Posted by Missy Elliott exploded on the scene in the early ’90s, writing songs for SWV, the late Aaliyah and 702. But it was her innovative solo work that truly pushed the boundaries and help make her an unstoppable force in the music industry. Whether she was dressed in a giant trash bag for “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” or rapping as a floating head in “Get Ur Freak On,” her unbridled creativity always took centerstage.
But according to a tweet from the Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, her road to superstardom came with a lot of tears. On Saturday (July 31), she shared a clip of Lil Wayne and DJ Khaled chopping it up about how influential Missy Elliott was on his decision to use sound effects in his music, something that was sometimes frowned upon as Missy was taking off.
She wrote at the top, “When i 1st came in the game people laughed at me doing sound effects in my music. I used to cry when they clowned me but then I kept doing wild sounds/crazy adlibs in my songs & people began to rock wit it. Years later those same sound effects are big in songs today.”
When i 1st came in the game people laughed at me doing sound effects in my music?I used to cry when they clowned me but then I kept doing wild sounds/crazy adlibs in my songs & people began to rock wit it?? Years later those same sound effects are big in songs today??? https://t.co/HPBrQsp6h8
— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) August 1, 2021
Missy Elliott’s tweet received over 200 comments and 10,000 likes with many in disbelief she ever doubted herself.
After Emmy Award-nominated comedian/writer Robin wrote, “Reading the [GOAT] say ‘I used to cry when they clowned me’ is wild. You’re such a genius,” Missy replied, “I used to cry at the drop of a dime. I will say the industry will TOUGHEN you up tho! I was DIFFERENT which some may have deemed my sound & style as weird. But I remained TRUE to myself as an artist & Thankfully people gave my FUTURISTIC vibe a chance.”
I used to cry at the drop of a dime?I will say the Industry will TOUGHEN you up tho! I was DIFFERENT ??♀️which some may have deemed my sound & style as weird??But I remained TRUE to myself as a artist & Thankfully people gave my FUTURISTIC vibe a chance ?????? https://t.co/SwHfNrqSR2
— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) August 2, 2021
Missy Elliott continues to contribute her talent to other artists. Most recently, she sat in the director’s chair for The City Girls’ “Twerkulator” video. Par for the course, it was another elaborate affair featuring dozens of dancers and lots of booty-shaking. The visual follows the chaos that ensues after Elliott delivers a city-wide alert: “The Twerkulators have already invaded Twerk-City and you don’t have much time.”
Missy Elliott Directs City Girls Booty-Shaking ‘Twerkulator’ Video
Over Afrika Bambaataa’s iconic “Planet Rock” anthem (by way of Kraftwerk), Yung Miami and JT rap about their twerking skills against a vibrant graffiti backdrop and fake city skyline. Elliott’s signature touch can be felt throughout the roughly three-minute affair. At one point, JT, Yung Miami and company become nothing but talking heads — much like the aforementioned “Get Ur Freak On” video.
The visual currently has over five million YouTube views.
Check it out below.