the spotlight around the world. The music video for the song has already reached 42 million views on Youtube and its raunchy story-line and aesthetic have been a heated point of discussion already.
Inspired by heaven and hell, Lil Nas X travels from the loving, futuristic heaven until he is tempted by the snake and pole dances down to hell to seduce Satan and steal his horns. The music video quickly became a fan favorite for its unabashed and proud portrayal of sexuality and reclaiming the negative spaces in life. Not to mention Lil Nas X’s amazing costume changes throughout. However, many people have also spoken out against the ‘Satan-loving’ aspect of it, deeming the romanticization of hell is harmful and offensive.
Lil Nas X’s collaboration with MSCHF over the new sneakers – dubbed ‘Satan shoes’ – has also spiked fan interest. They redesigned the classic vintage Nike Air Max 97s, with a golden pentagram pendant hanging over the laces, embroidered reference to Luke 10:18 (it’s the part of the bible where Lucifer descends from heaven, for reference), and the most thrilling part: they contain 1 drop of blood each. The blood is donated from members of the MSCHF team.
MSCHF x Lil Nas X "Satan Shoes" 🏹
— SAINT (@saint) March 26, 2021
👟Nike Air Max '97
🩸Contains 60cc ink and 1 drop of human blood
🗡️666 Pairs, individually numbered
💰$1,018
🗓️March 29th, 2021 pic.twitter.com/XUMA9TKGSX
There are only 666 pairs available to order (continuing with the Satanic references), and each pair costs $1,018.
Nike has pulled out from all association with the shoes, claiming that:
“We do not have a relationship with Little Nas X or MSCHF. Nike did not design or release these shoes and we do not endorse them.”
However, Lil Nas X still defends his glamorization of Satanic references and his devilish aesthetic. He points out that, contrary to what many of his ‘haters’ say, his use of such imagery is not what the real problem with society is. In a recently deleted tweet he claimed,
There is a mass shooting every week that our government does nothing to stop. Me sliding down a CGI pole isn’t what’s destroying society.
Lil Nas X, Twitter
Many fans of his pointed out that he should not be getting the biggest runt of the blame for inaugurating the return of the 80s/90s Satanic Panic aesthetic as many musicians in the past like Black Sabbath, Slayer, and Slipknot have also endorsed similar themes.
Lil Nas X went personal on Twitter opening up with the amount of hate that circulates over self-expression and expressing his sexuality as a teenager:
i spent my entire teenage years hating myself because of the shit y’all preached would happen to me because i was gay. so i hope u are mad, stay mad, feel the same anger you teach us to have towards ourselves.
— NASARATI (@LilNasX) March 27, 2021
Adding later on, “So I hope u are mad, stay mad, feel the same anger you teach us to have towards ourselves.”
However, if these sneaker shoes are not exactly your aesthetic and you prefer a more ‘Nike-endorsed’ trainer, why not check up on the voice-controlled lace-up shoes Nike released earlier this year.
