UB Soul Friday: Celebrating The Innovative Missy Elliott

This weeks “UB Soul Friday” spotlights a woman who was born to be an entertainer and a writer, who’s pen has been the reason for many of us hitting the dance floor, Missy Elliott.

Today July 4th, she celebrates the 20th Anniversary of her last full-length album recording “The Cookbook.”

“UB Soul Friday,” spotlighting artists, albums, singles and videos that left a mark in R&B and Soul music!

One of the most significant female artists in contemporary music history, Missy Elliott is an avant-garde solo superstar, pioneering songwriter/producer, and across-the-board cultural icon.

The multi-Grammy Award winner has attained unprecedented success, including 22 Grammy nominations spanning four decades, eight MTV Video Music Awards, and sales now exceeding 30 million in the U.S. alone.

All of Missy’s six studio albums have each been RIAA platinum certified or better, marking her among the only female rappers ever to achieve that remarkable accomplishment.

Born in Portsmouth, VA, Missy first made waves for her inventive songwriting and production work alongside her childhood friend, Timothy Mosely a.k.a Timbaland.

Missy Elliott hooked up with Timbaland during the early ’90s after a mutual friend introduced them. “When I met Tim, he was making beats on this baby Casio keyboard – and he has big hands. It cracks me up that he started off on that tiny thing and that he’s now who he is.”

The pair’s first collaboration was a jam called “Wonder Funky Groove.” Missy recalled, “I had gone over to Tim’s house. The vibe was good. He started playing me a bunch of things, and that’s what we eventually ended up doing.”

Missy said that “Wonder Funky Groove” was “a hot song, a whole new thing. And I know that if it was to come out now, it would be the perfect summer song.” Unfortunately, the title will never see daylight and be covered by anyone because it was preserved neither on tape or in the minds of its creators.

Missy Elliott also shared she finds it easy to write any place, any time. “Sometimes I can just go into the studio and do my thing. But most times, I would have to have gone through something. That’s the case with sad songs. I don’t think I’m a sad songwriter. I’m more of an everyday songwriter [whose songs make listeners] go, `Ooh, I’ve been through that.’”

Missy Elliott‘s interest in songwriting started developing at an early age. “When I was 5, I was making up stupid little songs,” she recalled. “And when I watched `American Bandstand,’ I used to be like, ‘Oh man, I want to be up there one day!’ I used to stand outside on top of a garbage can, holding my little broom, and just sing about butterflies or whatever.”

Together, Missy and Timbaland they created an innovative, idiosyncratic sound all their own, heard on a score of hits for the late Aaliyah – including “One In A Million,” “If Only Your Girl Knew,” and “Hot Like Fire.”

Aaliyah was asked what she remembered most about making “One In Million” by an industry trade; “I’d have to say the relationship with Timothy. Because we built a friendship outside of just working. I made a lot of friends, and had a really good time with everybody, but we had a really great chemistry. I met Missy through him. We continued to work together when my I album was done; I’m on Tim’s album and Missy’s album So the friendship that blossomed was unexpected. We got really close, the three of us, so we ended up doing more than we were scheduled to do for the album. We had a lot of fun working together.”

Missy and Tim were also responsible for the chart-topping favorites as SWV’s “Can We,” 702’s “Where My Girls At?,” Destiny’s Child’s “Confessions,” and Whitney Houston’s “In My Business,” among many others.

Missy says her creativity begins with a beat or groove. “I can’t write a song before I hear the music, because the way the music sounds is what guides me,” Missy stated to Billboard. “When I initially hear tracks, the first thing I hear are melodies. Then I get a feeling.”

When she wrote “Can We” for our favorites SWV for example, Missy Elliott said the track made her feel sexy.

The soundscape for the Ginuwine song “I’ll Do Anything /I’m Sorry,” meanwhile, conjured up images of a sorry fellow begging for forgiveness urgently on his knees. “The only thing I heard is a guy going, ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you or whatever,” Missy explained.

Missy’s milestone solo debut, 1997’s RIAA platinum certified “Supa Dupa Fly,” proved a landmark, debuting at #3 on the Billboard 200 – the highest charting debut for a female rapper at that date.

Immediately acclaimed upon release as a boundary-shattering masterpiece, “Supa Dupa Fly” spawned a string of blockbuster hit singles, including “Sock It 2 Me,” “Hit Em Wit Da Hee,” “Beep Me 911,” and of course “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly).”

The videos for “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” and “Sock It 2 Me,” with the latter video, costing a rumored seven figures. Featuring a sort of an urbanized interpretation of Japanese animation. Further pushing the creative envelope.

“Da Real World” followed in 1999, showcasing the record-breaking #1 hit, “Hot Boyz (Remix) (Feat. Lil’ Mo, Nas, Eve & Q-Tip)”; which landed itself in the Guinness Book Of World Records.

