Consummate businessman Dame Dash recently revealed
that Roc-A-Fella has purchased Pro-Keds Sneaker Company, a footwear staple that
was founded in 1949. The State Property shoe, which was promoted by Beanie Sigel,
was produced by Pro-Keds and experienced moderate success.
Details and terms of the purchase were not available
at press time, but co-CEO Kareem "Biggs" Burke told AllHipHop.com
that Pro-Keds had been purchased a few months ago. He also stated that the acquisition
would present several new styles in the near future.
In February of 2004, Pro-Keds released the State
Property Shoe line in colors to match the clothing line’s various outfits.
Sigel said his initial interest in working with
Pro-Keds was fueled by childhood memories of wearing the sneakers, which were
popular in the Hip-Hop community during the 1970’s.
"Pro-Keds are the original sneakers,"
Sigel said in February of 2004. "Back in the days everyone had Pro-Keds.
We grew up with them. These joints are crazy. All kinds of different flavors."
In addition to aspiring to top the sneaker industry,
Burke said that Roc Digital, a Roc-A-Fella related enterprise, was developing
an MP3 player designed to compete with Apple’s industry leading Ipod.
Dash has been expanding his empire, having recently
opened Planet Roc, a record label based in England that has already signed UK-based
rap group SAS.