May 15, 2023 /Business/ — The rivalry between Adidas and Nike for the hip hop market was a major factor in the iconic status of Air Jordans. In the early 1980s, Adidas was the dominant force in the basketball shoe market, with stars like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson wearing their shoes. However, Nike signed Michael Jordan in 1984, and the Air Jordan line quickly became popular among young people, particularly in the hip hop community. Continue reading