UBX – Missy Elliott (Segment 01)
When we think about Hip Hop music in a geographical sense, New York is usually the first place we think about - of course, it spawned the movement in the late 70’s and early 80’s, and was the defining sound for much of Hip Hop’s young life (clip). Then we think about Los Angeles and Oakland in California, and their significant contributions (clip) as well as cities like Atlanta that have taken the sound to a whole other level in the new millennium (clip). One state that is hardly mentioned though, is Virginia. With producers like DeVante Swing (clip), Timbaland (clip) and The Neptunes (clip) all coming out of the big VA, Virginia’s contribution to Hip Hop and R&B is undeniable. Also out of Virginia, the one and only, Melissa “Misdemeanor” Elliott (clip)
Missy Elliott was born on July 1st, 1972 in Portsmouth, VA. A child genius, using words instead of posters, she would cover her walls, and floors, with song lyrics. The family was poor, living in a house at times with no running water or heat. They slept in sleeping bags and it wasn’t uncommon to see Missy’s father beating rats off of them. Her father was also abusive to her mother and her parents split up when Missy was young. Music would prove to be her escape from all the hard times. In her teens she was one of her area’s best MC’s. She was in a group called 2 True MC’s, and then one called Fayze, where they independently released the single “First Move” (clip).
Soon after, she hooked up with friends LaShawn Shellman, Chonita Coleman and Radiah Scott to form a group called Sista. Missy’s neighborhood friend Timothy Mosley, then DJ Timmy Tim, would be recruited as their producer and the group started recording tracks for a demo. In 1991, Sista got the attention of Jodeci member and producer DeVante Swing, by singing acapella for him backstage after a Jodeci show. DeVante was so impressed that he signed them to his new Swing Mob label under Elektra records. With backing from DeVante, Sista, Tim, and their friends Magoo, Ginuwine, Playa and Tweet all moved from Virginia to New York with dreams of a career in music. With DeVante’s vision of a Motown’esque artist collective, the 20+ crew, then known as “Da Bassment”, all moved into one house and were constantly working on music. Missy and Tim, both have credited and uncredited work on the last two Jodeci albums and by 1994, Tim and DeVante had produced a Sista album called “All The Sistas Around the World” (montage).
A promo version of the Sista album was released, as well as a single and video for “Brand New”, but DeVante’s Swing Mob records folded and the album never actually came out. “Da Bassment” project wasn’t going well either. There were acusations of abuse and jealousy, Missy was unhappy with the lack of productivity coming out of the crew, and was having major personal and creative differences with DeVante; the whole project was scrapped and Missy returned to VA. Understandably disappointed, she decided to stay away from the performing side of things and focused on writing and producing with partner Timbaland. In 1996, they made hits for acts like MC Lyte, Ginuwine and 702 but would really make a name for themselves by writing and producing most of Aaliyah’s second album, “One In A Million”. With distinct drums loops and innovative samples, like using cricket and bird noises in the title track, the classic album introduced their unique sound to the mainstream and changed the tone of R&B music in the process (clip).
You’re inside the Unauthorized Biography of Missy Elliott. From the unreleased Sista album, here’s the Timbaland remix of “Brand New”.
UBX – Missy Elliott (Segment 02)
Bouncing back from the disappointment of Sista’s album not coming out, Missy produced several hit singles with Timbaland, and forever changed the sound of R&B with Tim and Aaliyah with the “One In A Million” album. She would also contribute memorable verses in ’96 and early ’97 to tracks by MC Lyte, SWV, 702 and Gina Thompson (montage).
With an original flow and creative lyrics, mixed with the success of her production and writing work, Missy was suddenly in high demand and was courted by several labels, including Sean “Puffy” Combs who wanted to sign her to Bad Boy (clip). Showing her business savvy, Missy turned everyone down except Elektra Records who agreed to having her set up her own label, Gold Mind, that they would distribute. Proving everyone wrong who said she didn’t have the image to be a star, her first album “Supa Dupa Fly” was launched with the groundbreaking single “The Rain” in 1997. After being replaced by a skinny model in the one Sista video, Missy redefined what the image of a female artist should be with “The Rain’s” trend-setting video, directed by Hype Williams. Truly innovative, no one had ever seen a video like “The Rain” before, and Missy established herself as a stereotype bashing hip hop heroine. The album was sonically refreshing and “Supa Dupa Fly” went all the way to #3 on the Pop charts (montage).
Despite some criticism over her simple content and often non-sensical rhymes, Missy had a smash album. A successful singer, writer, producer, rapper and record executive by her first release, Missy had a huge following but was only getting started. She continued crafting hits with Timbaland for people like Playa, Total and Nicole Wray, and received national exposure on Lil’ Kim’s hit remix for “Not Tonight”, also featuring Angie Martinez, Da Brat and Left Eye (clip).
