Born in Portsmouth, Virginia, Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott has emerged as one of the most respected and influential figures in contemporary American music. Her impressive career has spanned multiple roles, including hip-hop emcee, R&B songwriter, arranger, producer, talent scout, and record executive. Elliott has provided material for numerous artists, including MC Lyte, Adina Howard, and Jodeci, and has worked with a range of notable musicians.
Early in her career, Elliott performed as part of a neighborhood singing group, Sista, which was signed by DeVante DeGrate from Jodeci to Capitol/EMI Records in 1992. Although the group's career was ultimately stalled, Elliott continued to write and produce music with her long-time collaborator Timbaland. When Sista's recordings were not released, Elliott focused on developing her skills as a songwriter and producer.
Her breakthrough came with the distinctive hee-haw rhyme on Gina Thompson's "The Things You Do," which brought her wider recognition and several record label offers. Elliott's fierce independence and ambition led her to sign with Elektra Records as a solo artist, with the understanding that the label would support her own imprint, Gold Mind.
In 1997, Elliott launched her solo career with the album "Supa Dupa Fly" and its lead single "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)." The album received excellent reviews, and its Hype Williams-directed video received heavy rotation on MTV. Co-produced with Timbaland and DJ Magic, the album featured cameo appearances from Aaliyah and Busta Rhymes, for whom Elliott has written songs.
Despite her growing success, Elliott remained based in her hometown of Virginia, where she continued to write and produce music for other artists. In 1998, she collaborated with Mel B from the Spice Girls on the one-off single "I Want You Back," which debuted at number one in the UK chart. Elliott also worked on projects with Whitney Houston and Janet Jackson, and released her excellent sophomore album, "Da Real World," in July 1999.
Elliott's follow-up album, "Miss E... So Addictive," was a stunning compendium of contemporary hip-hop and dance beats, urban ballads, and left-field samples. Released in 2001, the album was instantly hailed as one of the finest albums of the new millennium, cementing Elliott's status as a true innovator and master of her craft.
