Fashion

A Look Back at the Very ’90s “Rock the Vote” Campaign

The series, where Madonna controversially wrapped herself in an American flag, still reverberates today….

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Today we have celebrities on social media imploring their followers to go vote, but in 1990, there was “Rock the Vote,” which featured the music industry’s range of pop stars and celebrities to speak about the importance of voting. The initiative was created 30 years ago by Virgin Records music executive Jeff Ayeroff in a response to censorship of rock and rap lyrics, and who had seen it as suppression to freedom of speech. The initiative’s purpose was to share information and encourage voter participation among the youth. While the campaign kicked off in 1990, the organization still exists today. But the ’90s videos are particularly special, in all of their grainy and experimental glory, featuring the likes of Lenny Kravitz, Madonna, and Iggy Pop. And while each message was tailored to the participants personality, the message was the same: Get out and vote.

The videos are still available on YouTube, some of which are compiled by fans, and others by Rock the Vote itself. In one clip, we see Iggy Pop wearing his most signature look, which is him shirtless and a low-slung pair of jeans, rotating on a disc while simultaneously being mummified in tape. (It looks painful!) Another standout video features Lenny Kravitz with a patchwork jacket, his go-to look during the era. “Tell them what’s on your mind,” he says in the video. Sarah Jessica Parker fans will be overjoyed to see her with then-boyfriend Robert Downey Jr. in an ad by director Lawrence Bridges. The baby-faced duo wears all black and performs together in an art house style film that taps into the concept of “Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil.” SJP leaves us with the words: “It is your turn to speak. Your vote, is your voice.”

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The most jaw-dropping outfit was Madonna’s. At the time, the Queen of Pop boasted a Marilyn Monroe-style coif, and was snapping and singing with her backup dancers, all while wrapped in the American flag. (Underneath it, she wears red lingerie.) She sang the song “Vogue” but replaced the word with “Vote.” The off-the-cuff tune had the following lyrics: “Abe Lincoln, Jefferson Tom/They didn’t need the atomic bomb/We need beauty, we need art/We need government with a heart/Don’t give up your freedom of speech/Power to the people is in our reach.” (She also rapped: “If you don’t vote, you’re gonna get a spanking.”) The look was controversial and it drew criticism from Veterans of Foreign Wars for how Madonna draped herself in the flag. In response, her publicist noted: “It is essential that people should vote. She’s trying to get that message across in a humorous, dramatic way. But she’s very serious about the issue.”

As much controversy as the campaign may have caused, it was successful in getting young people to vote. At the time, according to a New York Times article from October 20, 1990, 10,000 college students from five California campuses registered to vote in the wake of the campaign. Since then, other campaigns have followed suit, like MTV’s “Choose or Lose”, which aired a clip of Madonna and Iggy Pop in 1996. The duo wore red and blue eyeshadow, and had “Choose or Lose” animated into their eyes. (Moss wore a dress dotted with “Choose or Lose” pins, including on cups that acted like pasties. Iggy Pop went shirtless with pin-dotted pants, and Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers made a cameo at the end in a pin-covered floppy hat.) Back in 2004, P. Diddy launched the “Citizen Change,” and released those iconic “Vote or Die” T-shirts, which were recently revamped by Pyer Moss.

The “Rock the Vote” visuals were groundbreaking and had that stellar free-for-all flair seen in other MTV-backed productions, like Sofia Coppola and Zoe Cassavetes’s Hi Octane.The aesthetic of the ’90s “Rock the Vote” campaigns are still making an artistic impact, too. Most recently, New York-based downtown director Dani Aphrodite, along with the organization Soft Power Vote, released the “Level Up” series, a nostalgic collection of videos that feature downtown New York’s favorite faces with messages to vote, all of which were heavily influenced by “Rock the Vote.” Turns out that while times have changed, the message and influence of “Rock the Vote” still stands and feels just as strong as it did since its inception 30 years ago.

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Nike Zoom Hyperflight “Safari” Official Images Reveal Bold Print Ahead of Holiday Release

The Nike Zoom Hyperflight is getting a bold new look, with the “Safari” colorway coming soon. We have official photos of the unique design for a closer look. The sneaker sports bright orange accents and a translucent outsold, and is expected to arrive during the holiday season at a retail price of $190.

