PRO-KEDS X BOBBITO: ROYAL FLASH RELEASE from PK09 on Vimeo.
In 1979, PRO-Keds released the Royal Flash model with the “Add-On Bottom” (as my Spanish Harlem a.k.a “El Barrio” sneaker crew back then would say). In my book Where’d You Get Those? New York City’s Sneaker Culture: 1960-1987 (Testify Books) I wrote: “The Royal Flash was the best combination of basketball performance and style that PRO-Keds ever made.” To celebrate the RF’s 30th anniversary, PK approached me to do a collab with them for the re-issue! Word!
Three suede colors–army jacket green, nugget gold, and spanish tile–will drop in stores Wednesday October 28th (the fourth flavor oxblood will be promo only). I’ll be appearing in the following spots on 10/28 to sign shoes, books, whatever:
12pm – Packer (New Jersey)
2pm – Rime (Brooklyn)
4pm – Goliath (Harlem)
5:30pm- Vault (Harlem)
7pm- West (Upper West Side)
www.frolab.com photo by Cognito
Dante Ross and I built on the PRO-Ked collab and much more in the video above–we’ve been friends for 22 years!
Here’s a complete list of all stores that will be carrying the PRO-Ked Bobbito Royal Flash:
USA:
Vault (Harlem)
Goliath (Harlem)
BX Sports (BX)
West (Manhattan)
Rime (BK)
Exit 36 (LI)
Packer (NJ)
Salvins (Hartford)
Major (DC)
Akira (Chicago)
Sportie LA (LA)
True (San Fran)
Oneness (Kentucky)
UK:
Hanon
Crooked Tongues
Offspring London
Main Source
Son of a stag
Germany:
Solebox (Berlin)
The Goood Will Out (Cologne)
Kickz (Munich)
April 24th, 2009 at 10:47 am
ali says:
YOOOO! I need these joints right ‘chere. bangalicious!!!
April 24th, 2009 at 10:50 am
illest says:
the blue joints. im waiting on. the blue joints.
April 24th, 2009 at 10:56 am
Jus' Joe says:
You said it, Ali !!!
Craaaaaazyyyyy !!!!
I wrote a letter to Bounce mag re: Bobbito’s seminal book on sneaker culture… those Pro- keds have to be top 5 for me….check this- I was peeping the PR issue last nite and noticed a pic of the brother who should have been a sr in ‘78- a 6′4′ dude whose name slips me now… but he had those Pro-Keds on, check it… in “78…only in NY…
ps- Ali… I’ve had your back on a’thing-you know you s%^&$#, but I’m with Funk on the Hurley thing….
April 24th, 2009 at 11:09 am
J. Rizzle says:
Where can I cop these ..i luv dem old school Prokeds…they are sic
Keep doin’ your thang homie..
Peace & Blessings, Uno !!!
April 24th, 2009 at 11:44 am
Seronies says:
Forget bananas, those are platanos!
April 24th, 2009 at 11:46 am
Ray says:
These take me back to the playground days.
nostalgia looks better to me than any of the designs I see nowadays.
April 24th, 2009 at 11:46 am
NessDigi Ya'll says:
Banging!! Great design… and the color is King.
April 24th, 2009 at 11:54 am
Jason "White Shadow" Gibbons says:
KBL- YO These are FIRE!!! How ta keep it fresh as alwayz!!!
April 24th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
Teddy "Doowop" says:
there will not be a color iller than this color right here..2 pairs
April 24th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
ali says:
HEY JUS JOE,
i feel you bro. i’m lovin the intelligent, passionate hurley debate. we can always agree to disagree in the name of our passionate game. it’s a beautiful thing. like these mothajumbin’ shoes right here, right here, right here!
April 24th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Wall $t. says:
OUCH! You know how we do? Honey Mustard? I feel like bringing out Hammer pants & Kwame’ black & mustard polka dotted shirt…YEAH RIGHT!
These joints, as per us-u-al, are flame broiled goodness, Bob!
We continue to bow down & praise Him who Maketh the Hotness!
Headed to Halifax for that tournament in May…This year, I’m playin’ & not just writing a Bounce article:)! Maybe I’ll rock my Tiny Archibald “Rick Adelman Specials” Pro Keds, dyed burgundy in honor of the former Trailblazer guard who you to get skated on the regular by Nate…
Life is Good!
April 24th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Mayda says:
ooooooooh. pretty.
girls sizes?
April 24th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Russ M. says:
Hot!! First thought was: must cop. Second thought: will be seriously tempted to ball in these. Third thought: F’ it! I’m ballin’ in these joints!
April 24th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Wall $t. says:
Gotta get those joints highlighted on both my tv show up here in the Fall, as well as the Sirius Satellite Radio Show, All Balls Don’t Bounce! Call us at 1.888. FONDLEM!
Thank KBL for the inspiration once again!
April 24th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
illest says:
speaking of vintage any one see dat wbls marley and pete rock dvd about to drop? the old buttas always reign supreme.
April 24th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
chris says:
well done Bob!
best, chris
April 24th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
Bobbito Garcia a.k.a. Kool Bob Love says:
WALL ST! no doubt, fams, Spinna and I will be in Toronto October 24th, so let’s try to make an appearance happen on your tv show, even if it’s pre-taped. that’s long overdue and would be fu-ego lumbagelitz! haha
and Russ–i’ll be ballin’ in these right along side you at the Y, don’t try guardin’ me those cuz i’ll be bringing back the straight nate archibald double-pumps in the lane!
