Chris Cuomo References New Balance With a Popular A Tribe Called Quest Quote on CNN — Here’s Why He Did It

Nothing should be unexpected during this very random and chaotic election season. That includes news reporters reciting classic rap lyrics on live TV.

CNN anchor Chris Cuomo addressed Mark Preston — a broadcaster on the network — with a popular line from a beloved A Tribe Called Quest song, “Buggin’ Out.” The lyric is special to sneaker fans, as it names a famous brand.

“I sport New Balance sneakers to avoid a narrow path,” is the famous line that Cuomo used, which was recited by one of the group’s members, the late Phife Dawg, in 1991 on the classic “Low End Theory” album.

Why did Cuomo address Preston with that specific A Tribe Called Quest lyric? Because the broadcaster admitted on air that he is the brother of current New Balance president and CEO Joe Preston.

With rap superstar Kanye West out of the race for president — and apparently setting his sights on a 2024 presidential bid — at least diehard hip-hop fans still have something to keep them engaged.

Aside from the classic New Balance lyric, A Tribe Called Quest has other ties to the sneaker world. For instance, Vans released a sneaker collection in 2018 in collaboration with the rap icons, featuring six of the brand’s most popular sneakers. In March 2018, Vans hosted a pop-up shop in Brooklyn, N.Y. — with the remaining A Tribe Called Quest members in attendance — where fans of both the group and the brand could pick up the new-look Slip-On, UltraRange, Old Skool, Authentic, Sk8-Hi and Era.

More from Footwear News

• Kim Kardashian Shows Off Vans x A Tribe Called Quest Sneaker Collab on Instagram

• Here's What You Can Buy From This Weekend's Vans x A Tribe Called Quest Pop-Up Shop

• Here's What Priyanka Chopra Did After Being Trolled for Revealing Bare Legs Alongside India's Prime Minister

Sign up for FN's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.