PHOSPHENES

by Tyler Boudreaux

Photography by Zhamak Fullad | Fashion by Scott Shapiro

Maliibu Miitch embodies everything a fly shorty from the South Bronx represents about New York: A hustler who upholds her strong-will to stay grinding, a bad bitch that’ll tell it how it is and make sure you heard her loud and clearly, and an eloquent hood philosopher proving that being true to yourself and dedication to your craft will pay off.

The 27-year-old rapper sounds bubbly and sweet when she talks — that’s Maliibu — but when she raps raw lyrics on top of low, hard beats, she summons Miitch, her alter ego named after Mekhi Phifer’s character in Paid in Full. As one, Maliibu Miitch is bringing old school MC rap to the forefront of millennial expression.

“I’ve always been very upfront,” Maliibu says in her soft South Bronx accent. “Always stood my ground and told people how I felt. That’s probably why I used to get into a lot of fights when I was younger.”

That upfront nature is what resonates through Maliibu’s music. It gives each song true emotion and genuine character. When her deep voice bounces on a trap beat rapping the reasons you should give that bad bitch some money, it feels like she’s speaking up for all the bad bitches over the years who’ve been slighted. “Attitude? Give her some money.”

Maliibu’s flow is the brainchild of Lil Kim and Nicki Minaj and her style is the lovechild of Foxy Brown and Rihanna. And just like all four of these iconic artists, Maliibu is making space for dark-skinned beauty and ghetto fabulous fashion to once again dominate the rap game.

“I love a lot of throwbacks. I wasn’t old enough to dress how I wanted in the early 2000s, like old Jennifer Lopez with the big belts around the shirt or when Aaliyah used to wear lowriders.”

Her tight fits shape her petite frame, and her signature look — flawless hair, long acrylics, gold hoops and dark lipstick — adorn her body like an African queen.

“I jacked my mom’s style. I love going to pawn shops and finding old school jewelry, my mom taught me that.”

In many ways, Maliibu’s artistry is a reflection of the Black experience in the hood. Rapping served as a vehicle for her personal expression, and allowed her to let people know what she had to say. She found a passion for writing through her best friend; she was young and got serious about writing lyrics while freestyling with the guys in the Vietnam Projects in the Bronx.

“I never graduated school and whenever people were like doubting me, that motivated me. I always felt like I had to prove myself.”

Her song 4am is her anthem to every hater she’s ever had along the way. After multiple fallouts with record companies like Def Jam and Roc-A-Fella, who wanted to either write her music or paint her in the image of the “ideal female rapper”, she worked even harder to stay true to herself and prove everyone wrong.

“Progression on Progression / At my own discretion / Never shutting up / Never Giving Up” she raps with a gritty delivery. 4am is the perfect display of her biggest strength: breaking boundaries for what a female rapper can be while also highlighting what they don’t have to be.

“The respect and thought that goes behind male artists should go with women. A lot of girls get discouraged to write whatever we want to write about. I love hearing motivational stuff like 50 Cent. I would love to hear about women’s weaknesses & strengths.”

Her dedication is also the reason she has creative control over the imagery behind her music videos. Inspired by large concept videos from Missy Elliott and Michael Jackson’s Thriller, videos like “Gwapamole” — which plays more like a short film to a twerk song — and “Doo Wop” — which shows her in a camo shirt and bamboo earrings rapping in a projects lobby — show just much her visual expression has developed with her sound.

She’ll start with a place or idea, sit with a blunt, and focus so much energy to the entire vision that her clothes and makeup are the last things she worries about. Yet, she always comes out looking flawless.

“I love that the Bronx has little boutiques. You know Fashion Nova and all those brands? That’s what it’s like. Our little Mamita spot, you can get an outfit for $10-15. Spanish food, Jamaican food, little boutiques.”

While molding herself into an artist of her own vision, she’s also paid her dues to female rap legends with her Top 5 mixtape. She remade classic hits from Lauryn Hill, Lil Kim, Missy Elliott, Foxy Brown and Eve with splashes of original Maliibu Miitch verses and accompanying videos. Not only does she acknowledge their huge impact on her, but she also raises a toast to their legacy.

Although the Top 5 tracks are all standouts, her remake of “Crush On You” makes you tremble as you watch her dance in a bodycon dress and thigh-high boots, sounding and looking like a modern version of a 1996 rap icon.

Maliibu Miitch, as a person and an artist, is a product of that hardcore New York work ethic: Doing it for the hood, doing it for those that didn’t make it out of the hood, and doing it cause they simply said you couldn’t.

 

HAIR BY KABUTO OKUZAWA

MAKEUP BY AYAKA NIHEI

PRODUCTION BY CAROLIN RAMSAUER

STYLIST’S ASSISTANT: JALIL JOHNSON

For the full story and more content, get your copy of Phosphenes #6 – “New York.”