Missy Elliott facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Missy Elliott
Elliott in 2015
Background information
Birth name	Melissa Arnette Elliott
Also known as	Misdemeanor Miss E
Born	(1971-07-01) July 1, 1971 (age 54) Portsmouth, Virginia, U.S.
Genres	Hip-hop R&B progressive rap neo soul
Occupations	Rapper singer songwriter record producer
Years active	1988–present
Labels	The Goldmind Inc. East West Elektra Atlantic

Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott (born July 1, 1971), also known as Misdemeanor, is an American rapper and music producer. She started her music journey in the 1990s with an R&B girl group called Sista. This group was part of a bigger music family called Swing Mob, led by DeVante Swing.

Even though Sista's first album, 4 All the Sistas Around da World (1994), didn't sell a lot, critics liked it. Missy then worked with the album's producer, Timbaland, to write and produce songs for other artists. They created successful songs for groups like 702, Aaliyah, SWV, and Total.

By 1996, Missy Elliott started performing solo and collaborating with many artists. In July 1997, she released her first solo album, Supa Dupa Fly. This album was a big success, reaching number three on the Billboard 200 chart. It also had a popular song called "Sock It 2 Me" (featuring Da Brat). Her second album, Da Real World (1999), included songs like "All n My Grill" and "Hot Boyz". "Hot Boyz" was a huge hit, staying at the top of the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart for 19 weeks.

Missy's third and fourth albums, Miss E... So Addictive (2001) and Under Construction (2002), brought her Grammy Awards. Songs like "Scream a.k.a. Itchin" and "Work It" won her awards for Best Female Rap Solo Performance. These albums also reached high spots on the Billboard 200 chart. Her fifth and sixth albums, This Is Not a Test! (2003) and The Cookbook (2005), followed. The Cookbook featured the hit song "Lose Control" (with Ciara and Fatman Scoop). After a break, she released her first extended play (EP), Iconology (2019), which was her first new music in 14 years.

Missy Elliott has won many awards, including four Grammy Awards. She has sold over 40 million records worldwide, making her the best-selling female rapper in Nielsen Music history. She was the first female rapper to join the Songwriters Hall of Fame. She also received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award for her big impact on music videos. In 2021, she got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2023, she became the first female rapper to be nominated and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Early Life and Growing Up

Melissa Arnette Elliott was born on July 1, 1971, in Portsmouth, Virginia. She was the only child of Patricia, who worked for a power company, and Ronnie Elliott, a former Marine. Missy grew up in a family that was active in their church choir, so singing was a normal part of her childhood.

From a young age, Missy wanted to be a performer. She would sing and perform for her family. However, she worried that people wouldn't take her seriously because she was often the class clown at school. When her father was in the Marines, her family lived in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Missy enjoyed school there because of the friends she made, even though she wasn't very interested in schoolwork. When her father returned from the Marines, they moved back to Virginia and faced very difficult times.

Life in Virginia was hard. Missy has spoken about seeing her mother experience violence from her father. She was afraid to stay at friends' houses because she worried about what she would find when she returned home. When Missy was 14, her mother decided to leave. They pretended to go for a bus ride but actually found a safe place to stay with a family member. Missy told her mother she was scared her father would harm them for leaving. She later said that leaving helped her mother realize how strong she was, which also made Missy feel strong. Missy graduated from Manor High School in 1990.

Music Career Beginnings

Forming Sista and Early Collaborations (1988–1995)

Elliott's childhood friend Timbaland (pictured in 2012, far right) helped shape her music sound. They have worked together for many years.

In 1988, Missy Elliott started an all-female R&B group called Fayze with her friends La'Shawn Shellman, Chonita Coleman, and Radiah Scott. She met Timothy Mosley (Timbaland) through a friend who wanted Timbaland to produce for the group. They started making demo songs.

In 1991, the group, renamed Sista, got the attention of Jodeci member DeVante Swing. They moved to New York City and signed with Elektra Records through DeVante's Swing Mob label. Sista's first song was "Brand New" in 1993. Missy also brought Timbaland and his friend Magoo to DeVante, who then named them Timbaland & Magoo.

