Eminem x Air Jordan 4 “Encore” Set for Its First Public Release in 2027

One of the rarest Air Jordan collaborations ever made is finally expected to reach retail. The Eminem x Air Jordan 4 “Encore”, originally released in 2005 as a friends-and-family exclusive celebrating Eminem’s Encore album, is rumoured to make its first public release in 2027 after more than two decades of grail status. And just like that, sneakerheads have another highly anticipated Air Jordan 4 drop after the return of the iconic “Undefeated” from 2025.

Eminem x Air Jordan 4 History

Believed to have been limited to around 50 pairs, the original “Encore” has become one of the most sought-after Air Jordan 4s ever, with asking prices surpassing $50,000. Jordan Brand also produced an even rarer 23-pair version in 2017 for Eminem’s Revival album, though it never saw a retail launch.

Jordan Brand is expected to stay true to the DNA that made the original so iconic while introducing subtle updates. The sneaker reportedly arrives in a Blue Ribbon, Game Purple, Stealth, and Black colour palette, featuring the familiar premium blue nubuck upper accented by black details throughout. The most noticeable change comes with the replacement of the original Varsity Red accents, now swapped for Game Purple on the Jumpman branding and other key details. Hidden “Eminem” branding behind the tongue is also expected to return, preserving one of the collaboration’s signature design elements.

Beyond the colour adjustments, the upcoming pair is rumoured to feature a more OG-inspired Air Jordan 4 shape. This aligns with Jordan Brand’s recent push toward recreating the silhouette’s original 1989 proportions. White wraps around the visible Air unit, while Stealth and Black complete the outsole, resulting in a faithful recreation that respects the original without being an exact one-to-one copy.

The Eminem x Air Jordan 4 “Encore” is currently expected to release on May 15, 2027, although Jordan Brand has yet to officially confirm the launch.