You Can Take Sfera Ebbasta Out of Italy, But You Can’t Take Italy Out of Sfera Ebbasta
Sfera Ebbasta, one of Italy’s most-streamed rappers, has become a symbol of the country’s new wave of artists. Hailing from Cinisello Balsamo, also known as Ciny, he rose to fame with his first mixtape produced alongside his close friend Charlie Charles. Since then, he has released six albums, with his 2018 project Rockstar even reaching the global charts – a major achievement for the Italian hip-hop scene.
Despite his international success, Sfera Ebbasta has always remained true to his roots. In every feature, music video, and performance, he has proudly expressed his strong connection to Italy, dedicating his journey to the local fans who have supported him along the way. And his latest collaboration with Timberland is no exception. In fact, he recently shared that every detail of the limited edition drop was created with his community in mind.
Following their debut collaboration, Sfera Ebbasta continues to be hands-on in the design process for the boots. This new drop features a dark, metallic look with a crackle effect and a hand-applied airbrush spray on the toebox, inspired by New York’s street art culture. The boots also feature a bejeweled SE emblem on the lace tag, adding a touch of the rapper’s eccentric style.
To celebrate the release, Timberland gave out pairs of the collab in the heart of Cinisello Balsamo, in yet another gesture of giving back to his fans. The event turned into a community affair, with hundreds of fans showing up to get their hands on the highly-anticipated collaboration.
Hypebeast Catches Up with Sfera Ebbasta Ahead of the Release
Days before the release, Hypebeast sat down with Sfera Ebbasta to discuss the new collaboration and why it is his most iconic yet.
Timberland x Sfera Ebbasta: A Closer Look
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Hypebeast: Your Latest Timberland Collab is Packed with Handcrafted Finishes and Hidden Details
Hypebeast: Your latest Timberland collab is packed with handcrafted finishes and hidden details. Which features stand out as your favorite?
Sfera Ebbasta: Surely, it’s the cracks on the shoe that we kept from the previous collab. They make every pair unique, and the new silver spray-paint effect really makes the shoe iconic. Of course, there are also all the different details, like the laces. We had so many options, but I picked the ones that matched perfectly to create a complete look.
Design Process and Inspiration
Hypebeast: How did you approach the design, and in what ways has the process been different from your previous collab?
Sfera Ebbasta: For this drop, we used a black boot as the base, so the focus was more on finding an effect and a color that would make them stand out. In my opinion, the silver shade we went with hits hard and makes them instantly recognizable. It’s a color I use a lot, and it also represents the city, the streets.
The Symbolism of Timberland
Hypebeast: Timberland has a diverse heritage, from its links with hip-hop culture to contemporary street style, but what does the brand symbolize to you?
Sfera Ebbasta: To me, Timberland represents authenticity and quality. It’s a brand that has been around for a long time and has always stayed true to its roots. And that’s something I can relate to as an artist who has also stayed true to my roots and my community. So, this collaboration is a perfect match for me.
