Missy Elliott: What Makes a Superstar?
The legendary Virginia-born rapper unpacks the adidas Superstar’s place in Hip-Hop, her humble roots in Virginia, and her decades-spanning creative legacy.
Missy Elliott: What Makes a Superstar?
The legendary Virginia-born rapper unpacks the adidas Superstar’s place in Hip-Hop, her humble roots in Virginia, and her decades-spanning creative legacy.
Almost three decades since her trailblazing Supa Dupa Fly (1997) debut, Missy Elliott continues to prove the power of her pen and the impact of her distinct artistic vision. Her first headlining tour, which kicked off in 2024, saw her become the third rapper ever to earn over $2 million USD from a single concert. That groundbreaking Washington D.C. show last fall was a full-circle moment, held just miles from Virginia, the state she has always called home.
Less than a year later, Missy Elliott celebrates another full-circle milestone, reuniting with adidas for its “Superstar, The Original” campaign. The new collaboration comes more than 20 years after she first launched her collaborative line, Respect M.E in 2004. As one of seven cultural icons in the campaign, Missy represents the sneaker’s profound significance to the Hip-Hop community. In a candid conversation, she shares early memories of the Superstar, from seeing it on Run DMC for the first time to her enduring creative partnership with stylist June Ambrose, and reflects on how her upbringing in Portsmouth, Virginia, shaped her singular artistic expression.
Adidas
When you hear the term superstar, what comes to mind for you?
I would say fearless and bold — that’s the biggest thing. I always look to superstars as truly original people who start things that aren’t necessarily popular at the time. To me, they set the trends and have a huge global and cultural impact.
How did your roots in Virginia shape your style?
Where I’m from [Portsmouth, Virginia], all my friends had their own style. A lot of people don’t even know that Virginia is down south. Because we weren’t in New York City or up north, we always got things a little bit later, so we created stuff in the meantime — we had our own sound and our own style. Creating my own thing stayed with me throughout my entire career.
Could you speak to the significance of the adidas Superstar silhouette within the Hip-Hop community?
The first time I ever saw that sneaker was on Run DMC, they really popularized it for the Hip Hop community. That style, the sneaker with the sweats, was around for a long time, not just for rappers but also for breakdancers and DJs. It was a community that centered around that whole vibe; you had to have a full outfit with it to make it make sense. It represented the style of the streets.
Adidas
Adidas
In the campaign, you wear a big hat, nodding to your collaborations with June Ambrose. How did the two of you meet?
I met Hype Williams first, and he was already working with June. He said he had the perfect stylist for me. I was like, “nah, I already know how I like to wear my clothes,” but when I met June, she was everything and more. The first thing she said was, “Darling, you’re too matchy-matchy. And we don’t crease our jeans anymore.” I was like, “Who is this lady?” I was always fearless, but she never made me feel like I was doing too much. She’d just enhance what I already had and who I already was. We’ve been working together since 1997.
Do you have favorite memories working with June?
Every moment with June is a favorite memory. When we’re shooting a video, June changes her clothes more than I do by the time we’re done. Her energy is just amazing. She comes in when I feel tired and is always upbeat. You need that, especially when shoots are very long, sometimes three days. She’s like “Wake it up! We have something to shoot! Something historical.” So I feel like, OK — I’m gonna do it!
Adidas
Adidas
Adidas
In the 2000s, you collaborated on many sneakers for your adidas Respect M.E. line — how did that partnership emerge?
The funny thing is, before adidas and I collaborated, I used to remix all my adidas outfits. I’d put rhinestones on my clothes or take the logo from one set and put it on another. People started going into the adidas stores asking for the outfits — I remember one specifically from the “Gossip Folks” music video. People were coming in looking for these custom outfits, and the store would say, “We don’t have that; she remixed it!” So, someone told June Ambrose about the situation, and June was like, “Well, why don’t you just do a deal with her?” And we ended up doing a deal.
Now, 20 years later, you’re one of the faces of the brand’s most iconic shoe. How does that feel?
It feels amazing. It feels like I’m back in that time when I had Respect M.E. The nostalgia of it all feels so good.
What do you think it takes for a sneaker or a style to achieve icon status?
I think it takes consistency and commitment. You don’t want to see the person promoting a sneaker in every other sneaker but that one. You have to make that look your thing. That’s how it was with Run DMC. They were cool, they rocked them all the time with or without laces. It made it clear they believed in what they were selling.
Who are some of your style icons?
There are so many, but I’ll say the ones from when I first started. Run DMC, because they made me love adidas. And Salt-N-Pepa — they had a style I hadn’t seen on women in Hip-Hop before. And of course, June is one of them. I trust her. When June says something’s fire, it’s fire.
If you’re stepping out in Superstars today, how would you style them? Do you have a favorite color or custom you did?
I would most definitely put some fat laces in them again because a lot of stuff from the ’90s and ’80s is being brought back. And of course, I would wear mine like I did in the shoot — I would get the platforms customized with the stones. I had those on for my birthday and stepped out a few weeks ago just like that. I’d wear them with some jeans and put on a Britney Spears t-shirt.
