5 Years Later: Looking Back at the Travis Scott x Air Jordan 4 "Cactus Jack"

5 Years Later: Looking Back at the Travis Scott x Air Jordan 4 "Cactus Jack"

On the fifth anniversary of Travis Scott’s Air Jordan 4 release, we examine its impact on sneaker culture to this day.

Matt DeSciora

On this day five years ago, Travis Scott debuted his first-ever collaboration with Jordan Brand, the Air Jordan 4 “Cactus Jack.” While the rapper’s Air Jordan 1 High OG and Air Jordan 1 Low OG colorways might be his most popular sneaker projects to date, his Jordan 4 “Cactus Jack” doesn’t get the credit it deserves for being his most influential release, and the one that catapulted “La Flame” into being one of the most hyped collaborators in sneakers.

Inspired by the now-defunct Houston Oilers football team, the “Cactus Jack” was Scott’s first project with a uniquely personal touch. His initial collaboration with Nike on the Air Force 1 from 2017 was a hyped and popular release and, with its interchangeable Swooshes and removable “grill” lace dubrae, a creative one at that. But the “Cactus Jack” was Scott’s first shoe to feature his now-signature “Cactus Jack” branding, which was substituted in for the Nike Air (or Jumpman) logo on the Jordan 4’s signature plastic heel tab. The overwhelmingly positive response to having the never-seen-before details on the Jordan 4 allowed Scott to get even more creative with subsequent releases.

Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 High OG “Mocha”

And that he did. In 2019, Scott and Jordan Brand teamed up for the second time when they released their first Air Jordan 1 collaboration on the Air Jordan 1 High OG and Air Jordan 1 Low OG “Mocha.” Both colorways were the first of Scott’s Air Jordan collaborations to have an earth tone design, and the first to feature reversed Swooshes. The look and feel of the two incredibly hyped Jordan 1s was different than the Jordan 4 “Cactus Jack’s,” but had it not been for the Jordan 4, there’s a good chance that Jordan Brand wouldn’t have given Scott the leeway to get as creative as he did on the Jordan 1.

Travis Scott x Nike Air Force 1 Low “Cactus Jack”

Following the release of Scott’s two Jordan 1s, the Houston native went on to collaborate with Nike on yet another Air Force 1 colorway in late 2019, his third in as many years. The bespoke-style colorway was even wilder than the two Jordan 1s, as it featured everything from baseball-inspired stitching to mismatched panels in a variety of textiles, and an oversized lace shroud that concealed the shoe’s laces. Things only got crazier for Scott’s collaborations from there.

Travis Scott x Nike SB Dunk Low

In 2020, “La Flame” teamed up with Nike SB for the first time when he debuted his Nike SB Dunk Low in March 2020. Scott’s signature Texas-inspired flair is seen throughout the design, as it features heritage Western patterns like paisley print and plaid. Many credit Scott with helping start the Dunk craze that swept through sneakers that year (and is still going strong in 2023).

Travis Scott x Air Jordan 6 “Cactus Jack”

The hype for Travis Scott’s collaborations didn’t die down following the release of his Nike SB Dunk Low. In 2020, he released his first Air Jordan 6 colorway, complete with an added stash pocket on the side that references military-inspired cargo pants. His Nike Air Max 270 “Cactus Trails” was equally as impressive—and desirable.

Flash forward to the present day, and not much has changed in regards to the anticipation behind each new Travis Scott sneaker. Last year, the rap star debuted several new projects with Nike, all of which were well received by sneaker collectors. Years into Scott’s partnerships with Nike and Jordan, there is still a considerable amount of buzz surrounding each new release. Scott’s Air Force 1 Low from 2017 may have been the shoe that got the ball rolling, but the Air Jordan 4 “Cactus Jack” is the release that set the standard of what could be expected from one of the greatest sneaker collaborators of all time.