An ode to the girls who set the precedent for fashion in Hip Hop and R&B part. 001
Misa Hylton; Diddy's ex lover, Kim Porter's ex friend, MJB's best friend but most importantly the girl who infused glamour into Hip Hop's raw and ghetto fashions.
We’re going to kick this 3 part series off by talking about the brains and the force behind a lot of the iconic hip hop fashion moments to come from the 90s (when hip hop started getting it’s legs under itself) as it pertains to women especially….
Misa Hylton
This piece will include talk of her professional career… and with her being recognized as the “first” baby mother of rap mogul Sean Combs (Puff Daddy, Puffy, P. Diddy, Diddy) it’s only right we get into a little bit of the artist’s personal life too. Who doesn’t like a little gossip? I can admit I do. Just a heads up this is a lengthy read (about 20 minutes), so if you are viewing this in your email you may want to view it in your browser or on the Substack app. If not you won’t see the full article, as the article in its entirety will not show in the email. (Also if you use the audio let me know your thoughts, cause chile I won’t do another one if aint nobody using it LMAO)
THE
P R E F A C E
1Misa Hylton,
born January 6, 19742 in Mount Vernon, NY to a mother of Japanese and Jamaican descent and a Black (African American) father. She was raised in Mount Vernon and always took a liking to creative expression when it came to hair, makeup and clothing. She would cut color and style her friend’s hair (earning a little profit while doing it, iktr). Misa was the girl in high school who would do all the girls makeup (better than the “professionals”) and she was styling her family and friends before she knew styling was even a career. An older college man would take a liking to the young Misa Hylton. That relationship would present Misa with the opportunity to create and become apart of something larger than life. Something that would nourish a culture and be referenced and influential for decades to come.
M I S A H Y L T O N
The inhouse stylist for P. Diddy’s label Bad Boy Records.
Misa styled MJB for "Real Love", “Everything”, “Not Gon Cry” and most of her other videos from the WT411 (What’s the 411?) and My Life era. She was an early pioneer of the aesthetic that the term “ghetto fabulous” would be coined for and she laid the blueprint for what would become hip-hop’s style, by helping craft the image of its most famous faces throughout the ’90s. She worked with artists like Jodeci, Lil’ Kim, Mary J. Blige (MJB), Foxy Brown, Dru Hill, and Faith Evans. In an era of minimalism, masculinity, conforming, and “playing it safe” trends, Misa’s over-the-top looks — usually composed of casual streetwear pieces mixed with high end (looking) pieces, flashy jewelry, and a peacock of colors — hip hop began to stand out and make a splash (outside of its community; the Black community).
In 1991 at just 17 years old she assisted and is credited with the styling of Jodeci for their “Gotta Love” music video, in what would become Jodeci’s legendary, well-known, cutting edge breakout look.
The boy group donned baggy clothes; hoodies and combat boots, with backwards hats. A big juxtaposition to the suits and dress shoes that were being worn by other R&B male artists at the time. Misa and (newly promoted A&R from intern) Puffy had to convince Andre Harrell (the then executive producer for, and founder of Uptown Records) to let the outfits slide and Andre’s trust in their vision paid off.
To have such an opportunity and experience at just 17 I would have been stoked. As a budding celebrity stylist it made me wonder “How the hell did a high schooler manage to land a big gig like this??”. Was it hard work and talent? Was it money, nepotism, blackmail, sex, right place right time?
The answer let her tell it right place, right time.
However that’s not the whole truth…
She was dating Puffy at the time (who she said she met when she was young). If she was dating him by 17 one can only wonder how old they were when they initially met. It’s worth noting that P. Diddy also grew up in Mount Vernon (where Misa was born and raised). Rumor has it he met her at a concert at the Apollo Theatre. Rumor also has it Diddy met Misa through his younger sister. People also speculated Diddy was probably a creep who hung out at high schools despite graduating 3 years ago. Puffy at 20 (going on 21) dropped out of Howard after one semester during the fall of 1990 to go and work for Andre Harrell at Uptown Records, with of course Misa in tow. Also — get this — at Uptown Records Misa would meet her future best friend turned ex friend, while Diddy would meet his 2nd girlfriend turned “2nd” baby mother. Kim Porter was a secretary at Uptown Records in the 1990s.
Misa would continue assisting with Jodeci’s look. She didn’t realize the possibility of what she was doing being a real job until she began to work with Mary J. Blige.