April 25th, 2009 at 9:49 am
Wall $t. says:
Bob,
What are you sayin’? That’s a done deal. Maybe you/Spinna would like to spin on the show while we talk about the fresh butters? We have time to set it all up, but no fears! Check it : http://www.vimeo.com/wallstreettv
We have an in house DJ, but I doubt he’d opppose you guys taking over, even if it’s only for an interview segment!
Whisper!
April 25th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Turk1 says:
Oh wow Bobby these are very nice. I snatched a pair of these in Nave Blue when they first came out. Walked out with them from Cosby’s leaving a pair of old chuck taylors behind. I broke them in at Jack Curran’s camp. The only one with them in the entire camp, possibly the only one with suede sneakers for that matter. I have a picture with them on while at camp somewhere in the house and if I find it I will send it to you. I remember coming home after a week of camp and all my socks were blue from the dye. I also remember that they didnt have no ankle support and got stretched out several sizes larger like an old hoe. But I was the first to rock them at a time when sneakers werent fashionable as they are today. Im definitely in line for a pair…
April 25th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
Bobbito Garcia a.k.a. Kool Bob Love says:
turk!!! man, if i have it my way, you’re not in line for a pair, you get one for free on the strength! i thought you was gonna come by the Y on wednesday? hopefully we see you soon homeboy . . .
April 25th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Turk1 says:
Thanks Bobby, times is real rough right now. I dont know if Im coming or going. Im trying to get back into swing of things but its hard brother, real hard. I love these joints though, they bring back crazy memories. Ill be seeing you soon you can count on it, Ill bring my D game. Much love bro, keep up the great work!
April 25th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Jeremy Ripley a.k.a. Cheesecake says:
“I’ll take ‘em three at a time, like Steve Kerr.”
April 25th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
Jeremy Ripley a.k.a. Cheesecake says:
Yo Illest,
How you gonna wait around? These joints are hellfire. I saw that DVD, too, but think it’s limited. Looks dope, but doubt I’ll get a chance to see it!
April 27th, 2009 at 8:37 am
illest says:
ripley….youll be able to cop the dvd. those yellows are butta. i just want the blue. i know dats one of the colors dropping.
April 27th, 2009 at 11:32 am
Russ M. says:
Bob:
Might have no choice but to pull out some of my Butch Lee/Marqette sh*t if your gonna go all Tiny on me.
April 28th, 2009 at 2:13 am
Fernandito aka EternaL 7000 says:
bobbito, Sabor Mostaza!!! Empanadilla y relleno de papa colors. The spanish tile is the alcapurria exclusive!! Love the color palette.
April 29th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Chris G. a.k.a. Gigi says:
YES! YES! YES!
I bow to you Bobbito! I F&@kin’ bow to you!
I gotta’ be privy to these. And blue too!?!?
It’ll be an honor to wear your name.
May 5th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
main from bushwick says:
big brother bob!!!golden tostones pro keds!!! siempre palante siempre! superflous. triple beam, nah mean.
May 7th, 2009 at 8:18 am
illest says:
main from bushwick…..i just had a stretch and bob 4am flashback hearing dat
July 2nd, 2009 at 12:03 pm
joe says:
so smooth man great great job , im very excited about these
July 2nd, 2009 at 2:47 pm
BallGurl says:
Kool Bob, my brother!
I’ve already told you…You make it incredibly difficult for a young professional to save and plan for the future when your dishing feet heat like this.
I think I may have to dip into my 401-K and buy the whole collection…LoL
July 2nd, 2009 at 11:51 pm
mykraphone says:
yo, im feeling these, and i know if the weren,t coming correct you wouldn’t mess with them
September 29th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
Scotch79 says:
Report just in! I rocked my Cinnamon Toast Crunch “Spanish Tile” buttersworths yesterday for the first time. They are very comfortable and easy like sunday morning. As I made my way up Church ave. to the B train, girls seemed to show me just a little extra love. The carribean spice colorway resonated well with the largely west-indian populace. As I boarded the B express manhattan bound, dudes were herniating discs in their spines to get a look at my joints. One old timer just gave me the nod and smile that said “I remember those…”
Next stop; Chinatown, where I had to be extra nimble not to get my joints run over by a handtruck loaded with snowpeas on Grand St. I dipped, I dived, I bobbed and weaved, I danced on them Chinos like Sugar-Ray. Nice ankle support (even though you KNOW I don’t lace ‘em tight like that), made my west to Greene st. where the Hipsters, Models, European Vandals with Sandals, and other assorted cornballs were attempting to drool on my suede.
After my scheduled appt. was over I stepped back out to find, HORROR OF HORRORS, sudden thunderstorm!!! I made the mad dash for Bway Lafayette station in a torential downpour. Once safely on the Bklyn bound Q platform, I took stock of the damage while wiping my joints off with a neckerchief I pack for just such emergencies. Surprise! Without having sprayed them with any 3M products,these joints shed water like a duck-ass. No worse for the wear, I relaxed on the ride back to the ‘Bush. As we passed over the Manhattan Bridge the last ray of sunlight hit the little gold “1979″ embossed on the tounge like “SHHHH-SHING!”
October 27th, 2009 at 8:06 pm
vickey says:
Kuddos on a fresh sneaker! umm..so yeah where can i cop em’ give up the info, you know they don’t have em here in good ol’ DC!
October 28th, 2009 at 9:16 am
illest says:
no ox blood for sale. very disappointing.
October 28th, 2009 at 10:52 am
The Brooklyn Report says:
Oh yeah I need all 3
October 30th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
Eric Weaver says:
Hay Bob its E Weaver need a pair before I go on Road!!! Much love 2 u brother!