Missy Elliott/Instagram
Missy Elliott has been known for her uniqueness, sound effects and simply being herself over the years. And she’s loved for it. You know how Coi Leroy said how fans are conditioned to hearing the same thing all the time? Missy experienced the same. Not saying that she’s going to go on to have the same type of success Missy has but there is definitely virtue in authentically being yourself in the industry.
Last month Missy celebrated her 50th birthday and the 20th anniversary of her 3rd album Miss E… So Aaddictive. And her career is one that has inspired many with Lil Wayne being one. A fan account shared a video of Lil Wayne talking about her influence on the early days of his career, specifically talking about her adlibs.
When i 1st came in the game people laughed at me doing sound effects in my music😩I used to cry when they clowned me but then I kept doing wild sounds/crazy adlibs in my songs & people began to rock wit it🙌🏾 Years later those same sound effects are big in songs today🙌🏾🔥 https://t.co/HPBrQsp6h8
— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) August 1, 2021
But Missy said things weren’t always as they seem now and that people used to bring her to tears in the industry clowning her saying, “When i 1st came in the game people laughed at me doing sound effects in my music,” Missy Elliot explained. “I used to cry when they clowned me but then I kept doing wild sounds/crazy adlibs in my songs & people began to rock wit it…Years later those same sound effects are big in songs today.”
A Black Lady Sketch Show comedian Robin Thede reacted to Missy talking about her disappointing early days by saying “Reading the [goat emoji] say ‘I used to cry when they clowned me’ is wild,” Thede exclaimed. “You’re such a genius!” Missy responded “I used to cry at the drop of a dime. I will say the Industry will TOUGHEN you up tho! I was DIFFERENT…which some may have deemed my sound & style as weird…But I remained TRUE to myself as a artist & Thankfully people gave my FUTURISTIC vibe a chance.”
I used to cry at the drop of a dime😩I will say the Industry will TOUGHEN you up tho! I was DIFFERENT 🤷🏾♀️which some may have deemed my sound & style as weird😵💫But I remained TRUE to myself as a artist & Thankfully people gave my FUTURISTIC vibe a chance 🙏🏾👽🚀🛸💜 https://t.co/SwHfNrqSR2
— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) August 2, 2021
Missy was one of the most confident people I can think of over the years as she was always cutting edge, she stood out and embraced not being a toothpick. To think she was crying and just at the drop of a dime is something. But it helped make way for plenty of others to be themselves and not have to experience what she did which is why we’re grateful for her career and sticking to her guns with those sounds they were clowning back in the day.