After all the success (and trending) of Jodeci (so after 1991, but still in the early 90s) Misa was given the the job of styling their next up and coming artist by Andre, MJB (who was signed to Uptown Records at 18 years old in 1989). MJB in her early days would be in baggy, boyish clothes. MJB (initially) hated wearing tight clothing, skirts, dresses. She wasn’t big on make up either. MJB is from Yonkers and with Misa from Mount Vernon (both in Westchester county) the two clicked and became close friends immediately. Misa transitioned MJB from her rough, boyish, style to a more glamour infused and feminine look, while still keeping the swagger and ghetto that Mary had. The duo would work together professionally to successfully bring both of their ideas into a cohesive look and when they hung out together on their off time boy would they get into some mess.
MJB’s visually appealing, yet authentic and fashion forward music videos like “You Remind Me” released in 1992, Not Gon Cry released in 1996, “Everything,” released in 1997 (and directed by Hype Williams) and All That I Can Say (1999) made a name for Misa within the industry as a fashion stylist. She became the go-to stylist for hip-hop artists who wanted to have fun with fashion or take risks with their looks.
“Even people who didn’t know which direction they wanted to go in with their style — but knew they wanted to do something unique and special — would call me,” - Misa Hylton
July of 1993 Diddy would be fired from Uptown Records by Andre Harrell (due to power struggles between the two). That wouldn’t stop Misa’s bag though. Young Misa being 19 and pregnant she not only supported Puffy but was depending on him and boy was Puffy desperate and willing to make something shake by any means necessary. It was during Misa’s pregnancy when Bad Boy Records was founded.
In 1993 as her career is beginning to quickly rise, but far from its peak she introduces a baby boy into the world. Justin Dior Combs. Misa would give birth the end of that year December the 30th.
We know looking at Diddy’s other (biological) kids he has some strong genes, but they were apparently no match to Misa Hylton. I mean…
While it may be true that Misa may just have some strong genes, there’s a also a possibility that Diddy’s genes might not even be in the pool.
Remember Kim Porter? The Uptown Records secretary during Puffy and Misa’s arrival to Uptown during the early 90s? Well the trio will go on to become pretty close (close in different ways unbeknownst to Misa). Misa would go on to become close friend if not best friends. Good enough friends to where Misa would cry to Kim about her piece of shit man and close enough friends that when Kim and Al B. Sure! was at odds, Misa welcomed Kim and her child (Quincy Taylor Brown, born 1991) into her and Puffy’s home to live until she found herself in a better situation.
Now pay attention to this, reread if you need to.
Kim and Al B. Sure! would officially divorce (yes they married one year after meeting each other) shortly after their son’s birth that same year.
Kim Porter single and with child was on hard times and out of a place to stay.
Misa being her friend, offers her and her man’s (P Diddy) humble abode for Kim and her baby to stay.
Kim Porter returns that favor by having an affair with Misa’s (her friend) man, P. Diddy.
Misa gets wind of this affair (i’m not sure when, but she catches on sooner than later).
Misa then (allegedly) returns the favor by sleeping with Anthony “Wolf” Jones, Diddy’s late bodyguard who was not only murdered (later in 2003 by Big Meech of BMF), but rumored to be set up for his death by Diddy himself.
Wolf wasn’t just some some measly bodyguard. He was a guardian of Bad Boys credibility in the streets. He had street credibility, and a presence that was felt. He gave Diddy $300,000 to start up Bad Boys Records, was a gatekeeper of Diddy’s personal life and…..
the rumored biological father of Diddy’s son Justin Combs.
Misa really hit him where it hurts with this one and baby I must say,
Wolf was one hell of a man RIP to him!
Yes, rumor has it Misa gave that cat to Wolf as a get back at Diddy! She would coincidentally wind up pregnant after and give birth to her first child Justin Dior Combs, December 30, 1993.
By 1994 the couple would have officially called it quits, Diddy would officially begin dating Kim Porter (going from one Blasian to the next and perpetuating one abusive relationship to a next one) and by August of that year Misa would find herself in Bad Boy Records’ multi-platinum artist, (who she claims she convinced Puffy to sign) Notorious B.I.G.’s “Juicy” music video with a baby Justin Combs.
A mother, in more ways than one.
. . .
In 1995 Chyna Doll Enterprise; a company in which Misa managed other stylists and give stylists under her and assisting her opportunities to take on jobs themselves, would be be born. This company would go on to style artists like Aaliyah, Faith Evans, Jodeci, Q-Tip, Foxy Brown, and Dru Hill. This company would lay the groundwork for what would be Misa Hylton fashion Academy.
1995 (around October) is also the year Misa was rumored to have hooked up with Suge Knight, while BFF May J. Blige was (rumored to be) be hooking up with Tupac.
1995 is also the year Misa Hylton Marries record executive Jojo Brim. It’s like they either didn’t any pictures together in the 90s or they got scrubbed from the internet (if they ever made it to the internet).
He’s pretty handsome.
