Sitting down with Ari Melber of MSNBC’s The Beat, stylist, and iconic costume designer, June Ambrose when asked about the shiny suit worn by Puff Daddy in “Mo Money Mo Problem” video by The Notorious B.I.G./Puff Daddy & Mase, relieved “I was gung-ho on shiny metal. … I was in some real Carnival. I am from Antigua. I am from the West Indies and carnival is celebratory; things that look like flame, like fire ….” This revelation not only illuminates the mindset behind this video but also provides an insight into the carnival spirit that masquerades throughout many of the Hip hop videos that she directed.

Puff Daddy & Mase

An award-winning creative director, costume designer, fashion stylist, and entrepreneur, Antiguan-born, June Ambrose who grew up in the Bronx, New York is a leader in culture as well as fashion and business, she has single-handedly carved her path using her creativity and her unique vision in infusing the Caribbean carnival culture into hip hop videos and its culture. Ambrose has dressed Jay-z and other high-profile artistes such as Missy Elliott, P. Diddy, Kanye West, Busta Rhymes, and Janet Jackson.  

In the interview with Ari Melber, June expressed what fashion means to her.

“I feel like fashion is mute without style. It’s the way we communicate and convey who we are and who we want to become. It’s culture shifting, it’s identity branding, it is a language that is so universal. It’s colorless, genderless, it’s the most neutral place to live in.” 

Regarding herself as a storyteller, Ambrose said:

“From the inception of my participation in the world of Hip Hop and Pop music culture now? I’ve always wanted to push forward the conversation and I did that by taking all those amazing muses out of their comfort zone. That’s what it’s about role-playing into a place that gives you butterflies and makes you feel like you’re becoming someone else, that’s how I know I did something right.”

“There’s something about hip-hop culture that’s unapologetic”  Ambrose went on to state.

This is very evident and especially seen in the direction she took with Busta Rhymes’ video for Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See Missy Elliott”s  The Rain Supa Dupa Fly, Jay-Z’s Excuse me, Miss, and the very popular Mo Money Mo Problems music video with The Notorious B.I.G and P. Diddy.  ( Fun fact: P. Diddy was reluctant at first to go along with her outfit design)  

 

 

When speaking about the Busta Rhymes’ video she passionately commented,“First of all the record was incredible and the visuals just gave it so much more sauce. I like to cook. I’m a Picasso when it comes to styling and art and creating and designing; seasoning and flavor, punctuation and things that are really gonna enhance a dish.”

 

In 2020 June Ambrose impressively landed herself a contract with PUMA with the release of her women’s basketball collection in collaboration with PUMA Hoops called Keeping Score coming a year later.

According to the celebrity stylist, “It’s more than just about fashion. I really wanted to infuse performance and style. Life is a sport, so we continue that narrative with this collection.” In 2022, Ambrose celebrated PUMA’s 75th anniversary by creating a live runway show where Keeping Score was debuted and reintroduced on the runway at New York’s Fashion Week with Usain Bolt among the models that walked in one of her designs.  This year, 2023, which is the year of the 50th anniversary of HipHop, June Ambrose released in two parts the first co-branded line done with sports giant PUMA, Keeping Score! The first was done in January and the other, March.  

 

Streetwear, fashion, creative freedom, and sports are all synonymous with June Ambrose who is without a doubt a trailblazer with no hint of pumping the brakes anytime soon. In 2024, she will officially have under her belt 30 years in the industry where she stands out. Her contribution to HipHop which she merged with fashion set the pace of the industry and can be thought of as a blueprint and one that is still followed.  Summed up by Jay-z, about June he said, “There are very few people that indisputably shift culture, that is something June has done for over 25 years. 

 June Ambrose

“Style is to fashion what lyrics are to music because style is a symphony”