This page will contain news stories about Missy Elliott, as they become available.Missy ElliottMissy Elliott on the cover of her album Miss E. So AddictiveMissy Elliott (born Melissa Arnette Elliott on July 1, 1971 in Portsmouth, Virginia) is an African_American singer, rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Formerly known as Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, Elliott dropped the "Misdemeanor" part of her name in 2003 and now goes by simply "Missy Elliott". Elliott is the first female hip hop superstar, known for a long series of hits including "The Rain", "She's A Bitch", "Get Ur Freak On", and "Work It". In addition, she has recieved recognition as one of the most successful songwriters of the modern music era, having crafted a number of hit records for artists such as Aaliyah, 702, Total, Nicole Wray, and Tweet, often with production partner and childhood friend Timbaland. BiographyEarly yearsIn the late-1980s, Elliott, LaShawn Shellman, Chonita Coleman, and Radiah Scott formed an R&B group called Sista, for which Elloitt served as a singer and songwriter. She recruited her neighborhood friend Timothy "DJ TImmy Tim" Mosley as the group's producer, and began making demo tracks. In 1991, Sista caught the attention of Jodeci member/producer DeVante Swing by performing Jodeci songs acapella for him backstage after one of his group's concerts. In short order, Sista moved to New York City, now signed to Elektra Records through DeVante's Swing Mob imprint. Elliott took along with her Mosley, whom DeVante re-christened Timbaland, and their friend Melvin "Magoo" Barcliff. All 20-plus members of the Swing Mob, among them future stars such as Ginuwine, Playa, and Tweet, all lived in a single two-story house in New York, and were often at work on material both for Jodeci and for their own projects. Elliott contributed songwriting duties, both credited and uncredited, to the final two Jodeci albums: 1993's Diary of a Mad Band and 1995's The Show, The After Party, The Hotel. Timbaland and DeVante produced a Sista LP, 4 All the Sistas Around the World, which was completed in 1994, but shelved and never released. By 1995, Swing Mob had folded and many of its members dispersed; Elliott, Timbaland, Magoo, Ginuwine, and Playa remained together, and would collaborate on each others' records for the rest of the decade. Elliott/Mosley songwriting/production teamAfter leaving Swing Mob, Elliott and Timbaland began working together as an independent songwriting/production team, and the two of them crafted hit singles for a number of artists between 1995 to 1997. Among these acts were SWV ("Can We?") and 702 ("Steelo" and its remix), but the most notable of them was Aaliyah. Elliott and Timbaland wrote and produced nine tracks for Aaliyah's second album, One In A Million (1996), among them the hit singles "If Your Girl Only Knew", "One in a Million", "Hot Like Fire", and "4-Page Letter". Elliott also contributing background vocals and/or guest raps to nearly all of the tracks she and Timbaland worked on. One in a Million went double-platinum and made stars out of the production duo. Elliott and Timbaland would continue to work together for other artists, and later created hits for artists such as Total ("What About Us"), Nicole Wray ("Make it Hot"), and Destiny's Child ("Get On the Bus"), and one final hit for Aaliyah before her 2001 death ("I Care 4 U"). Solo careerElliott also appeared as a guest rapper and background vocalist on MC Lyte's 1996 single "Cold Rock A Party", produced by Sean "Puffy" Combs, who hoped to sign her to Bad Boy Records. She instead signed a deal with Elektra Records in 1996 to create her own imprint, Goldmind, for which she would record as a solo artist. Timbaland was again recruited as her production partner, a role he would hold for every Elliott solo release. Early successHer debut album, released in mid-1997, was Supa Dupa Fly, which included "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)", a blockbuster hit that established Elliott as a major force in popular music. Other singles included "Beep Me 911," which featured 702, Timbaland, and Magoo; "Hit 'Em Wit Da Hee," featuring rapper Mocha and Timbaland; and "Sock It 2 Me," a decent-sized hit which featured rhymes from Da Brat and a cameos by her and Lil Kim in the Mega Man-inspired music video. The critical acceptance of Supa Dupa Fly was mixed, though generally positive; many critics commented that the album tracks, some of which sampled Elliott/ Mosley hits such as "Can We" and "One in a Million", were far inferior to the singles. 