Misa would find her fashion soul mate in then, up-and-coming rapper Lil’ Kim. The duo would create hip hop history together from the mid to late 90s. Lil’ Kim was a true ghetto3 girl! They captivated all of America together with their sexy, eccentric, colorful, playful, experimental, raunchy, divalicious looks throughout the late ’90s — red-carpet looks that got the whole world talking to innovative performance outfits that helped shoot the rapper to superstardom, as well as music videos with looks that would put you in a trance. Working with Mary J. Blige introduced her to a career as a fashion stylist. Working with Lil’ Kim cemented her a career as a fashion stylist in the industry.
“With the success of Mary J. Blige, I had made it, right? But when Kim came along, that took me to the next level of my career,” “It was a level-up moment.” says Misa.
Misa was behind Lil Kim’s debut studio album Hard Core cover and what a fitting name and cover art for the album it was. Hard Core debuted in 1996 and Misa also styled Lil’ Kim for her No Time music video in 1996 using her own personal fur coat for the look seen in the video.
In February of 1997 Lil’ Kim and Lil’ Cease’s “Crush on You” video was released and the monochromatic looks (which was influenced by the movie The Wiz) rang all around the world. The looks from the video are still referenced to this day.
March 14, 1997 Misa would give birth to her second child Niko Brim.
Then a daughter Madison Star Brim Nov. 6, 1998.
The most iconic Misa Hylton and Lil’ Kim look would be seen during MTV’s Video Music Awards in September of 1999. The infamous, jaw dropping one-sleeve purple jumpsuit with the purple pasty and I know you know exactly what I am talking about! That purple jumpsuit is referenced by everyone and their momma. Hell, even Miley Cyrus had to bite. The striking thing about little Kim looks aside from the looks themselves was a lot of these outfits were not just outfits Misa and Kim would envision and sketch, but they actually created and brought them to life themselves. A lot of times Misa had to make the pieces herself, while tweaking and freaking generic items she’d get from your typical clothing store. Lil’ Kim was very lil, 4 feet and 11 inches tall with a size 4.5 foot, and fashion houses weren’t gifting or even lending custom couture pieces to Black hip-hop artists. Misa was constantly turned away, when trying to pull couture and ghosted for showroom visits. She often purchased high end designer for styling with her own money and they’d still discriminate when they would come in as paying customers. Not wanting to be affiliated with Black people at all. There wasn’t no mountain high enough and by the time Misa turned 25 she would have made her first million as a fashion stylist.
These two really set the landscape for what a woman in Hip Hop looks like for not only the rest of the 90s, but to this very day. They opened the door for fashion in hip hop and for woman to show up however they see fit. If you could unapologetically be a promiscuous, brazen, bossy, bitch then there’s absolutely nothing you couldn’t be!
We’re woman. We can be sexy, we can be raw, we can be raunchy. They say “Fuck bitches get money!”, we say “Get them niggas for all you can. I’m getting paid, yellin fuck a man!”. Fuck worrying about optics in fear of not being taken serious by our male counterparts. They’ll see our presence, feel our attitude, hear us spit and know that we mean business.
. . .
It may be a corny question, but I always have to ask a creative where they draw their inspiration from. As for Misa she says she draws her inspiration from the hood and her Japanese and Jamaican heritage. Now if i’m not mistaken she grew up in the suburbs, but I don’t blame her. The hood is a magical place. Rough, but magical nonetheless.
ENTERING THE
2 0 0 0 ‘ s
The aftermath.
Misa Hylton Post 90s
Misa Hylton enters the 2000s as a single woman. She left that marriage in 1999.
November of 2003 Misa’s first son Justin Combs’ father Anthony “Wolf” Jones is murdered outside a nightclub in Atlanta.
2003 Diddy purchases a house in Westchester, NY, for ex Misa Hylton-Brim — the mother of his first child Justin
The house ends up going into foreclosure in 2014 due to lack of payments since 2010. Which allegedly Diddy stopped making payments (rumors say due to her “boyfriend” living with her. Who the boyfriend was? Chile, idk people just be saying stuff). Diddy claims however he only helped her take out the loan, because she had bad credit and him making the monthly payments wasn’t in their agreement nor his responsibility.
In 2012 Misa launched a nonprofit that helps make the fashion industry more accessible called the Misa Hylton Fashion Academy.
In 2018 she’d become a Global Creative Partner at MCM.
She’s since worked with the best in the business; Beyoncé (Apeshit music video (2018)), Kimora Lee Simmons, Dapper Dan, Trina, 50 Cent (*wink* *wink*), and mentored top celebrity stylists (Wouri Vice, Mariel Haenn, and Marni Senofonte).
In 2019 documentary The Remix: Hip Hop x Fashion (watch it for free on Tubi by the way!) staring Misa Hylton premiered.
In February 2020, Harlem's Fashion Row honored Misa Hylton along with April Walker, and Dapper Dan) for their contributions to the fashion industry.
