Allen Iverson is a 40-year-old NBA legend from Hampton, VA who influenced a generation of young hoopers thanks to his fearless style of play and refusal to be censored off the court. Silento is a 17-year-old rapper from Atlanta, GA who describes his music as “rated E for everyone” and whose hit single “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” peaked at No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100. On paper, these two have just about nothing in common. But upon closer inspection, one glaring similarity emerges: AI and Silento share the same philosophy when it comes to practice.
“I ain’t want to go to practice,” Silento says when asked why he stopped playing basketball after 10th grade summer league. “I kept wanting to go to the studio.”
The shooting guard-turned-studio rat began to devote his time to music, so hoops fell by the wayside. Not a bad move—Silento’s hard work helped him land a deal with Capitol Records in April, and the visual for “Watch Me” has racked up over 100 million YouTube views. Fittingly enough for the bball head, much of the music video features Silento handling the rock inside a crowded gym.
Every young hoops fan dreams of playing in the L and getting his or her own signature shoe. Thanks to Reebok, Silento achieved the next best thing: he’s partnering with the sneaker company for the re-release of the Question Low, originally donned by Iverson in his rookie season. The red and white colorway, which launched July 25 exclusively at Finish Line, is available now for $115. Two more colorways are on their way before the summer is over. “They’re always gonna be in style,” Silento says. “They’re classics. I love ’em.”
The Sixers drafted Iverson in ’96—two years before Silento was even born. While he has a deep appreciation for The Answer, Silento feels more connected to some of the League’s current superstars. As an Atlanta native, born Ricky Lamar Hawk, it’s no wonder Silento roots for ATL. His favorite Hawks players are Jeff Teague and Al Horford, but he can’t deny his fandom for the reigning MVP. “I feel like [Stephen Curry] resembles me a little bit—the way he’s doing his thing in the game and how I was doing my thing on Watch Me.”
The Currys are fans of Silento, too. An Instagram video of America’s sweetheart, Riley Curry, doing the Whip/Nae Nae recently went viral, and Silento enjoyed it as much as anyone. “I saw it as soon as it dropped,” he says.
These days, when he’s not busy rocking and promoting the Question Low, Silento is in the stu working on his next big single. “There’s a girl record—something the fellas will like, as well. We’re just waiting on the label to pick which one.” In other words, all he needs from the label is an Answer.
Reebok Classic is re-releasing the Question Low in a three-color pack. The Reebok Classic Question Low red/white is available exclusively at Finish Line for $115, and keep an eye out for the other two colorways to be released later this summer.
Want to win a trip to Canton, MA and Reebok HQ to design your own Question Low? Enter this contest at Finish Line right now.