1997 also saw Elliott perform on Lil Kim's girl-power anthem, a hit remix of her song, "Not Tonite". The song's remix also featured Da Brat, Angie Martinez, and Left Eye, in addition to Kim and Elliott; and the five women performed it at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards show. In 1998, Elliott continued her successful music career by writing and producing Total's single "Trippin'", as well as working with several others in the hip-hop and R&B communities. The same year, Elliott produced and contributed background vocals and some rhymes to former Spice Girl, Mel B's, debut single, "I Want You Back". Elliott's second album was just as successful as the first. Da Real World (1999, see 1999 in music) included the singles "All N My Grill," a collaboration with Nicole and Big Boi (from OutKast); "Hot Boyz;" and "She's A Bitch". Later successElliott next released Miss E... So Addictive in (2001, see 2001 in music). That album produced the massive singles, "One Minute Man," featuring Ludacris, Trina, and Jay-Z and "Get Ur Freak On," as well as the less successful single "Take Away," which featured soulful melodies from Ginuwine and a returning Tweet, and whose video was made into a loving tribute for their late friend, Aaliyah. For "Get Ur Freak On", an usual remix was also released, which combined scat-singing from Nelly Furtado with Elliott's original rapping. The remix performed just as successfully as the original and was the version which was heard both in the Tomb Raider movie that year and on its soundtrack. Tweet's own debut single, "Oops (Oh My)", was written by Elliott and relased through Goldmind in February 2002. The single was a Top Ten hit, thanks partially to Elliott's songwriting and guest rap, and also Timbaland's funky production. Elliott's fourth album, 2002's Under Construction (see 2002 in music), included "Work It", arguably Elliott's biggest hit to date, and the successful duet with Ludacris, "Gossip Folks," which let Elliott's critics know what she thought of what they had to say about her, namely her amazingly rapid weight loss that had taken place during 2002. As the "Work It" video had done during 2002, "Gossip Folks" became one of the most-played music videos on MTV, MTV2, MTV Jams, and BET in 2003, and was also extremely successful on VH1 and VH1 Soul. Under Construction also included "Back in the Day (2002 song)", a nostalgic ode to old school hip hop music and fashion that featured Jay-Z and Tweet. In the summer of 2003, Elliott was the featured rapper on Timbaland and Magoo's long-awaited return single, "Cop That Disc"; the song was a modest hit at urban radio. Elliott's newest singles, "Pass The Dutch" and "I'm Really Hot", from her fifth album, This Is Not A Test! (released November 2003), both rose the urban charts. However, neither caught on at pop radio as well as her previous efforts have. The same year, Elliott was featured on Wyclef Jean's "Party To Damascus" and Ghostface Killah's "Tush, Tush, Tush" singles, and had a pivitol role in the motion picture Honey, starring Jessica Alba. Over a decade after she first began offering songwriting and production services, Missy Elliott is still as widely recognized and respected by her peers as ever. DiscographyAlbums
Singles/Music Videos
(*) radio-only single; did not have a music video. (**) "Lick Shots" had no unique music video, but a snippet of the song was included at the end of the "Get Ur Freak On" video; "4 My People" was similarly a "mini-video" at the end of the "Take Away" video. (***) Q-Tip appears on the radio version of the “Hot Boyz” remix, but not the video version. Although she is not credited, Lil Mo sings guest leads and background vocals on the single, and appears in the video as well. Guest appearance creditsOnly included here are records Elliott did not write or produce on; singles upon which she did songwriting/production work in addiiton to providing guest vocals are notabed below in the Selected songwriting/production credits section.
