After 2024’s public release of the Wu-Tang Clan x Nike Dunk High and the 2025 launch of Undefeated’s Air Jordan 4, it seemed like no sneaker grail in Nike, Inc.’s vault of legendary styles was off limits. Now, there is early talk that yet another one of the sportswear brand’s mythical early 2000s collaborations is headed to retail for the first time ever.

According to insiders @zsneakerheadz and Sneaker Files, Eminem’s extremely rare Air Jordan 4 “Encore” collaboration from 2005 will be getting its first-ever public release. Only 50 pairs of the original unreleased sneaker were produced and distributed to the rapper’s friends and family to commemorate his 2004 album “Encore.” 

Clad in a blue nubuck upper, Eminem’s first Air Jordan 4 collaboration also featured black tech details and red branding accents, the latter of which will reportedly be changed to purple for the upcoming public release. According to the early info, purple hits are expected to fill in the heel and tongue Jumpman branding, as well as the discreet “Eminem” and “Encore” branding on the reverse side of the tongue and heel tab, respectively. 

Following the ultra-rare ’05 production, another 23 pairs of Eminem’s Encore Air Jordan 4 were produced for the rapper’s album “Revival.” And in 2015, yet another Eminem x Air Jordan 4 collaboration was made, this time in collaboration with fellow Detroit icon Carhartt. Like the rapper’s other sneakers, the Carhartt collaboration was an extremely limited friends-and-family exclusive production, although a small number of pairs were made available through charity auctions.

With a full colorway of Blue Ribbon/Game Purple/Stealth/Black, the Eminem x Air Jordan 4 DM SP Encore is currently set to be released on May 15 for a retail price of $230 under style code JJ3098-400. It’s likely that the pair will be released in limited quantities, but specific availability details have not yet been confirmed.