After collaborating with Mel B of the Spice Girls for the UK #1 hit “I Want You Back” in 1998, Missy’s sophomore album was ready to go. An international superstar at that point, she didn’t disappoint. The album featured an all-star group of collaborators and of course, her and Timbaland’s incomparable production. The single “Hot Boys” was #1 on the Billboard Rap charts for a record 18 weeks and “Da Real World” was another hit record (montage).
Complimenting her exceptional sound, her futuristic videos are what really had people talking. Even if you weren’t the biggest Missy fan, you had to love the out-of-this-world sets, the amazing dance sequences, the extreme makeup and imaginative outfits. Missy was larger than life. She would become the first rapper to perform on the all-female Lilith Fair tour, and presented a new non-typical image of woman to the mainstream, that represented ladies everywhere. Despite her success, rumors began questioning her sexuality, fashion sense, and party habits, namely her fascination with the drug ecstasy. Fittingly titled, her next album, “Miss E…So Addictive” was released in 2001. Again taking her sound to the next level, the huge lead single “Get Your Freak On” had influences ranging from drum & bass to jungle to middle eastern and Japanese samples. Once again offering an alternative to what was popular at the time, Miss E…So Addicitve was her most successful album yet, hitting #2 on the Pop charts and winning her 2 Grammy’s (montage). Another huge year for her, ‘01 ended with Missy’s cameo in the smash #1 Pop single, “Lady Marmalade” with Mya, Lil’ Kim, Christina Aguilera and Pink. You’re inside the Unauthorized Biography of Missy Elliott. From 1999’s “Da Real World” here’s “Hot Boys”
UBX – Missy Elliott (Segment 03)
Although 2001 was a huge year for Missy professionally, it ended in personal hardship. Her close friend and music collaborator, Aaliyah, tragically died in a plane crash on August 25 (clip). A couple weeks later, the World Trade Centre towers collapsed in the Sept. 11 attacks and Missy slid into depression. Losing Aaliyah was one of the hardest things Missy’s ever had to deal with, and she marks it as a turning point in her life. Realizing how delicate life is, the sudden loss of Aaliyah helped Missy put her life into perspective and she eventually got out of her depression and transformed her life for the better. After her doctor said her weight was becoming a health issue, she went on a strict diet and started exercising religiously. She kept busy with music as well, helping to launch Tweet’s career in ‘02 with her highly slept-on album “Southern…” (clip).
Later in ‘02, Missy introduced her new slim figure with the video to her next track “Work It”, her biggest single yet. Another club banger, the single tied Foreigner’s ‘81 hit “Waiting For a Girl Like You”, for the record of 10 consecutive weeks at #2 on the Pop charts without ever hitting #1. The album “Under Construction” was her way to let fans know that she was working hard to make herself a better person, and that she was able to musically persevere through her depression and physical transformation. She also used the album to address her haters and people that started rumors about her sexuality and weight loss. “Under Construction” was her biggest seller yet, going 2x platinum and winning her another Grammy for Best Female Solo Rap performance (montage).
Hotter than ever in 2003, Missy produced the remix for Madonna’s “American Life” and was featured with the Material Girl in a huge national ad campaign for The Gap. She also continued making hits with artists like Monica, Ghostface and Wyclef Jean (clip). She also made her film debut in the movie “Honey” starring Jessica Alba, and building off all her media attention, dropped her 5th album “This Is Not A Test” in late 2003. Only a year after the release of “Under Construction”, many feel the record was rushed. Even though the video for “Pass That Dutch” was incredible, as always, “This Is Not A Test” was her least well-received album (montage). In ‘04, Missy would bless new artist Ciara on the single 1,2 Step, and hopped into the world of TV for a minute with her Reality TV show, “Road To Stardom”. A moderate success, Missy showed her starpower by being able to host a TV show similar to music icons like Puffy. In ‘05, Missy blessed Tweet with another banger and was also ready with her 6th solo album, “The Cookbook”. With Timbaland only helping out on 2 tracks, it would be her first album with heavy production from outside their camp, but changing her formula didn’t affect her success. In typical Missy fashion, the first single, “Lose Control” featuring Fatman Scoop and Ciara, was a huge club and radio hit, taking the album to #2 on the Billboard Pop charts (montage).
Taking a break after the album, Missy disappeared for a minute, only to resurface in 2007 in a big way producing another hit for Keyshia Cole (clip). Growing up in poverty, battling through domestic abuse and criticism about her weight and look, Missy persevered and eventually re-invented the sound of hip hop music, and the image of what a female superstar should be. With simple lyrics, she’s never really taken a strong political or social stance, but empowers women by making creative, clever and fun music from a female perspective. A successful writer, singer, producer, and rapper, Missy has blessed countless hits and her positive contribution to music is indisputable. You’ve been listening to the Unauthorized Biography of Missy Elliott. Taking you back to Supa Dupa Fly here’s “Best Friend” featuring Aaliyah.
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