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There's no substitute for the original Air Jordan 12 'Taxi', but if you're looking for a complete remix without abandoning the color scheme, the AJ 12 "Reverse Taxi" is worth a look. While it didn't garner the same attention as the original, some call this one a workhorse, everyday sneaker with the perfect amount of black to make it flow well with just about anything. Let's talk sneakers.

Key Facts at a Glance

Detail Info

Model

Air Jordan 12 Retro

Colorway

Black/White-Taxi-Black

Style Code

130690-017

Original Release

October 31, 2019

Original Retail (Men's)

$190

PS Retail

$80

Concept

Flipped color blocking of the OG 'Taxi' AJ12

Where Can You Buy the Air Jordan 12 'Reverse Taxi'?

No active GR restock cycle means resale is the path. StockX keeps the $190 retail anchor and shows consistent trading activity, with GOAT and Flight Club rounding out the cleanest options across men's and kids' sizing.

If the Reverse Taxi tag runs hot and you want a similar concept play, the Air Jordan 12 'Reverse Flu Game' is the other AJ12 in the same lane — same flipped-OG approach, different historical anchor.

What Makes the Reverse Taxi Stand Out?

The materials are the real story. Black suede replaces the OG Taxi's smooth leather upper, with soft nubuck overlays on the mudguard panels — a tactile shift that gives the Reverse Taxi its own identity instead of reading like a paint swap.

Taxi yellow shows up on the heel tab background, with red Jumpman branding on the tongue and heel and a red "23" on the heel midsole. The white midsole flips the OG's blacked-out midsole entirely, completing the inversion the name promises.

Why Does the Reverse Taxi Still Matter?

The Reverse Taxi sits in that sweet spot of being a non-OG 12 that borrows from a legendary one without trying to replace it. The OG Air Jordan 12 'Taxi' is still the benchmark, but the Reverse Taxi gives wearers a darker, more daily-driver-friendly take on the same DNA.

Under the hood, the AJ12 performance package stays intact — herringbone outsole, carbon fiber shank plate, full-length Zoom Air and Phylon midsole. The Reverse Taxi can still hoop if you want it to, which is more than most 2019 retros can claim.

Should You Buy the Air Jordan 12 'Reverse Taxi' 2019?

The Reverse Taxi is a yes if you want a black-dominant 12 with real OG storytelling and a build tough enough to actually wear. Suede beats are something to consider, but the upper holds up better than most all-leather 12s in fall and winter conditions.

The case against is mostly tier: this won't sit next to a true OG Taxi or Flu Game in any collector hierarchy, and resale reflects that. But for anyone hunting a wearable AJ12 with iconic DNA at a more reasonable resale tag, the Reverse Taxi earns the spot.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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