(*) radio-only single; did not have a music video. Selected songwriting/production credits
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(*) radio-only single; did not have a music video. Jimmy Arnold died of lung cancer in Sacramento, California at the age of 72. Only included here are records Elliott did not write or produce on; singles upon which she did songwriting/production work in addiiton to providing guest vocals are notabed below in the Selected songwriting/production credits section. They were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2003. Although she is not credited, Lil Mo sings guest leads and background vocals on the single, and appears in the video as well. Their most famous hit was "Moments to Remember" in 1955, and their next best known was "Standin' on the Corner" in 1956. (***) Q-Tip appears on the radio version of the “Hot Boyz” remix, but not the video version. Today, a reconsituted group, with original singer Frank Busseri, sings to the nostalgia crowds. (**) "Lick Shots" had no unique music video, but a snippet of the song was included at the end of the "Get Ur Freak On" video; "4 My People" was similarly a "mini-video" at the end of the "Take Away" video. In 1953 they made their own first gold record, "Istanbul", which launched them to stardom and kept them busy throughout the 50s and 60s in the USA and Canada. (*) radio-only single; did not have a music video. This made them well known. Over a decade after she first began offering songwriting and production services, Missy Elliott is still as widely recognized and respected by her peers as ever. One unknown artist Johnnie Ray, became a major hit with "Cry" and "The Little White Cloud that Cried" with the Four Lads behind him. The same year, Elliott was featured on Wyclef Jean's "Party To Damascus" and Ghostface Killah's "Tush, Tush, Tush" singles, and had a pivitol role in the motion picture Honey, starring Jessica Alba. In 1950 they began to sing in local clubs and soon were noticed by scouts. Recruited to go to New York, they were noticed by Mitch Miller, who asked them to do backup for some of the artists he recorded. However, neither caught on at pop radio as well as her previous efforts have. They originally called themselves The Four Dukes but found out that a Detroit group already used that name, so changed to The Four Lads. Elliott's newest singles, "Pass The Dutch" and "I'm Really Hot", from her fifth album, This Is Not A Test! (released November 2003), both rose the urban charts. At home, they practiced until they achieved their clean-cut harmonies, whether for spirituals, sacred music, or pop. In the summer of 2003, Elliott was the featured rapper on Timbaland and Magoo's long-awaited return single, "Cop That Disc"; the song was a modest hit at urban radio. When Maugeri and Perkins left the group to concentrate on their schoolwork, Codarini and Toorish joined with Arnold and Busseri in a new quartet. Under Construction also included "Back in the Day (2002 song)", a nostalgic ode to old school hip hop music and fashion that featured Jay-Z and Tweet. The group was known variously as The Otnorots (a name taken from the name "Toronto" spelled backwards) and The Jordonaires (not to be confused with a similarly named group, The Jordanaires, that was known for singing background vocals on Elvis Presley's hits). As the "Work It" video had done during 2002, "Gossip Folks" became one of the most-played music videos on MTV, MTV2, MTV Jams, and BET in 2003, and was also extremely successful on VH1 and VH1 Soul. Michael's students, Rudi Maugeri and John Perkins, who were later to become founding members of another group, The Crew-Cuts. Elliott's fourth album, 2002's Under Construction (see 2002 in music), included "Work It", arguably Elliott's biggest hit to date, and the successful duet with Ludacris, "Gossip Folks," which let Elliott's critics know what she thought of what they had to say about her, namely her amazingly rapid weight loss that had taken place during 2002. Codarini and Toorish had formed a group with two other St. The single was a Top Ten hit, thanks partially to Elliott's songwriting and guest rap, and also Timbaland's funky production. "Jimmy" Arnold, (January 4, 1932-June 15, 2004) first tenor; and Frank Busseri, baritone and group manager. Tweet's own debut single, "Oops (Oh My)", was written by Elliott and relased through Goldmind in February 2002. Michael's Cathedral Choir School, where they learned to sing. The