The idea came from the classroom

In 2025, I was teaching a class at North Atlanta High School when a student wanted to put Ghostface on her Taxi 12s. She didn’t know about the Ghostface work I had already been doing. She had her own idea: paint the face on the side.

I helped her map it out, and we used splatter paint on the shoe. As we worked on it, I remember thinking, “Man, I got to make myself a pair of these.”

I was there to help her bring her idea to life, and her idea sent me home ready to create.

Taking my pair further

I got myself a pair of Taxi 12s and took my version further with engraving. I added a scene of Sidney answering the phone, with Ghostface saying, “Hello, Sidney.”

The shoe just looks sick to me. But the story behind it matters just as much. The inspiration came from a student I was teaching.

From the archive

Back in the same classroom

By November 2026, I was teaching the same class at the same high school, with the same teacher. This time, her sister was one of the students.

I would love to work with that young lady again one day. Seeing her sister in that classroom brings the story full circle. You never know where the next idea will come from, even when you’re the one teaching.

A place for other artists to grow

My hope is that as I continue to grow ShoeBaker, it becomes a platform that can house artists and former students, giving them room to elevate their craft as well.