Login
Missy Elliott, along with her frequent cohort and collaborator Timbaland, was a seismic force in hip-hop and the pop music landscape for ten straight years. Each album was worth owning, but those gloriously freaky singles really changed the game. So much so that even Madonna got in on the act Hard Candy.
Respect M.E. is a perfect summarization of the past decade and perfect introductory point for the unconverted. It’s a non-chronological spin through songs like “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly),” “4 My People” and “She’s a Bitch.” I’m normally a stickler for chronological sequencing, but it works here. Missy Elliott isn’t an artist who grew in artistic stature, she came out swinging, but just got weirder and wilder as she along. She picked up where MC Lyte, Queen Latifah and Salt-N-Pepa left off: she was an empowered woman who wasn’t afraid of reversing the inherent sexism of hip-hop, just having a good time and celebrating old school charms. She did it with intelligence, humor and style and nothing else sounded like her singles on the radio when they came out.
And let us discuss those singles, or, at least, a chosen few of my favorites. “Pass That Dutch” is a pressure-cooker ready to blow. It lacks a traditional structure, but it’s a wild party from another planet being beamed into your speakers. “Work It” features layers of samples, a charmingly old school beat and backward lyrics. Her introduction includes a boastful “Missy Elliott exclusive” which isn’t really boasting since this delivers what she’s talking about. “I’m Really Hot” lets everyone in the game know that no matter what you think, Missy is still the wildest and most creative person out there right now. And “She’s a Bitch” lets everyone know that no one is going to call her a bitch, unless it’s on her own terms. Nothing, however, has topped the wildness, creativity or influence of “Get Ur Freak On.” Before this how many hip-hop producers were creating such electronic influenced music? Or sampling such random Eastern beats? With that one song Missy Elliott launched herself into the pop music elite. With each new single she created another impressive and perfect moment, but nothing will top that masterpiece.
I would have preferred for “4 My People” to have been included in its original form and not the Basement Jaxx remix, but that was the hit version. So I understand why it was included. I also would have liked to have had “Take Away,” “Lick Shots,” “Funky Fresh Dressed” or “Back in the Day.” These aren’t deal breakers, but they would have been great inclusions. Her humor, imagination, numerous talents as singer-rapper/writer/producer, self-empowerment and positivity prove only one thing about Missy Elliott: she’s an icon in the making. DOWNLOAD: “Get Ur Freak On,” “Pass That Dutch,” “She’s a Bitch”
