Missy Elliott

By Kevin Yeoh  •  in Features
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JUICE got the exclusive 5 minutes sit-down with the ever-so-innovative Missy Elliott a couple of months back in Genting. Everyone was saying how much a diva she was prior to the interview, which got us feeling God damn prepared for any attitude from the supa dupa fly star herself. Hell no, she is probably one of the sweetest person in music and had an incredible energy. If there’s anything that’s diva around her, it would have to be her entourage and well, maybe that one hour wait before she comes onstage. We forgive her, though. How can you not love Missy Elliott?

Text Kevin Yeoh
Image Warner Music

Hi Missy. How you doing?
I’m good. You want me to hold that for you so you can hear me?

Oh nah. It’s cool. I’m multitasking.
Oh it’s a camera. (laughs)

So when’s the best moment for you in your music?
It’s hard for me to say. There are so many great moments for me like when I got the chance to work with Madonna, Mariah, Whitney or when I got the chance to go to Oprah Winfrey’s house. There’s so many moments for me, it’s not just one. Winning so many awards… I was given the Hip Hop Honor recently. Things like that, so I can’t put my finger on just one thing cos every moment is special.

Was it a conscious decision that you and Timbaland go your own?
(smiles) Well, Timbaland and I never went our own way, so when people say that it’s weird to me. Timbaland and I are producers, so as you grow, we never stop each other from working with other people. We never part ways and we always work together. Timbaland was very involved in the last album, so when people say that, it bugs me out. I don’t know where this come from! It’s weird… (laughs)

Do you have any other female protégés in the work?
There’s this young girl by the name of Jazmine Sullivan from J Records and she just dropped her record recently. She’s like… There’s one Lauryn Hill, but when you hear her, you’re gonna feel like how you felt when you heard Lauryn Hill of the Fugees. It’s amazing… So Jazmine Sullivan, ya’ll better be looking out for her. She’s 19 years old and she’s getting her buzz in the States already.

How do you stay fresh musically?
The way I stay fresh is I don’t listen to the radio or watch TV. I find that the easiest way because if I don’t see or I don’t hear it, I’m not forced to mimic it or copying somebody else’s style. I kinda stay in a box… Unfortunately when my friends get in the car with me, they don’t get to listen to the latest records, but you may hear old Mick Jagger or Michael Jackson cos that’s when music was great.

You’re an animal lover, what do you think of the overuse of fur in the hip hop community?
I don’t really get into that, but I do love my dogs and I wouldn’t want anyone to put my dogs on their backs. I’m real funny about that. I don’t get too much into the fur situation, but I’m an animal lover and I most definitely couldn’t watch the animals being slaughtered to be put into somebody’s shoes.

So your fans are naming your next album, what do you think of naming it JUICE ? What direction will you be leaning towards?
Oh JUICE … (laughs) I don’t know. That’s why I had a contest cos I’m BLOCKED! Y’know, Missy do get blocked where I really don’t know. How would that fit. What would be the reason I should name it JUICE . You gotta tell me!

(nervous interviewer) Errr… We’re the best magazine in town?
(laughs) See, you gotta have a bigger meaning. Well, maybe for promotional, I can come out with bunch of different JUICE box… with my face on it. (laughs)

There you go! Thanks Missy.
Aite… (more smiles)

At print time, Missy Elliott tentatively named her album Block Party dropping September 9th. Missy performed at Genting for the Xlive music event in May. For more updates on this jiggalicious female MC, go to www.missy-elliott.com.

The writer was literally shaking the whole time during the interview.

Kooky Missy rhymes:

“My finger waves be dazed, they fall like Humpty/Chumpy, I break up with him before he dump me” The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly) (1997)

“Slap!Slap!Slap! / Right across your melon, easy” Slap Slap (2001)

“Play your position listen, where is your pot to piss in / ‘Fore we start really kissin, hot as freaky kitchen” Scream (2001)

“Can I put my booty booty / Up in your spaghetti?” Pussycat (2002)

“Jiggle, jiggle, jangle / Watch how my gludius dangle” I’m Really Hot (2003)

“Y’all just rookies, virgins, and nookies / Not my competition you skip or play hookie” On & On (2005)

“Ice on my sleeve, I can make a room freeze / Pockets more bigger than a stripper booty cheeks” Ching-A-Ling (2008)