One of the most coveted Air Jordan collaborations of all time is reportedly making its long-awaited return.
According to early reports, the Eminem x Air Jordan 4 “Encore” is slated to release on May 15, 2027, marking the first retail launch of a sneaker that has spent more than two decades atop many collectors’ grail lists.
While the 2027 edition stays true to the original’s unmistakable blue nubuck construction, it won’t be an exact recreation. Newly surfaced images reveal that purple accents replace the original red detailing, giving the collaboration a fresh identity while preserving the exclusivity of the 2005 friends-and-family release.
A Familiar Look With a Fresh Update
The initial predictive images showcase nearly every signature element sneakerheads remember from the original “Encore.”
The shoe features a premium royal blue nubuck upper paired with black mesh netting, black support wings, and a black midsole wrap. Medium Grey appears on the heel tab, eyelets, and lower midsole, while crisp white midsoles balance the design.
The most noticeable changes are the purple Jumpman logos on the tongue and heel, along with the matching “EMINEM” tongue label, replacing the original red hits that defined the 2005 pair.
The subtle update creates enough separation from the original while maintaining the unmistakable DNA of one of Jordan Brand’s most legendary collaborations.
A True Grail comes to the massss
potential visual representation of the “Encore” Air Jordan 4 via zsneakerheadz
Originally produced in 2005 to celebrate Eminem’s Encore album, the Air Jordan 4 “Encore” was released exclusively to friends and family in extremely limited numbers. The shoe became one of the rarest Air Jordan collaborations ever made, with resale prices climbing well into five figures over the years.
Jordan Brand later produced another limited run in 2017 through a charity campaign, but the sneaker has never received a true public retail release.
If current reports hold true, that changes in 2027.