founding members were Corrado "Connie" Codarini, bass; John Bernard "Bernie" Toorish (born March 2, 1931), lead; James F. The remix performed just as successfully as the original and was the version which was heard both in the Tomb Raider movie that year and on its soundtrack. They grew up together in Toronto, Ontario, and were members of St. For "Get Ur Freak On", an usual remix was also released, which combined scat-singing from Nelly Furtado with Elliott's original rapping. The Four Lads were a singing group. That album produced the massive singles, "One Minute Man," featuring Ludacris, Trina, and Jay-Z and "Get Ur Freak On," as well as the less successful single "Take Away," which featured soulful melodies from Ginuwine and a returning Tweet, and whose video was made into a loving tribute for their late friend, Aaliyah. There's Only One Of You (1958). So Addictive in (2001, see 2001 in music). The Mocking Bird (1952). Elliott next released Miss E.. The Girl On Page 44 (1959). Da Real World (1999, see 1999 in music) included the singles "All N My Grill," a collaboration with Nicole and Big Boi (from OutKast); "Hot Boyz;" and "She's A Bitch". The Fountain Of Youth (1959). Elliott's second album was just as successful as the first. The Bus Stop Song (Paper of Pins) (1956). The same year, Elliott produced and contributed background vocals and some rhymes to former Spice Girl, Mel B's, debut single, "I Want You Back". Skokiaan (1954). In 1998, Elliott continued her successful music career by writing and producing Total's single "Trippin'", as well as working with several others in the hip-hop and R&B communities. Put A Light In The Window (1957). 1997 also saw Elliott perform on Lil Kim's girl-power anthem, a hit remix of her song, "Not Tonite". The song's remix also featured Da Brat, Angie Martinez, and Left Eye, in addition to Kim and Elliott; and the five women performed it at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards show. My Little Angel (1956) (flip side of Standin' on the Corner). The critical acceptance of Supa Dupa Fly was mixed, though generally positive; many critics commented that the album tracks, some of which sampled Elliott/ Mosley hits such as "Can We" and "One in a Million", were far inferior to the singles. I'll Never Know (1956). Other singles included "Beep Me 911," which featured 702, Timbaland, and Magoo; "Hit 'Em Wit Da Hee," featuring rapper Mocha and Timbaland; and "Sock It 2 Me," a decent-sized hit which featured rhymes from Da Brat and a cameos by her and Lil Kim in the Mega Man-inspired music video. I Just Don't Know (1957). Her debut album, released in mid-1997, was Supa Dupa Fly, which included "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)", a blockbuster hit that established Elliott as a major force in popular music. Happy Anniversary (1959). Timbaland was again recruited as her production partner, a role he would hold for every Elliott solo release. Gilly Gilly Ossenfeffer Katzenellen Bogen By The Sea (1954). She instead signed a deal with Elektra Records in 1996 to create her own imprint, Goldmind, for which she would record as a solo artist. Enchanted Island (1958). Elliott also appeared as a guest rapper and background vocalist on MC Lyte's 1996 single "Cold Rock A Party", produced by Sean "Puffy" Combs, who hoped to sign her to Bad Boy Records. Down By The Riverside (1953). Elliott and Timbaland would continue to work together for other artists, and later created hits for artists such as Total ("What About Us"), Nicole Wray ("Make it Hot"), and Destiny's Child ("Get On the Bus"), and one final hit for Aaliyah before her 2001 death ("I Care 4 U"). A House With Love In It (1956). One in a Million went double-platinum and made stars out of the production duo. Who Needs You? (1957). Elliott also contributing background vocals and/or guest raps to nearly all of the tracks she and Timbaland worked on. Standin' on the Corner (1956). Elliott and Timbaland wrote and produced nine tracks for Aaliyah's second album, One In A Million (1996), among them the hit singles "If Your Girl Only Knew", "One in a Million", "Hot Like Fire", and "4-Page Letter". No, Not Much (1956). Among these acts were SWV ("Can We?") and 702 ("Steelo" and its remix), but the most notable of them was Aaliyah. Moments to Remember (1955). After leaving Swing Mob, Elliott and Timbaland began working together as an independent songwriting/production team, and the two of them crafted hit singles for a