Missy Elliott Is Celebrating Another Trip Around The Sun & Her Music Still Makes Us Lose Control

Missy Elliott’s contribution to music remains unmatched 30 years after she made her splash into the entertainment industry. 

The Virginia native hit the scene as part of the R&B quartet Sista, which she formed in the late 1980s. They officially released “4 All the Sistas Around Da World” in September 1994. She would soon move on to other endeavors outside the group, focusing on writing and producing. Elliott created tracks for the most prominent names of that time, including SWV, 702, and Aaliyah, assisting with nine tracks from her sophomore album, “One in a Million,” released in 1996. 

Elliott continued helping other artists’ work come to life before giving the world her solo music. In July 1997, she debuted “Supa Dupa Fly” with lead single “The Rain,” which propelled Elliott to superstardom. The lyricist earned her first Grammy Award nomination from this project. Her second album, “Da Real World,” arrived in July 1999, gaining another Grammy nod. Finally, with the introduction of her third album, “Miss E… So Addictive,” Elliott landed her first golden trophy for the album’s megahit, “Get Ur Freak On,” winning in the Best Rap Solo Performance category. Elliott’s fourth album, “Under Construction” arrived in November 2002, followed by “This Is Not a Test!” in November 2003, and her sixth and final studio album, “The Cookbook” in July 2005, all of which achieved platinum status. 

Aside from her countless plaques, Elliott’s futuristic visuals have long been praised. She has earned over 40 MTV Video Music Awards nominations, winning 15 for videos such as “Work It” and “Lose Control.” Her years of unique imagery earned Elliott the MTV  Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award in August 2019. 

With over 40 million records sold worldwide, four Grammy Awards, and countless other accolades, Missy Elliott remains one of the most accomplished rappers the genre has ever seen.  With July 1st being the day the world was given this immeasurable talent, let’s celebrate the best Missy cuts guaranteed to get any party jumping.