Missy Elliott

Background

Melissa Arnette Elliott, better known as Missy Elliott, is a well-respected name in the hip-hop music industry, and her confidence, witty flow, unique videos, and tomboyish style have earned her millions of fans worldwide. Elliott was born on July 1, 1971, in Portsmouth, Virginia. Her father, Ronnie Elliott, was a U.S. Marine, while her mother, Patricia Elliott, worked at a power company.  The early part of her childhood was blissful and she was a straight-A student. However, trouble began when her father left the Marines. Life became traumatic for the young Elliot; she was often abused by her cousin, and her father frequently assaulted her mother. Eventually, she and her mother were able to break free from their circumstances.

In 1991, she formed the group, Sista, which signed with the record label, Swing Mob Records. However, the group members separated in 1995. Elliott paired with Timbaland, and together they focused on writing and producing songs for performers like Aaliyah. She launched her label, The Goldmind, Inc., under Elektra Records in 1997 and in that same year, she released her first album titled “Supa Dupa Fly.” She followed this release with “Da Real World” (1999) and “Miss E… So Addictive” (2001).

Elliott released another album, “Under Construction,” in 2002, and it was a commercial success. The same year she won two Grammys for her song ‘Get Ur Freak On.’ She continued to release chart-topping albums including “This Is Not a Test!” in 2003 and “The Cookbook” in 2005. After taking a 14-year break from the industry due to being diagnosed with a disease, she released “Iconology,” her first E.P., in 2019.

In 2020, she was ranked number five on Billboard’s “100 Greatest Music Video Artists of All Time” and the following year, in 2021, she was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2023, she became the first female hip-hop artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.