She also worked with the Artists of today like Megan Thee Stallion (custom MCM cowboy hat and chaps for Jimmy Kimmel Live! performance in 2019), Flo Mili (styled for Paper Magazine issue 2020) and City Girls (who she styled for their “Twerkulator” music video 2021),
Misa also had some dealing with the late Alpo Martinez before his death in 2021 on Halloween. Her and Mary J Blige was the force behind him getting his movie deal with Lionsgate right before his death. Right before he died Alpo received a multi-million-dollar advance check for the upcoming major motion picture film. The pair (Misa and Alpo) never came out and confirmed any of the rumors, but honestly why the hell else would Mary J Blige care to help Alpo get a movie deal, if not for her good girl friend dating the piece of shit?
in 2023 Misa’s oldest son Justin Combs had a run in with the law and was hit with a DUI charge after running a red light one early morning June of 2023. Misa (rightfully) upset takes to Instagram with a rant
She refenced the song “Act Bad” featuring the City Girls, which I thought was a ki, cause no for real Diddy you are toooooo damn old!
I read an unhinged comment (I forgot where) saying "Stay in the light”, for Mysa, means, “Don't forget what I did for you that I didn’t have to, keep talking and darkness is soon to appear." but Sean Combs is a busy man so he kept it short with her, LMFAO.
. . .
Although Misa continues to style and clothe hip hop and R&B artists today,
the 90s was truly the end of an era. Her influences would go on to influence for decades and generations, including today…
Bluindium KING LEOPARDESS ROBE
Nicki Minaj during her mixtape days
Biracial
Lil Baby
Beyonce Halloween & Rihanna BBHMM
Cardi B “Like What” Freestyle
Nicki Minaj Front Row @ Haider Ackermann F/W 18
Kurruche & Misa
Biracial
THE
P O S T F A C E
A lot of people (especially today where the internet gives anyone a voice) may not like Misa’s style (they also typically basing the opinions off her present work today), but there’s no denying what she has done for the hip hip, for the culture. Misa wasn’t just dressing people. She was dressing powerful women that stood for something far beyond themselves, she was dressing women who were larger than life. These women were breaking barriers and making a way out of no way. These eccentric, nonconforming, rule-breaking, sophisticated and intricate but ghetto looks did exactly what they were supposed to do.
I usually have something to say, but nothing needs to be said. Misa doesn’t bother anybody. Biracial people get in Black dominated spaces and just skate by, often times trumping over their monoracial counterparts. Misa however didn’t use her privilege to speak over her sisters. She listened to them. She spoke and advocated for them. She helped give them a means to tell their story. She was breaking barriers with and for them. She often times would use her own clothes out her closet and her own personal funds to make the vision come to life. She knew how important this was for not only her and the artist, but for the culture. She didn’t drown or wash their voices out. She didn’t make all this money in the Black community, using Black culture then grift and sell out. She gives back to the culture to this very day.
Whether you’re viewing her work in its respective times or in today’s times her work was relevant and unprecedented then and here we are 30+ years still having conversations about it and referencing those looks that set the foundation for the women in hip hop to come.
What are y’all thoughts though? It’s so interesting how New York is so big, yet so small (maybe the small amount of people with money is what makes it small).
This one story was connected to/touched like the story of what? 10 other people? That’s so interesting to me.
If you liked this keep a look out for part 2, coming 25th November, 2024
any guesses for who the next lady of the hour article will be?
SOURCES:
Misa Hylton - Fashion Icon and Celebrated Stylist of the '90'S R&B and Hip Hop Era
The Stylist Behind the Ultimate 90s Hip Hop Looks
A Walk through the Decades with Misa Hylton
Did y’all know she also went by Tanieka “Misa” Hooten? Her birth name I assume?
There of course will be discrepancies and conflicting information with the age. Back then they used to have them lie about being older for optics. There were rumors saying she was born in 77 at one point. Another source said per an article in on old 2003 Vibe magazine she was actually born in 1973. A lot of these girls were very young (minors) when first introduced to these (typically much) older industry men. Take Foxy Brown and Jay Z for example.
The use word of the word ghetto (especially when used by non Blacks) has a stink to it that I don’t like. A lot of times when people say or call something “ghetto” what they really need to do is ask themselves what are they really trying to say (a lot of times it’s antiblackness and racism). The ghetto is a slum. The ghetto is full of humans like me an you and the ghetto breeds innovation. I’ve seen people call things “ghetto” and really it’s just something innovative that a white person ain’t thought of or stole yet. Today “ghetto” has become synonymous for low-class and bad manner and it’s often a word reserved only to describe Black people or a low class act that has been discriminatively associated with only Black people. Ion like that.
Trout mouth is HILARIOUS