November 2002
H.E.A.R. honors Missy Elliott
Melissa Elliott, Portsmouth, Virginia, USA. Hip-hop/R&B songwriter
Missy "Misdemeanor" Missy Elliott has become one of the most
esteemed figures in contemporary American music, providing
material for artists including MC Lyte, Adina Howard and Jodeci,
as well as working as an arranger, producer, talent scout
and record boss. Elliott first performed as part of a neighbourhood
singing group, Sista, who were signed up by DeVante from Jodeci
in 1992. Elliott was already writing with her long-time collaborator,
Tim Mosley aka Timbaland, and with Sista's career terminally
stalled (DeVante would not release any of their recordings)
she concentrated on songwriting and production.
Her distinctive "hee haw" rap on Gina Thompson's "The Things
You Do" brought her wider exposure, and several offers from
record companies. Fiercely independent and ambitious, Elliott
signed to Elektra Records as a solo artist on the understanding
that they would subsidise her own label, Gold Mind Records.
In 1997, she launched her solo career with the album Supa
Dupa Fly and attendant single "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)".
The well-connected Elliott was provided with immediate exposure
for the song via rotation play of its Hype Williams-directed
video on MTV. Co-produced with long-time collaborator Timbaland
and producer DJ Magic, the album received excellent reviews,
though Elliott was reluctant to commit herself fully to a
career as a performer: "I don't want to get caught up and
be an artist always on the go, because once you do that, it's
hard to get into the studio and do what I do." The album also
featured cameo appearances from Aaliyah and Busta Rhymes (Elliott
has written songs for both).
Despite her growing reputation and success, Elliott remained
based in her hometown in Virginia. In September 1998 she collaborated
with Mel B from the Spice Girls on the one-off single, "I
Want You Back", which debuted at number 1 in the UK chart.
Further writing and remixing work for Whitney Houston and
Janet Jackson followed, although Elliott found time in her
busy schedule to release her excellent sophomore set, Da Real
World, in July 1999. Incredibly, Elliott and Timbaland managed
to surpass this with the follow-up Miss E ... So Addictive,
a stunning compendium of contemporary dance beats, urban ballads
and left-field samples that was instantly hailed as one of
the finest albums of the new millennium.
In 2002, Missy won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance
("Get Ur Freak On") and was nominated for Best R&B Song ("Get
Ur Freak On") and Best Music Video, Short Form ("One Minute
Man"). Missy hit the Top 40 with help from Ginuwine and Tweet
with "Take Away." Missy won a Soul Train Award for R&B/Soul
or Rap Music Video ("Get Ur Freak On"). Missy won a BET Award
for Best Female Hip-Hop Artist. Missy won a Soul Train Lady
of Soul Award for Best R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video ("One Minute
Man"). Missy's video for "One Minute Man" was nominated for
6 MTV Video Music Awards for Best Hip-Hop Video, Best Direction
(Dave Meyers), Best Special Effects (Nathan McGuinness & Marc
Varisco), Best Art Direction (Mike Martella), Best Editing
(Jay Robinson), and Best Cinematopgraphy (Karsten "Crash"
Gopinath). Missy hit the Top 40 with "Work It." Missy topped
the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks chart with "Work It." Missy will
release her next LP - Under Construction - in November.
H.E.A.R.is thrilled to honor Missy for her great talent and
generous compassion for appearing in H.E.A.R.'s new public
service announcment (PSA) with Carson Daly during MTV Spring
Break. Click HEAR to view
the new PSA.
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