Missy Elliott
Speaking about representatives of the fair sex on the international hip-hop arena, the first person who crosses the mind is Missy Elliott. One of the most (if not the most) outstanding, brilliant and successful females in this genre. A writer, producer, arranger and, of course, performer... What for was she so loved by the audience that during all her career she managed to sell almost 25 million of discs, become a five-time Grammy Award winner and seven-times MTV Video Music Awards winner for the best video?
Experts will say that the matter is in perfected skills of Missy Elliott, in her experience and awareness of what the audience want now. Years of collaboration with «Jodeci» yielded – by the beginning of a solo career in the middle of the 1990s Missy Elliott felt hip-hop as her own element. Notwithstanding that the first attempt to make herself known as a performer in lineup of the band «Sista» turned out not very successful, Missy Elliott became famous as a songwriter for a string of stars. Among them are «Jodeci» and SWV as well as Aaliyah, the band Ginuwine and many others.
After that there were offers from labels - one is more tempting than another. And, after all, Elektra Records had a stroke. Having signed a contract with them, in 1997 Missy Elliott, at last, released her full-format debut album entitled «Supa Dupa Fly». Famous Timbaland and DJ Magic - Missy's good friends - played the role of producers. There also were participated other stars of hip-hop and R&B in recording the album. On the whole the album was received by the audience very favourably and got good comments from critics and later on was certified platinum.
However, in spite of her growing popularity, Missy Elliott didn't refuse collaboration with other performers. Actually, just owing to it, in 1998 she reached a number-one in the UK chart with the song «I Want You Back». Missy Elliott recorded this composition together with Mel B – a member of the famous female pop band «Spice Girls».
A year later there was released the second solo album of Missy. It was titled «Da Real World» and soon after its release it peaked the Billboard hip-hop and rap charts. A year later this work also was certified platinum. But the most successful was the third album of the singer «Miss E... So Addictive». It was released in 2001 and brought Missy Elliott a great number of awards including MTV Video Music Awards – for «Video of a Year» entitled «Lady Marmalade».
And the following year brought Missy Elliott her first Grammy statuette. According to founders, she became the best solo rap-performer with the song «Get Ur Freak On». She also received an award for «Best Video» («Lose Control») as well as for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals concerning the above-mentioned song «Lady Marmalade».
Starting from that moment and up to 2006 Missy Elliott kept replenishing her collection with prestigious statuettes. In 2003 her video «Work It» was acknowledged «Video of the Year» during MTV Video Music Awards ceremony in general nomination as well as «Best Hip-Hop Video». In 2004 for the same song the singer received Grammy Award from nomination «Best Female Rap Solo Performance». In 2005 her work under title «Lose Control» was marked as the best dance video and best hip-hop video – MTV Video Music Awards from two nominations at once. And, at last, in 2006 the video «We Run This» won the award for the best special effects.
All albums of Missy Elliott, released at the end of the 1990s and at the beginning of a new century, became platinum. However, a successful music career didn't prevent the singer from being engaged in other projects. She became a rather successful producer and administers charity, in particular, she is a member of an organization opposing cruelty to animals.