The new version is inspired by the Safari print that is familiar from the Air Safari. That pattern covers most of the Hyperflight’s soft, molded upper, giving the basketball shoe a unique look compared with some of the model’s other recent colorways. Together, the unusual texture and pattern make the silhouette feel especially suited to the adventurous design.

The primary contrast across the shoe is orange, used in the trim and other details. The bright color pops against the speckled base without being overwhelming. Black is also present in the design, on the glossy support structure around the midfoot and the soft leather collar. The look is topped off with a see-through outsole that adds another visual element to the overall color scheme.

The sneaker will drop with style code IZ2573-010 and is expected in men’s sizing. With a retail price tag of $190, Nike, Foot Locker, and Sheikh are among the expected retailers. As for when you can expect it, it’s likely to be the holiday season, though we don’t have a solid release date.

The “Safari” colorway comes amid a busy period for the Zoom Hyperflight. This year, Nike has revived the model in several colors, bringing a new wave of attention to the silhouette through a series of releases. Another forthcoming option is the vibrant “Green Apple” pair, also scheduled for a holiday season release.

The Hyperflight’s history also provides context for the latest return. Jason Williams wore the model in the early 2000s, linking it to a memorable era for the sneaker. That association also helps explain why new colorways can generate excitement beyond the shoe’s look, especially for those who remember it from its previous run.

The Safari design is a definitive statement that does not change the characteristic shape of the Hyperflight. Instead, it uses the familiar silhouette as a canvas for a pattern that has already become recognizable through another Nike model. The orange accents provide a bright contrast, while the black midfoot structure and collar balance it out.

Now that official images have surfaced, sneaker fans have a clearer idea of what to expect from the holiday release. The $190 price, style code, and expected retail partners have also been identified, but a specific launch date has not been confirmed.

For Nike, the “Safari” is another way to bring attention back to the Zoom Hyperflight. One of its more distinctive new looks is this returning model, featuring speckled print, orange trim, black support details, and an icy-looking translucent outsole.

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Lil Yachty Previews Another Nike Air Force 1 Mid, This Time With Blue and Orange Stitching

Lil Yachty has added another eye-catching design to his ever-growing collection of Nike US Force 1 Mids, this time going for a cleaner white look accented by blue and orange stitching. The rapper’s latest take on the shoe keeps the familiar silhouette. Still, it uses contrasting details to give the shoe its own identity, something the artist is known for, showing off a steady run of variations on the silhouette.

Dubbed the “White Contrast Stitch,” the pair features white leather across most of the upper. Rather than altering the classic Air Force 1 Mid profile or incorporating a strange material, the design uses stitching to separate the design visually. Blue stitching embellishes the leather panels, and each side of the shoe’s Swoosh is lined with orange.

The combo adds a subtle but noticeable splash of color to the mostly white sneaker. It’s a more muted take than some of the more adventurous pairs Yachty has shown recently, so this version feels like the more no-nonsense option in his growing collection.

The new design adds to the long list of Air Force 1 Mid looks associated with the rapper this year. Earlier previews have featured a stars-and-stripes pair, an orange version with black stars, and a yellow colorway tied to ComplexCon. Each has put a different spin on the familiar silhouette, helping make Yachty’s run of designs a continuing talking point among sneaker watchers.

Earlier this year, another pair of the shoes, this time with blue and red detailing and thick white stitching, was also teased. That version is expected to launch around the holidays, but the details provided don’t confirm whether it will launch alongside the recently unveiled white one.

Some questions remain unanswered about the “White Contrast Stitch” design. Nike has not confirmed any price, style code, or even whether the sneaker will be released to the public. The design has drawn attention through its online appearance and Yachty’s preview, but neither sets a launch date nor guarantees consumers can buy it.

That anticipation makes the latest reveal more of a first look than a proper release announcement. The white leather upper and blue-and-orange stitching are on display, but key retail details remain unknown. For now, there is no confirmed timeline for when the pair might hit stores, or if it will be offered beyond the preview.

Still, the design adds another variation to a collection that has featured a wide variety of colors and details. The white base makes this one more subtle, while the contrast stitching keeps it from being a straight-up all-white release.

Yachty’s latest preview continues his ongoing relationship with the silhouette, with several other Air Force 1 Mid designs already shown this year. It’s not clear if the “White Contrast Stitch” pair will ever make it to the light of day, but it’s definitely added another distinct look to his growing collection.

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