More than 30 years after its release, the Superstar is still a best-seller for Adidas. It's not possible to look at a pair of black-stripe Adidas shell toes and not think of Run DMC. The UltraStar JMJ is the ultimate tribute to a legend of our times.

      The world of sneakers is filled with special colorways and remixed shoes that are made in limited quantities. In the current Throwback Era, there is one that stands out a cut above the rest: in terms of inspiration and historical significance. That shoe is none other than Adidas' Ultrastar JMJ. The Ultrastar is actually a slight-modified version of the legendary Adidas Superstar lineup that was designed in conjunction with Run-DMC in 1988 as their trademark shoe. The Ultrastar JMJ was released in late January of 2003 in honor of the late hip-hop artist and Run-DMC DJ Jam Master Jay, who was tragically killed on October 30th 2002. All proceeds of the sale would go to the DJ Scratch Academy – a school founded by JMJ for aspiring artists.

      Released exclusively to select Adidas stores in NYC, Tokyo and California, “Moe's Sneaker Spot” in Jamaica (Run-DMC's favorite store) and Adidas' online store, the Ultrastars were limited to only 5,000 pairs (one pair per customer). The scarce quantity of the release caused a feeding frenzy among die hard fans who lined up again and again to snatch up as many pairs of the shoes as they could. The result was an instant price hike on the open market – fetching as much as $400-500 a pair for the shoes.

      The UltraStar JMJ is not the flashiest or the most innovative shoe on the market. It does not feature the latest technology or design from Adidas. It uses the same simple yet fashionable design that has attracted fans decade after decade. Not only is it Adidas' most popular and recognized shoe, it is the embodiment of what the term “classic” is all about. Long before Nelly's “Air Force 1”, Run DMC captured the heart and imagination of sneaker lovers everywhere with the 1986 hit single “My Adidas”. Kids were break dancing in their shell-toed Adidas and track suits. Like Icemman's finger-roll, Magic's no-look pass or MJ's fade-away, when it comes to a pair of classic shell toes, you gota give respect where it is due.

      The fundamental design of the Ultrastar JMJ is the basically the same as the Superstar. The shoe's entire upper is made of full-grain leather, save for Adidas' classic shell-toe, and is adorned on both the medial and lateral side by the trademark three stripes. The EVA midsole is flat to the ground and accompanied with a rubber outsole with a traditional herringbone pattern. There are a few cosmetic differences between the Ultrastar JMJ and the Superstar that few will notice. The first is the heel of the shoe. The top of the heel in the Superstar is filled with the same color as the stripes, while the Ultrastar JMJ's is black. The other difference found on the Ultrastar is located beneath the top two lace holes. There is a slight indentation in the shoe where a row of laces used to be. This means that the Ultrastar JMJ come with one less row of laces, but it does not impact the fit of the shoe. The lace holes are also reinforced with metal rings, a feature not found in the original Superstar, but does exist on more recent versions of it. What makes the Ultrastar JMJ the most unique are the two subtle references to Jam Master Jay. The first can be found above the longest stripe of the three stripes on the lateral side of the shoe are the words “Jam Master Jay.” The second is located on the shoe's tongue. Where the Superstar has the Adidas classic leaf logo, the Ultrastar JMJ has a picture of Jam Master Jay face, with his name above it along with his date of birth and death underneath the picture.

      As limited edition shoes go, the Ultrastar JMJ is not the rarest or the wildest. It is however an incredibly great tribute to an incredible hip-hop artist. While the shoe may seem like any other, it is one that can be cherished not for its value or rarity, but for the person it honors and what he stands for. Rest in peace JMJ, your legacy will live on.

      The following is a letter from JMJ's son Jessie that comes with every shoe.

Adidas UltraStar JMJ

OVERALL RATING: 7.21 / 10 Comfort: 7.5 Performance: 7.5 Cushioning: 7 Safety: 5 Weight: 8 Durability: 7.5 Style: 8

HIGHS: As classic a sneaker as you'll ever find. Limited Edition pair pays tribute to legendary hip-pop artist Jam Master Jay. LOWS: Only acceptable for casual wear. Hard to find and high-priced in the after-market. VERDICT: One of those "must have shoes" in any collection. Expect to shell out big bucks.