Missy Elliott
1971
Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot was born on July 1st 1971 as Melissa Arnett Elliott in Portsmouth, Virginia. She was an only child to Ronnie and Patricia Elliott. Patricia was a power company dispatcher and Ronnie was a marine. All the while Ronnie served as a marine, Elliott’s family lived in Jacksonville, North Carolina in poverty. From four years old, Elliott claimed wanting to be a performer, singing for her family at picnics and gatherings.
1991
Elliott forms the R&B-group Fayze with LaShawn Shellman, Chonita Coleman, and Radiah Scott. Elliott recruited neighborhood friend Timbaland as the producer. That same year the group was discovered by R&B quartet Jodeci’s DeVante Swing, changing Fayze’s name to Sista. Under this new name, the group became part of the so-called Swing Mob, also founded by DeVante Swing, consisting of Timbaland, Magoo, Ginuwine, and Tweet among others. Even though the exact composition of the Swing Mob was never officially confirmed, all members lived in a two-story apartment in New York City, working on Jodeci as well as individual material.
1993
She wrote and rapped for Raven-Symoné's 1993 debut single, ‘That's What Little Girls Are Made Of’, she contributed as a songwriter for Jodeci’s last two albums ‘Diary of a Mad Band’ and ‘The Show, the After Party, the Hotel’.
1994
4 All the Sistas Around da World is the debut and sole studio album recorded by American R&B group Sista, released September 24, 1994, on Elektra Records. One of the group members at the time was future rap star Missy Elliott.
Although the album received positive reviews from music critics, the work was eventually shelved due to the first single not having much success on the charts.‘4 All the Sistas Around Da World’ was created but never released. The song, ‘It’s Alright’ was featured in the 1995 movie, ‘Dangerous Minds’.
1996
Elliott was signed to Elektra Records and was given her own record label, The Goldmind Inc.. Chairmen and chief executive officer (CEO) of Elektra at the time, Sylvia Rhone encouraged Elliott to embark in a solo career.
1997
She released her debut album ‘Supa Dupa Fly’. The album was a raving success and peaked on the U.S music charts eventually achieving platinum certification. It gave her an instant recognition as a female rapper in the music industry.
It debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 and topped the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It sold 1.2 million copies in the United States, where it was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
1998
Four out of five music critics from The New York Times ranked the album as one of their top ten favorite albums of 1997.
1999
Missy came out with her second studio album titled, ‘Da Real World’, which replicated the success of its predecessor. The album sold about 3 million copies and included hit singles, such as ‘She's a Bitch’, ‘All N My Grill’ and ‘Hot Boyz’.
2001
Missy Elliot’s third studio album, ‘Miss E... So Addictive’ was released. The album included chart-topping singles such as ‘One Minute Man’, ‘Get Ur Freak On’ and ‘4 My People’. It received positive reviews from music critics and was certified platinum. Missy also collaborated with Tweet to create “Oops, Oh My”. The song hit the top ten spot at the charts and was critically acclaimed.
2002
Her fourth album, ‘Under Construction’ earned her worldwide acclaim. The album focused on old school sound and came up with hit singles, including ‘Work It’, ‘Gossip Folks’. It became the best-selling female rap album ever with 2.1 million copies sold in the United States and is her most successful album till date. She received the Grammy Award for the category of ‘Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals’ for’ Lady Marmalade’. The same year, she received yet another Grammy Award in the category of ‘Best Rap Solo Performance for ‘Get Your Freak On’.
2003
She released her fifth studio album, ‘This Is Not a Test!’. Though its singles, ‘Pass That Dutch’ and ‘I'm Really Hot were very well received, the album was not exceptionally well received as her earlier albums. She received the Grammy Award for the category of ‘Best Female Rap Solo Performance’ for ‘Scream aka Itchin’.
2004
Missy received the Grammy Award for the category of ‘Best Female Rap Solo Performance’ for ‘Work It’. The 2004 edition of The Rolling Stone Album Guide rated the album five out of five stars, noting that the avant-garde sound of the album "made Elliott and Timbaland the hottest writer/producer team around".
2005
‘The Cookbook’ was released. The album debuted at number 2 on the US charts. Its singles earned a positive review from both the public and the critics.
"The Road to Stardom" premiers as a competitive TV show in which the winner's prize was being signed to Missy Elliott's record label. The show had one season, which aired on UPN. The season one winner was Jessica Betts.
2006
She came out with her compilation album, ‘Respect M.E.’, which was released by the Atlantic Records label. The album contained a collection of singles from six of her previously released albums. Missy received the Grammy Award for the category of ‘Best Short Form Music Video’ for ‘Lose Control’.
2010
She went on a massive two-part tour to various parts of Europe, Australia, Asia and Africa. In June that year she also performed at the H1's 'Hip Hop Honors: The Dirty South'.
2011
Missy Elliot is featured on the VH1 series of “Behind the Music”. Missy Elliott has revealed that she's been suffering with Graves' disease, an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid, as of 2008.
2015
Missy Elliot is featured in Pepsi Super Bowl XLIX halftime performance .
During the last season finale of The Voice, judge Pharrell Williams welcomed rap icon Missy Elliott to the stage for iconic star’s first live performance of her new single “WTF (Where They From).” Missy Elliot releases her first single in years, “WTF” feat. Pharrell Williams.
2017
Missy Elliot releases “I’m Better” featuring Lamb and released the remix featuring Eve, Lil Kim & Trina.
