Mitchell & Ness is celebrating the 50th anniversary of hip-hop with a new collaboration.
The sports company is teaming up with New York-based graffiti artist collective Tats Cru to create a capsule collection celebrating the musical genre’s anniversary, as well as the start of the NBA 2023-24 season. The collection honors eight cities that played a role in the development of hip-hop, as well as their respective NBA teams.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Tats Cru on this historic project,” said Eli Kumekpor, chief executive officer at Mitchell & Ness. “The 50th anniversary of hip-hop is a momentous occasion, and we wanted to celebrate it in a way that honors its influence on sports, art and society. Tats Cru’s distinct artistic vision perfectly complements our dedication to craftsmanship and authenticity.”
Styles from the Mitchell & Ness x Tats Cru collection.
Courtesy of Mitchell & Ness
The collaboration focuses on the New York Knicks, the Brooklyn Nets, the Atlanta Hawks, the Chicago Bulls, the Miami Heat, the Detroit Pistons, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Philadelphia 76ers, offering NBA jerseys, T-shirts and hoodies that pay homage to each city and team. The pieces are designed by leveraging some of the core pillars of hip-hop, including MCing, DJing, breakdance and graffiti.
The partnership is fitting for Tats Cru, as the collective started their careers creating subway graffiti in the ‘80s as hip-hop’s influence was growing in New York City.
This is Mitchell & Ness’ latest collaboration with the NBA. Earlier this year, the company partnered with NBA champion Isiah Thomas on a collection honoring his storied career. This summer, Mitchell & Ness also teamed with BTS’ Suga for an apparel collection.
The Mitchell & Ness x Tats Cru collection is available starting Tuesday on the brand’s website.
