Sotheby’s and the Jordan Brand are teaming up for a rare sneaker auction.

The auction home is working with the style brand to sell 23 pairs of the unreleased Christopher Wallace Air Jordan 13, which was created in 2017 to rejoice what would have been The Notorious B.I.G.’s 45^th birthday. Jordan collaborated with the Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation to auction the sneakers. 

The net auction starts on Monday and runs through Feb. 3 and the sneakers are estimated to sell for $2,300 to $5,200. Proceeds from the sale will profit the Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation, which supports inner city youth through educational opportunities, scholarships and mentorship. 

“The Air Jordan 13 has been reinterpreted to rejoice the legacy of The Notorious B.I.G., someone who reached for the celebrities, had the boldest of dreams with the work ethic to back it up,” said Reggie Saunders, vice chairman of entertainment marketing for Jordan Brand in a press release.

The black Air Jordan 13 sneakers are designed with a picture of the rapper on the tongue and his famous quotes, similar to, “It was all a dream” and “When you don’t know, now you already know.” The sock liner is designed in a classic red and black plaid print and the shoelaces are inscribed with the word “dream.” 

“We’re thrilled that the Jordan Brand and the Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation have entrusted Sotheby’s with these exclusive pairs of sneakers honoring the legacy of The Notorious B.I.G. as a part of the Jordan 12 months 2023 celebration,” said Sotheby’s head of streetwear and modern collectibles Brahm Wachter. “The auction marks the one opportunity for collectors and enthusiasts alike to amass these special limited-edition sneakers that bring together the legacies of the best athlete of all time with the best rapper ever.” 

The auction coincides with Jordan Brand’s #JordanYear 2023 campaign, which reflects Michael Jordan’s number 23 jersey and can also be meant to rejoice the 50^th anniversary of hip-hop. Other major brands like H&M have featured images of the musician’s likeness in recent seasons. Sotheby’s knows firsthand how the Jordan name carries its own clout and fan base. A pair of Jordan-worn sneakers by the NBA legend during his rookie season sold for a whopping $1.47 million on the auction house in 2021.

“That is just the start of a journey for us as a brand in 2023,” said Shannon Watkins, chief marketing officer at Jordan Brand, in a press release. “We wish to make use of the facility of our Jordan heritage to energise and speed up self-belief all 12 months long.” 

The Air Jordan 13 sneakers might be showcased in a public exhibition at Sotheby’s Latest York gallery throughout the online auction. 

One other sign of Wallace’s lasting impact is obvious within the “Sky’s the Limit within the County of Kings,” a 9-foot interactive statue of the late musician that was unveiled last month in Clumber Corner Park in Brooklyn’s DUMBO neighborhood. Made possible through the Downtown Brooklyn and DUMBO Public Art Fund, the likeness of “Biggie” was created by the artist Sherwin Banfield. It depicts him the musician in a Coogi sweater and crown, and features an audio component. Just like the Sotheby’s triumvirate effort, the statue is a nod to hip-hop’s silver anniversary, and it should remain on view until October. H&M is among the many brands which have used his name and image for men’s apparel in recent seasons.

Asked about The Notorious B.I.G.’s lasting appeal, Banfield said the hip-hop culture recognizes his authenticity, genius, heart and potential. “His authenticity mirrors the roots of hip-hop, the voice of the voiceless, of disenfranchised Black and brown youth who put their personal stories of hardship and fun on record. There’s a relatable human experience in that duality. His genius is recognized in his art; his delivery, cadence, rhyme pattern and magnificence is the best level of storytelling within the spoken word tradition. His heart was huge; his family, friends and community can attest to this,” the artist said, adding that “the heartbreaking understanding of what his maturing creative and community contribution could have offered the world” was one other factor. “We see the maturity and successes of his contemporaries and we recognize he would have been as or more impactful if he was still here. So we rejoice what he was capable of offer as his legacy.”