|
|
|
|
|
|
No female rap artist paralleled the success of Missy Elliott, neither during
her reign nor before, and none was more deserving. Unlike most of urban
music's female superstars, Missy writes her own songs as well as performs
them, and her creative wit in on a par with her stylish demeanor. In
addition to her talent and showmanship, though, she established herself as a
genuine hitmaker alongside her longtime producer, Timbaland.
***
***
She initially scored hits for others, namely Aaliyah ("One in a Million," "If
Your Girl Only Knew") and to a lesser extent 702 ("Steelo"), before moving
on to score a dazzling run for herself. Her debut album, Supa Dupa Fly
(1997), spawned a number of hits such as "The Rain" that were more trend-setting
than they were chart-topping. The chart-toppers, of course, came soon after:
"She's a Bitch" and "Hot Boyz" (1999); "Get Ur Freak On" and "One Minute Man"
(2001); and "Work It" and "Gossip Folks" (2002). In each of these, Missy
proved that, with both dignity and joviality, women could be sexual as well
as forceful. As a result, she defied every stereotype imaginable without
forsaking her broad fan base. Born in Portsmouth, VA, in 1971 as Melissa
Elliott, Missy's professional music career began when Jodeci member/producer
Devante Swing signed her and her group, Sista, to his Swing Mob record label.
Unfortunately, Swing Mob Records fell through and along with it the plans
for Sista's debut album. Determined to move forward, Missy turned to
longtime acquaintance Timbaland, who happened to be producing some tracks
for Aaliyah's One in a Million (1996) album. It proved to be a key move for
Missy, as the album racked up enormous sales. Soon record execs were
knocking on her door. Missy began working with a number of artists as either
a songwriter or a vocalist/rapper before finally signing herself a deal with
Elektra in 1996. A year later, Supa Dupa Fly hit the streets and soon after
went platinum thanks to "The Rain." Besides the sales numbers, the album
also proved critically successful, impressing nearly everyone who heard it.
It had not only radio-ready singles ("Sock It 2 Me," "Beep Me 911," "Hit 'Em
Wit da Hee") but also an astounding array of album tracks that showcases
just how multi-talented Missy indeed was, singing on some, rapping on others.
In 1999, she returned with her much-awaited follow-up album, Da Real World,
an even more ambitious album that featured two mammoth hits -- "She's a
Bitch" and "Hot Boyz" -- along with an array of often daring collaborations
with such unlikely candidates as Eminem. Around this same time, she began
appearing in TV ads for the Gap and Sprite, proving that not only was she a
musical talent but also an important icon for the era. The cycle repeated
itself in 2001 when she released Miss E...So Addictive, again powered by two
huge hits: "Get Ur Freak On" and "One Minute Man. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
MISSY ELLIOTT PICTURES |
|
|
Warning: include() [function.include]: URL file-access is disabled in the server configuration in /home/iguazufa/public_html/123celebs.net/m/missy-elliott/missy-elliott-biography.htm on line 87
Warning: include(http://www.123celebs.net/footer.htm) [function.include]: failed to open stream: no suitable wrapper could be found in /home/iguazufa/public_html/123celebs.net/m/missy-elliott/missy-elliott-biography.htm on line 87
Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening 'http://www.123celebs.net/footer.htm' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/iguazufa/public_html/123celebs.net/m/missy-elliott/missy-elliott-biography.htm on line 87
|
