Lil Kim Explains How Iconic 1999 VMAs Look Was Inspired My Missy Elliott Joke

BY Erika Marie 3.3K Views
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Lil Kim, Missy Elliott, Misa Hylton, Nip Slips, 1999 VMAs
Missy teased Kim about her constant nip slips and the rapper's stylist, Misa Hylton, used it as inspiration.

The colorful looks of Lil Kim have gone down in Hip Hop history, but not many are as iconic as her lavender, breast-revealing MTV VMA look back in 1999. The New York rapper stole the show when she walked the red carpet and graced the stage in an outfit that bared one breast that only featured a matching nipple covering, and in a recent interview with PEOPLE, Kim revealed that it was inspired by a tease from her friend Missy Elliott.

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Back in the day, Lil Kim was apparently known for her regular nip slips. "My nipples used to pop out so much on their own," she said with a laugh. "They said something in a movie and made it look like it was planned — it was never planned. The girls used to laugh at me and Missy said, 'Girl, your nipples pop out so much. One day, you need to just come outside with one nipple out.'"

It was a joke, but Kim's stylist at the time, Diddy's ex and mother of his son Justin, Misa Hylton, thought it was a good idea for a look. On the day of the VMAs, Kim wasn't supposed to wear a matching lavender wig, either—it was a mistake by the hairstylist that they decided to roll with at the last minute. 

"She was so stressed because we were literally 45 or 30 minutes away from showtime," Lil' Kim added. "She was like, 'Misa, oh my God. I have to redo the hair, the whole wig is lavender.' Misa was like, 'Did you say lavender? Kim's outfit is lavender. 'It's perfect!' And I'm always with the sh*t. I was like, 'Let's do it! Put it on me.' I'm always excited to see what I'll look like in different colors." Check out more of Kim's iconic look below.

Scott Gries / Staff / Getty Images
Scott Gries / Staff / Getty Images

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About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.

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