A Definitive Ranking of Missy Elliott’s 12 Biggest Hits
is it worth it? Lemme work it.
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2019 has been a monumental year for Missy Elliott. After getting inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame, the 48-year-old music legend has been featured on the Lizzo track "Tempo" and just released a new EP, Iconology, featuring five new songs. Oh, and she's gearing up to be honored with the Video Vanguard Award at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards. Beloved by all, Elliott made a name for herself in the '90s and early aughts, creating music that young Black women could relate to. And while we'll always love her mega-hits like "Work It" and "Get Ur Freak On," new songs off Iconology like "Throw It Back" keep us dancing. “Let’s #ThrowItBack to a time when music just felt good and made us want to dance,” Elliott said on Twitter. In honor of that, here are 12 of her greatest songs, ranked.
"Sock It 2 Me” feat. Da Brat and Lil' Kim
"Sock It 2 Me" is not only one of Elliott's biggest hits of the '90s, but it's beloved for its Mega Man-inspired music video. One of the many collaborations between Elliott and Hype Williams,"Sock It 2 Me" peaked at number three on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Song chart and number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Most Memorable Lyric: "My hormones jumping like a disco / I be popping mess like some Crisco"
“Pass That Dutch"
This clap-heavy track designed to be twerked to is one of the many collaborations between Elliott and Timbaland, and samples several songs: "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" by Santa Esmeralda, "Magic Mountain" by War, and "Potholes in My Lawn" by De La Soul. The song, which peaked at number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100, shows off her lyrical prowess. There's a reason the second verse ends with a literal round of applause.
Most Memorable Lyric: "I'm under attack like my name was Saddam / I am the bomb from New York to Milan / And I can write a song sicker than Jeffrey Dahm"
"1, 2 Step"— Ciara ft. Missy Elliott
We bent the rules to include this song, considering its an Elliott feature, rather than her own song. But technically, according to Billboard, "1,2 Step" is Elliott's highest-charting song to date. "1,2 Step" marked the beginning of a collaborative relationship between Elliott and Ciara, and Elliott's verse sounds vaguely similar to Teena Marie’s “Square Biz.” So vaguely similar, she openly said she used it on Twitter.
Most Memorable Lyric: "I shake it like Jello, make the boys say hello' / Cause they know I'm rockin' the beat."
"One Minute Man” feat. Ludacris
The song may be about, uh, sex that doesn't last long enough, but it did have a long-lasting run on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, where it peaked at number eight and reached number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100. Elliott never shied away from the heavy sexual innuendo in her work, and definitely doesn't here. Plus, we love a track where Elliott gets to show offer singing skills, too.
Most Memorable Lyric: “Boy I’m’a make you love me, make you want me/And I’m’a give you some attention tonight”
"Hot Boyz" featuring Nas, Eve & Lil Mo
“Hot Boyz” was a massive success for Elliott, and it was the third and last single from her 1999 album Da Real World. The song peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent 18 weeks at number one on the Hot Rap Singles chart. Lyrically, the song focuses on Elliott's desire to find a man with money (and ideally a "Platinum Visa") who will also treat her right. Oh, Missy. Searching for a unicorn.
Most Memorable Lyric: "Can I move with you, do you need some help? / I cook boy, I'll give you more / I'm a fly girl, and I like those"
"Beep Me 911" feat. 702 and Magoo
Before Lizzo asked "Why men great 'til they gotta be great?", Missy Elliott asked "Why you played on me, wasn't I good enough for you?" All Elliott wants on "Beep Me 911," one of her earliest hits, is a heads up if her man is about to leave her. Not a crazy request. The music video follows with commentary on womanhood and femininity, topics Elliott later addressed in videos for "Pass That Dutch" and "Get UrFreak On."
Most Memorable Lyric: "You don't wanna date / No ifs, ands, or waits, it's over babe "
"Lose Control" feat. Ciara & Fatman Scoop
Elliott let Ciara take over the rapping on this track, and it paid off in the form of a Grammy award, a number three spot on the Billboard Hot 100, and Double Platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Most Memorable Lyric: "Systematic ecstatic / THIS HIT BE AUTOMATIC"
"Gossip Folks” feat. Ludacris
We never knew we needed Missy Elliott in a Kangol hat and a tracksuit until we got it, and we have never been the same since. Elliott's response to her critics and those who can't stop talking about her weight, sexuality, and eating habits resulted in a hit sampling Frankie Smith’s 1981 song “Double Dutch Bus." The video also introduced Alyson Stoner to the world, and fun fact: An early-career Jenna Dewan makes an appearance as well.
Most Memorable Lyric: “And stop talking 'bout who I’m sticking and licking / just mad it ain’t yours”
"She's a B**ch”
This song attempts to take back the word b**ch as a positive one rather than a slur against women. This is one of Elliott's hardest-hitting tracks of her extensive career, an attempt to thwart the sophomore slump critics expected of her. The music video is amongst the most expensive of all time, but it's the 2017 VH1 Hip Hop Honors performance that people remember most now.
Most Memorable Lyric: "I'mma keep in rockin' til the clock don't tock / I'mma keep it hot, light my ass on fire"
"Work It"
“This is a Missy Elliott one-time exclusive" turned out to be one of the least-true lyrics of all time considering "Work It" peaked at number two for ten weeks in 2002 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart. It can be hard to imagine a world without the word "badonkadonk," for which we can thank Elliott for popularizing in this song. A sound engineer's mistake created the iconic backward lyric in the chorus, and the song lives on in viral video heaven forever.
Most Memorable Lyric: "If it's 9 to 5 or shaking your ass (Aha) /
Ain't no shame, ladies do your thing (C'mon) /
Just make sure you ahead of the game"
“The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)”
While the song hits hard, the music video gave us Missy Elliott in that iconic shiny trash bag. The song is as much a statement as the music video, with strong, confident lyrics and brilliant ad-libs and non-sequiturs.
Most Memorable Lyric: "Chumpy, I break up with him before he dump me / To have me yes you lucky"
"Get Ur Freak On"
Pitchfork ranked “Get Ur Freak On” the seventh best track of the 2000s, and for good reason. This song's a headbanger thanks to that distinct beat that features heavy Indian dance music elements and a rather simple chorus. Rolling Stone listed it as number 466 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. And because you never new you needed it, here's Morgan Freeman reciting the lyrics.
Most Memorable Lyric: Honestly, the whole song is so brilliant, it's hard to pick one. A cop-out!
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