2001’s “Miss E… So Addictive” was yet another platinum certified milestone, a worldwide sensation that established Missy as hip-hop’s preeminent female artist.

With its six note Punjabi hook, the album’s “Get Ur Freak On” redefined contemporary pop and hip hop, earning Missy her first-ever Grammy Award (for “Best Rap Performance”).”

“Under Construction” debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200 upon its 2002 release and has since been certified 2x platinum for 2.5 million sales in the U.S. alone.

“Work It,” the album’s lead single made history by spending an incredible 10 weeks at #2 on Billboard’s “Hot 100,” tied as the longest running #2 single not to reach the #1 position.

Missy’s sixth studio album, 2005’s “The Cookbook,” was released 20 years ago today.

The album became platinum certified in 2022, and featured the Grammy-nominated “We Run This” and the chart-busting “Lose Control (Feat. Ciara & Fatman Scoop).”

Missy Elliott’s most recent work, 2019’s acclaimed EP, “ICONOLOGY,” drew instant applause upon its surprise release, with USA Today declaring it “a master class at the school of Missy Misdemeanor Elliott…The project brings back the Missy fans know and love, with booming bass beats that are the perfect backdrop to showcase her lyrical prowess.”

Missy was asked by an industry trade; what were the biggest changes she’s experienced in the music industry? “When I first started in the music industry, it was about artist development. It wasn’t about putting your first record out and seeing how many units you would move to find out if the record company would be behind you. Now, I think the music industry is so gimmicky. Record labels are more caught up in trying to get [clones] of successful artists instead of looking for something unique.”

Missy’s massive mainstream accomplishments have extended far beyond her own solo works, including innumerable guest appearances on singles and remixes by a truly diverse span of musical artists.

As one of modern pop’s definitive songwriters and producers, Missy Elliott’s star-studded list of songwriting credits continues to grow, including collaborations with Beyoncé, Janet Jackson, The Notorious B.I.G Katy Perry, Ciara, Monica, K. Michelle, Mary J Blige, Ginuwine, Fantasia, Jazmine Sullivan, Toni Braxton, Justin Timberlake, The Clark Sisters, Keke Sheard, Queen Latifah, Madonna, 50 Cent, Mariah Carey, Ariana Grande, Jay-Z, Halle Bailey, Dua Lipa, Lizzo, Pharrell Williams, Brazilian singer Anita and many more.

Missy gave an unforgettable performance at 2015’s Super Bowl XLIX alongside Katy Perry.

Their Super Bowl performance is one of the most watched of all time.

In 2016, Missy united with former First Lady Michelle Obama for “This Is For My Girls,” an all-star anthem to female empowerment performed by Kelly Clarkson, Chloe x Halle, Missy Elliott, Jadagrace, Lea Michele, Janelle Monáe, Kelly Rowland, and Zendaya.

Missy Elliott was delighted to be a surprise guest of Michelle Obama, James Corden and many others.

2019 saw Missy making history as the first female rapper ever to receive the MTV Video Music Awards’ prestigious Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.

That same year she received the Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Music Pioneer Award at the United Nations, where she was recognized for her musical achievements and leadership.

Missy Elliott then broke new grounds as the first female hip-hop artist and third-ever rapper to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Missy Elliott became the first female rapper to receive an honorary Doctor of Music degree from Berklee College of Music, celebrating her lasting contributions to music and popular culture.

Further accolades followed in 2021, with Missy Elliott named among the twelve inaugural inductees for the new Atlanta landmark, The Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame, and later honored with her own star on the world famous Hollywood Walk of Fame.

2022 celebrated “Supa Dupa Fly” turning 25 as well as the RIAA presenting her with her six platinum plaques for being the only female hip hop artist to hold this title; and” Under Construction” turned 20 in November 2022.

In 2023, Missy became the first female hip-hop artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, her first year of eligibility.

Violator co-founder Mona Scott stated, “It has been exciting and rewarding both personally and professionally to work with an artist with the sometimes wacky yet always brilliant vision and creativity that Missy has. Missy is more than just a client to me; she is a partner in the true sense. We complement one another, each constantly pushing the other to realize the full potential of [our] talents.”

Missy Elliott was honored in her hometown of Portsmouth, VA with her own street name “Missy Elliott Blvd,” furthermore declaring October 17th to be Missy Elliott Day by the Commonwealth of Virginia.

She was celebrated with a special ceremony and parade by her alma mater Manor High School. Missy is now an addition to the Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, where her figure is a recreation of her 2019 MTV Video Music Awards appearance.

Missy has achieved success as a recording artist, producer, songwriter, record label owner, music video director, actress, fashion entrepreneur and reality-TV star.

Missy Elliott deserves and continues to receive all her flowers with many more to come.

Take A Trip Down Memory Lane with Missy Eliott!