Nike Air Jordan 4 'Cement': Comparing the OG vs. the Latest Retro

This past February, Jordan Brand re-released its coveted Air Jordan IV "Cement.” And as everyone expected, the sneaker sold out in a flash, leaving consumers frantically searching through digital tunnels and retail backchannels for a pair.

Thanks to the traditional “Nike Air” branding marks on the heel, and a distinct color combo of white, red, black and tech grey, few Air Jordan models to this day are able to match the "Cement" IV's allure.

Image courtesy of Nike

The “Cement” first hit stores in 1989 for $110, per StockX. That shoe served as the second model Nike designer Tinker Hatfield worked on with Michael Jordan. It was a native release that built off the success of the Air Jordan III—a sneaker that’s still widely regarded as the greatest Air Jordan model of all time.

Considering Nike wasn’t able to lean on the coruscant world of social media in order to expose the product, this sneaker was pushed in a different way. Spike Lee—a longtime Jordan Brand collaborator—featured it in his Do the Right Thing flick.

Nike also decided to bring Lee’s Mars Blackmon character back in order to give the commercials a sense of continuity and cultural importance.

Between Jordan wearing them on the court, Do the Right Thing and Mars Blackmon’s blessing, cult status took its course, turning the “Cement” IV into the stuff of legend.

So how does this 2016 release compare to the OG version?

For starters, price. The re-released version of the “Cement” IV retailed for $220 in February. That’s a $110 leap from the original price point.

That price may seem high, but when you factor in inflation, it’s only about a $10 increase.

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Another thing that grabs your attention about this contemporary representation is its resemblance to the original. Think about this: there have been two other retro versions of the “Cement” IV. The first hit in 1999, followed by a second drop—branded strictly with Jumpman emblems—in 2012. Neither shoe was able to do the OG release much justice.

Image courtesy of Nike

Thankfully, the 2016 model remained true to form.

It all starts with the heel. Besides the “Nike Air” branding stamp, no retro version prior had properly figured out how to effectively replicate the black splatter marks laced over that layer of tech grey paint. The 2016 “Cement” finally achieved that feat, perfecting the original look.

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Jordan Brand's willingness to address little details like that makes you appreciate the genuine craftsmanship of this shoe. Nailing it down as close to the original as possible makes it worth the price of admission.

Next up are the materials. Jordan Brand’s “remastering” project has forced higher-grade leathers and sleeker cuts back into the equation. The shoe follows that path of perfection.

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It feels amazing fresh out of the box, and honestly, it makes you appreciate how consumers must have felt when they opened their original pair during the Ronald Reagan White House years.

Today, sneaker technology has endured a series of major strides with the introduction of Flyknit materials, Boost soles and a passion to make everything as light as humanly possible. But in 1989 the Air Jordan IV “Cement” was also considered cutting-edge.

Although this shoe was conceived as a lower cut than say the Air Jordan II, or even I, Hatfield was able to push the limits of technology.

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He placed an emphasis on ankle support thanks to straps on the side of the midsole. When it came to comfort, an air unit was added into the sole’s heel to provide a surplus of cushioning.

The 2016 “Cement” honors those advancements, giving consumers a chance to appreciate the architectural beauty of the Air Jordan IV. You can rock this shoe on the streets or lace it up and play hoops in it, like Jordan did way back when.

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Duality like that allows a new generation of Jordan Brand followers to fully grasp the quality of this ingenious design.

Image courtesy of Nike

Today’s world looks a lot different than it did in 1989. Michael Jordan is long retired (and now owns the Charlotte Hornets), fans just celebrated the arrival of the 30th Air Jordan model and sneaker culture as a whole has become more attached to mainstream fashion than ever before.

But one thing hasn’t changed. The Air Jordan IV “Cement” remains an archetypal sneaker.

The 2016 Air Jordan IV “Cement” embodies everything great about the original. Remastered materials, keen tech specs, an attention to detail. Everything is there for the taking.

No version released prior has come as close to the representing original “Cement” IV as this restoration. For that, Jordan fans will remain eternally grateful.

All production information via News.Nike.com, unless noted otherwise.

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