SoleGRIND
| 👟 Sneaker Release Info | |
|---|---|
| Retail Price | $275 |
| Available At | GOAT |
When BAPE and UGG announced their SS19 collaboration with Lil Wayne as the campaign model, I think most sneakerheads had the same reaction. Surprise, then curiosity, then a slow realization that it actually made perfect sense. Here’s why. BAPE has been pushing into unexpected collaborations for years, and UGG had been reinventing itself through partnerships with Y/Project, Heron Preston, and KITH. Lil Wayne had been wearing both brands for years before anyone thought to put them together. The whole thing felt weird until you actually saw the images, and then it clicked.
The collection was first teased at BAPE’s 25th anniversary exhibition back in December 2018, but the full lookbook dropped in February 2019 with Lil Wayne as the face of the campaign. Wayne said it himself in a statement: “Been rocking UGG and BAPE since the beginning. This collab is next level.” And he wasn’t just doing brand talk. The man has been wearing UGG boots publicly for years, way before the fashion world decided UGGs were acceptable again.
The footwear was the real story here. The collection included co-branded sheepskin boots, lace-up sneakers, and slip-on Tasman models, all featuring BAPE’s signature 1ST CAMO print integrated into UGG’s classic silhouettes. The Classic Mini Boot came in chestnut with subtle BAPE camo print on the suede upper, a gold chain detail, and UGG’s signature sheepskin lining. Priced at $275 to $350 for footwear, these weren’t cheap, but they weren’t supposed to be. This was a premium collaboration between two brands that don’t need to justify their price points.
The first drop hit select BAPE stores at the end of February 2019. The second drop came in April, which included the collaborative sneaker and the Xavier slide sandal. The sneaker was the standout. It borrowed the Shooting Star logo from the BAPESTA silhouette and combined it with UGG’s sheepskin lining and brown suede exterior. The chunky sole fit right into the dad shoe trend that was dominating 2019. It looked like a BAPESTA had been sent to a cozy cabin in the woods and came back wearing sheepskin.
The Xavier slides were the more laid-back option. Built with a lightweight rubber sole and sheepskin lining, they were designed for what The Source accurately called “your more ‘lax days.” Co-branding appeared on both the sneaker and slides, and both made a convincing argument for the cozy boy lifestyle. At $250 for the slides and $350 for the sneaker, they weren’t impulse purchases, but they sold through regardless.
The campaign itself was shot with Lil Wayne shirtless, showing off his tattoos, grills, and diamond jewelry, holding BAPE camo UGG boots near his face. It was raw and distinctly Weezy. No polished studio lighting or generic model poses. Just Lil Wayne being Lil Wayne, but now he’s holding UGG boots with BAPE camo on them. The whole campaign felt like it was made by someone who actually understood both brands and the culture they exist in.
The rollout was strategic. BAPE stores worldwide carried the collection, with locations in Japan, China, North America, and Europe. The first drop in February included the boots and apparel, while the sneaker and slides came in April. This staggered approach kept the collaboration in the conversation for months instead of one big drop and done. And it worked. The BAPE x UGG SS19 collection was one of those collaborations that people still talk about years later, partly because of the Lil Wayne factor and partly because the product actually delivered.
What I find interesting about this collaboration is how it predicted the direction both brands would take. BAPE continued pushing into unexpected footwear territory, and UGG kept collaborating with streetwear and high-fashion brands. The Lil Wayne connection gave the campaign cultural credibility that a standard brand collaboration wouldn’t have had. Wayne bridges hip-hop, skate culture, and fashion in a way that few people can. He’s not a sneakerhead in the collector sense. He’s a wearer. He puts things on because he likes them, not because they’re hyped. That authenticity is exactly what made the BAPE x UGG campaign work.
If you missed the drop in 2019, the aftermarket is your only option now. The BAPE x UGG Classic Mini Boot and Xavier slides occasionally surface on GOAT and other resale platforms. Expect to pay well above the original retail. These were limited production runs distributed through BAPE stores only, so supply was always going to be tight. The sneaker in particular has become a collector’s piece, partly because of the BAPESTA sole reference and partly because the UGG sheepskin-plus-sneaker concept hasn’t been replicated since.