Many members of Swing Mob, including future stars like Ginuwine and Tweet, lived together in a house in New York. They often worked on music for Jodeci and their own projects. Missy wrote and rapped on Raven-Symoné's first song, "That's What Little Girls Are Made Of" (1993), which was her first big success. She also helped with Jodeci's albums. Timbaland and DeVante produced a Sista album called 4 All the Sistas Around da World (1994). Although music videos were made for "Brand New," the album was never officially released. By the end of 1995, Swing Mob broke up. Missy, Timbaland, and a few others stayed together and worked on each other's music as "The Superfriends."

Solo Success and Hit Albums (1996–2004)

Elliott worked with many artists in the late 1990s, including Aaliyah (pictured in 2000).

After Swing Mob, Missy and Timbaland became a songwriting and production team. They created songs for artists like SWV, 702, and especially Aaliyah. They wrote and produced nine songs for Aaliyah's album, One in a Million (1996), which became a huge hit. Missy often sang background vocals or rapped on these tracks.

Missy signed a deal in 1996 to start her own music label, The Goldmind Inc., with East West Records. This allowed her to record as a solo artist. Timbaland continued to be her main producer. Missy's first solo album, Supa Dupa Fly, came out in mid-1997. Its first single, "The Rain", was very popular. In the music video for "The Rain," Missy wore a unique, oversized trash-bag-like jumpsuit, which became one of her most famous looks. The music videos for her songs, directed by Harold "Hype" Williams, were very creative and helped make her a star.

Missy's second album, Da Real World (1999), was a bit darker but still very successful. It sold millions of copies worldwide. This album included songs like "All n My Grill" and a remix of "Hot Boyz".

Her next album, Miss E... So Addictive, was released in May 2001. It featured popular songs like "Get Ur Freak On" and "4 My People". The music video for "Take Away/4 My People" was released after the sad passing of Missy's friend Aaliyah and the 9/11 attacks. The "Take Away" part of the video was a tribute to Aaliyah.

For her fourth album, Under Construction (2002), Missy and Timbaland used old-school rap and funk sounds. This album became the best-selling rap album by a female artist in the United States. In 2002, Missy won a Grammy for "Get Ur Freak On." The lead single from Under Construction, "Work It", reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Its music video won "Video of the Year" at the MTV Video Music Awards.

A year later, Missy released her fifth album, This Is Not a Test! (2003). She later said she felt pressured to release it too quickly. The album sold well and was certified Platinum. In 2004, Missy appeared in a commercial with Madonna for Gap. She also performed with Madonna, Britney Spears, and Christina Aguilera at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards.

The Cookbook and Production Work (2005–2014)

Elliott performing on stage in 2006.

Missy's sixth album, The Cookbook, was released on July 4, 2005. It debuted at number two on the charts. This album earned Missy five Grammy nominations, including one for Best Rap Album. The first single, "Lose Control" (featuring Ciara and Fatman Scoop), won a Grammy for Best Short Form Video. It also became a Top 5 hit.

After 2007, Missy focused more on producing and writing for other artists. She helped many songs reach number one on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, including Keyshia Cole's "Let It Go" (2007) and Monica's "Everything to Me" (2010). Many songs she worked on also received Grammy nominations.

In 2012, Missy released two new songs, "9th Inning" and "Triple Threat". She explained that she took a break from making her own records to refresh her mind and create new ideas. Missy also made guest appearances on songs by Demi Lovato, J. Cole, and a remix of Katy Perry's "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" which helped it reach number one.

Recent Work and Achievements (2015–Present)

In 2015, Missy Elliott performed at the Super Bowl XLIX halftime show with Katy Perry. She sang a mix of her hits like "Get Ur Freak On," "Work It," and "Lose Control." Her performance was very popular and led to a big increase in her music sales. It also became the most-watched Super Bowl halftime show ever.

After this, Missy continued working on her seventh album. She released new singles like "WTF (Where They From)" in 2015 and "Pep Rally" in 2016. She also worked with First Lady Michelle Obama on a song called "This Is for My Girls" to support girls' education around the world. In 2017, she released another single, "I'm Better".

In 2018, Missy appeared on Ariana Grande's song "Borderline." In 2019, she collaborated with Lizzo on the song "Tempo."

On June 13, 2019, Missy Elliott made history by becoming the first female rapper inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. She also received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from Berklee College of Music and the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. She was the first female rapper to receive this award too.

