A Wednesday Instagram post by Lil Yachty may have had many people focusing on his newly shorn hair, but sneakerheads would have been looking further down to see what’s on his feet. The artist showed off an unreleased pair of the Cactus Plant Flea Market x Nike Air Flea 2, which will reportedly arrive during the upcoming holiday season. And on his Finsta, the artist gave an even better look at the kicks in-box.
Turnstile bassist Franz Lyons debuted the sneaker in its predominantly black colorway in July at Miami’s Rolling Loud festival, and now Yachty has given us a better look at the more colorful version. Faded Spruce forms the base layer, although it’s heavily shrouded by beefy straps and an even bulkier tread that climbs well up past the outsole, both in black. The straps also come with a number of custom pins, including one that says “Boat” and was likely made just for Yachty. Mismatched panels on the sole’s heel also appear in red and brown — and, of course, we can’t forget the massive, bulbous Swoosh affixed to the lateral sides in an off-white “Alabaster.”
While hardly any less weird, the industrial-meets-gorp Air Flea 2 makes a wholesale departure from the first Air Flea that released in November 2022. Nicknamed “The Grinch,” the sneaker features a furry green upper across a sole unit that looks like cement. An additional Air Flea followed in December with a more archetypal upper in a sandy, tonal suede. Going back, Nike and Cactus Plant Flea Market also kept it weird with their Swarovski crystal-covered Dunk from 2020 and their debut link-up on the Air Vapormax in 2019.
Both versions of the Air Flea 2 are slated to release before the end of the year, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see one in November followed by another in December just like the Air Flea rollout last year. Pricing will reportedly be $220 a piece, and there should be availability through both the SNKRS app and CPFM’s own site at the very least.
Ian Servantes is a Senior Trending News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.