number of artists between 1995 to 1997. Istanbul (1953). By 1995, Swing Mob had folded and many of its members dispersed; Elliott, Timbaland, Magoo, Ginuwine, and Playa remained together, and would collaborate on each others' records for the rest of the decade. Timbaland and DeVante produced a Sista LP, 4 All the Sistas Around the World, which was completed in 1994, but shelved and never released. Elliott contributed songwriting duties, both credited and uncredited, to the final two Jodeci albums: 1993's Diary of a Mad Band and 1995's The Show, The After Party, The Hotel. All 20-plus members of the Swing Mob, among them future stars such as Ginuwine, Playa, and Tweet, all lived in a single two-story house in New York, and were often at work on material both for Jodeci and for their own projects. Elliott took along with her Mosley, whom DeVante re-christened Timbaland, and their friend Melvin "Magoo" Barcliff. In short order, Sista moved to New York City, now signed to Elektra Records through DeVante's Swing Mob imprint. In 1991, Sista caught the attention of Jodeci member/producer DeVante Swing by performing Jodeci songs acapella for him backstage after one of his group's concerts. She recruited her neighborhood friend Timothy "DJ TImmy Tim" Mosley as the group's producer, and began making demo tracks. In the late-1980s, Elliott, LaShawn Shellman, Chonita Coleman, and Radiah Scott formed an R&B group called Sista, for which Elloitt served as a singer and songwriter. In addition, she has recieved recognition as one of the most successful songwriters of the modern music era, having crafted a number of hit records for artists such as Aaliyah, 702, Total, Nicole Wray, and Tweet, often with production partner and childhood friend Timbaland. Elliott is the first female hip hop superstar, known for a long series of hits including "The Rain", "She's A Bitch", "Get Ur Freak On", and "Work It". Formerly known as Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, Elliott dropped the "Misdemeanor" part of her name in 2003 and now goes by simply "Missy Elliott". Missy Elliott (born Melissa Arnette Elliott on July 1, 1971 in Portsmouth, Virginia) is an African_American singer, rapper, songwriter, and record producer. 2004: "1, 2, Step" by Ciara (also guested). 2003: ”(My Love is Like) Wo” by Mya. 2003: ”So Gone” by Monica (also guested). 2002: "Oops! (Oh My!)" by Tweet (also guested). 2002: ”I Care 4 U” by Aaliyah. 2001: "Bootylicious [Rockwilder Remix]" by Destiny's Child (also guested). 2001: ”Lady Marmalade” by Mya, Pink, Christina Aguilera, and Lil Kim. 2000: ”Take That” by Torrey Carter (also guested). 1999: "Heartbreaker [Remix]" by Mariah Carey featuring Da Brat (also guested). (also guested). 1998: "I Want You Back" by Mel B. 1998: "Make It Hot" by Nicole Wray (also guested). 1998: "Trippin'" by Total (also guested). 1997: ”What About Us?” by Total. 1997: ”I’ll Do Anything/I’m Sorry” by Ginuwine. 1997: "Can We" by SWV (also guested). 1996: ”One in a Million” by Aaliyah. 1996: ”If Your Girl Only Knew” by Aaliyah. 1996: ”Steelo” by 702 (also guested). 2004: "Car Wash" by Christina Aguilera. 2003: "Tush, Tush, Tush" by Ghostface Killah. 2003: "Party To Damascus" by Wyclef Jean;. 2003: "Cop That Disc" by Timbaland & Magoo. 2003: "American Life" [remix] by Madonna *. 2002: "Son Of A Gun" [Original Flyte Time Remix] by Janet Jackson. 1997: "Not Tonite (Ladies Night)" [remix] with Lil' Kim, Da Brat, Angie Martinez, and Left Eye. 1997: "Can We" by SWV. 1996: "Cold Rock A Party" by MC Lyte. 2004: "I'm Really Hot". 2003: "Pass The Dutch". 2003: "Pussycat" *. 2003: "Work It" [remix] (featuring 50 Cent). 2002: "Gossip Folks" (featuring Ludacris). 2002: "Work It". 2002: "4 My People" (club single) **. 2001: "Take Away" (featuring Ginuwine and Tweet). 2001: "Lick Shots"**. 2001: "One Minute Man" [remix] (featuring Jay-Z) *. 2001: "One Minute Man" (featuring Ludacris and Trina). 2001: "Get Ur Freak On" [remix] (featuring Nelly Furtado) *. 2001: "Get Ur Freak On". 2000: "Hot Boyz" [remix] (featuring Nas, Eve, and Q-Tip)***. 1999: "All N My Grill" (featuring Nicole Wray and Big Boi of OutKast). 1999: "She's A Bitch". 1998: "Hit 'Em Wit Da Hee" (featuring Timbaland & Mocha). 1998: "Beep Me 911" (featuring 702 and Magoo). 1997: "Sock It 2 Me" (featuring Da Brat). 1997: "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)". 2003: This Is Not A Test!. 2002: Under Construction. 2001: Miss E...So Addictive. 1999: Da Real World. 1997: Supa Dupa Fly. |