Missy released her first extended play (EP), Iconology, on August 23, 2019. This EP had five songs that showed off her different music styles. The lead single, "Throw It Back", came with a music video. The songs on Iconology mix pop, hip hop, and R&B, similar to her earlier work. She was motivated to create uplifting music that makes people want to dance.

In 2020, Missy appeared on a remix of Toni Braxton's song "Do It" and Dua Lipa's "Levitating" remix. In 2021, she was featured on Bree Runway's single "ATM" and directed the music video for "Twerkulator" by the City Girls.

In February 2023, Missy Elliott was featured on the song "RATATA" by Skrillex. In March 2023, the British group Flo released "Fly Girl," which uses parts of Missy's song "Work It" and includes a new rap section by Missy.

On April 8, 2024, Missy Elliott announced her first-ever headlining tour, "Out of This World: The Missy Elliott Experience Tour." The tour began on July 4 in Vancouver, Canada, and featured Timbaland, Busta Rhymes, and Ciara as opening acts.

Other Activities

Helping Others

Missy Elliott has used her fame to help others. In 2002, she wrote a letter to the mayor of her hometown, asking that all shelter animals be spayed or neutered before being adopted.

In 2004, she worked with MAC Cosmetics for their "Viva Glam" campaign. She promoted a special lipstick where all the money from sales went to the MAC AIDS Fund. In 2007, she appeared on a TV show called Extreme Makeover and gave scholarships for a weight loss program to four teens.

In 2017, a petition was started to build a statue honoring Missy Elliott in her hometown of Portsmouth, Virginia, where a Confederate monument used to stand. This idea received a lot of attention. In October 2022, a street in Portsmouth was renamed "Missy Elliott Boulevard" in her honor.

Her Impact on Music

Missy Elliot's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Missy Elliott is often called the "Queen of Rap" or the "Queen of Hip Hop." Her creative ideas in music videos changed how hip-hop videos were made. Her songs often talk about themes like feminism, gender equality, and body positivity. She was one of the first artists in hip-hop and R&B to focus on these topics.

Many people see her as a powerful Black female music leader because she gained full control over her music and image in 2001. Critics say she "changed the sound of R&B and hip-hop" and brought back "fun and fantasy" to urban music. Artists like Destiny's Child, Eve, and Macy Gray have said she helped open doors for them in the music industry.

The New Yorker magazine noted that Missy Elliott was the first Black female rapper to become widely popular across America. Her first album, Supa Dupa Fly, is credited with "changing the rap game for women" because she refused to fit into typical images. She showed the many sides of being a Black woman.

Missy Elliott and her longtime friend and producer Timbaland are known for changing the sound of hip-hop. They created songs using unique sounds that became a key part of music that followed. Many rappers today also sing, a style Missy helped popularize. She also led female hip-hop album sales in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Missy Elliott has inspired many musicians, both in their music and their visual style. Artists like Cardi B, Lil Wayne, Lizzo, Tyler, the Creator, and Ciara have all said she influenced them.

Awards and Honors

Missy Elliott has won many awards, including four Grammy Awards, eight MTV Video Music Awards, and two American Music Awards.

On June 13, 2019, she became the first female rapper to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In the same year, she received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from Berklee College of Music. She also became the first female rapper to receive the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the MTV Video Music Awards.

In 2021, Missy Elliott was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In December 2022, she received another honorary doctorate from Norfolk State University. A street in Portsmouth was also renamed after her, and she received a key to the city.

In 2023, she made history again by becoming the first female hip-hop artist to be nominated and then inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Personal Life

In June 2011, Missy Elliott shared that she had been diagnosed with Graves' disease. This condition caused severe symptoms, like leg spasms, which made it hard for her to even hold a pen to write songs. After getting treatment, her symptoms improved.

Music Albums

• Supa Dupa Fly (1997)
• Da Real World (1999)
• Miss E... So Addictive (2001)
• Under Construction (2002)
• This Is Not a Test! (2003)
• The Cookbook (2005)

Film and TV Appearances

Movies

Television Shows

Tours and Performances

See also

In Spanish: Missy Elliott para niños

• Honorific nicknames in popular music
• The Goldmind Inc.