Why a sneaker blog?

I love sneakers. That is what it really comes down to. I have been buying and appreciating sneakers for decades and I felt that I could create a site for people who shared my passion. When I first started KATC over two years ago, there was really nothing like it. There were plenty of sites that dabbled in sneakers but nothing that was dedicated to sneakers and sneaker culture and dedicated to bringing the reader an in-depth look at not only the physical sneaker, but the people, places, and events behind the products as well.

Did you ever imagine the site would blow up? Was that the plan, or did it just happen?

I still don’t feel like KATC has blown up. I feel like there is a lot more that I could do and I have a lot more planned. My original plan was to take KATC to the top and to make it a mainstay in sneaker culture. I feel that I’ve done that, but I have a lot more to go.

Are you making a living off the blog?

For the most part, yes. KATC has opened other moneymaking opportunities for me, but KATC is still my main source of income.

What were you doing before?

I worked in interactive advertising as a media planner, and then I worked at an urban marketing and advertising agency as a senior account exec planning campaigns for a lot of Fortune 500 companies.

What’s the most rewarding part?

The most rewarding part is the love I get. When readers see me out they always come up to me to thank me and show me love. I get tons of emails telling us that we’re best site and thanking us for our hard work. That makes everything worth it.

How do you swoop the other sites?

No comment. Ask them.

What’s been the most popular post?

There’ve been a lot. Top posts were probably the real Dontrelle Willis Nike Dunk High and the Aqua Air Jordan 8.

What are your five favorite shoes?

Air Jordan 8, Nike Dunk, Nike Huarache Runner, Adidas Shelltoe High, Reebok Pump.

What’s your holy grail?

I wouldn’t personally say “holy grail,” but I’d like to get my hands on a pair of Kobe Bryant PE Air Jordan 8s.

Most overrated.

I wouldn’t say that there are many overrated silhouettes, but there are plenty of overrated colorways and collabs. It would take me a while to actually come up with the five worst—there are too many.

What attracts you to a particular shoe?

Most of my attraction is based on memory. I’ve been buying sneakers for years and I mostly buy what I loved when I was younger. I haven’t been really aesthetically attracted to a new silhouette in a long time. Outside of that, when it does come to a new silhouette, it’s all about performance and technology to me. I still play basketball so I’m always lookin’ for some new hoop kix.

The market seems to go for simple, classic, retro shoes at the moment. Do you think that’s just nostalgia, or was design better before?

I personally feel that design was better before. Back then brands were creating trends. I feel like brands are following trends nowadays, probably because they’re much more aware of them.

Do you own a pair of flip-flops?

Never.