Foot Locker and Timberland have teamed with legendary hip-hop recording artist Nas to present the Fall 2017 Legends Collection – a limited-release series of Timberland boots available exclusively at Foot Locker Legends Club locations. To bring the new Legends Collection to life, each monthly drop (Volumes VII – X) will be accompanied by a custom animation video short, the first of which is on Foot Locker’s YouTube channel. The videos document pivotal milestones in the artist’s personal journey, with Nas telling the stories in his own words, from his early days in Queens to the moment he was discovered.

Nas, Footlocker and Timberland unveiled the the new collection in front of a capacity crowd of influencers, celebrities and media earlier this week at Foot Locker’s experimental event space in midtown Manhattan. Sporting the third drop in the collection – Volume IX, a Port Field Boot with Velvet Collar – Nas brought the crowd to its feet, performing an explosive 20 minute set including many of his biggest hits such as “If I Ruled the World,” “Get Down,” “The World is Yours” and more.

“Before you become what you will, you start as who you are,” Nas states in a press release. “Timberland boots have been part of my journey from the beginning, and the Legends Collection partnership with Foot Locker connects our paths and illustrates how, like any story worth telling, it has to evolve to make us who we are today.”

“Before you become what you will, you start as who you are.”

“Foot Locker is thrilled to be partnering with Nas and Timberland to bring this season’s Legends Collection to life for our customers,” says Jed Berger, head of marketing for Foot Locker. “Nas is a true icon and authentically defines what our Timberland Legends Collection is all about. He elevates the credibility and respect for both of our brands as we introduce new and timeless boot styles to the next generation.”

The Volume VII FlyRoam Leather Sneakerboot, featuring a sporty silhouette and creamy buttermilk nubuck leathers, takes design cues from Timberland’s heritage while incorporating modern details like the all-new AeroCore energy system. Volume VII (retailing for $150) is available via Foot Locker’s App Launch Reservation in select New York City locations on Saturday, September 23rd. Volume VII will be available on footlocker.com and in Legends Club locations nationwide on September 30th.

The accompanying animated short takes viewers to the beginning of Nas’ journey at age six, on a Queens street corner wearing classic Timberland six inch boots, and tapping his feet as he plays the trumpet before a growing crowd. Nas narrates, “Before there was rap, there was jazz. My father played the trumpet, so for me, that’s where my journey started.” The story unfolds to mark the moment when Nas discovers that the sounds he can make with his body and his mind are universal. The video ends with a close-up of Timberland’s classic six inch premium yellow boot which morphs into the Volume VII FlyRoam Sneakerboot.

The Legends Collection is made with only the most premium materials and Timberland’s legendary craftsmanship. Monthly releases to follow the September launch include: Volume VIII, a six inch Premium Strap Boot with an asymmetrical strap and sleek blackout leather, fabric and hardware (October, $160); Volume IX, a six inch Field Boot with velvet collar (November, $175); and Volume X, the six inch Premium in boot mauve shadow with contrasting port collar (December, $190).

https://youtu.be/eJkjLmsy5KA