Missy Elliott Covers Billboard / Spills On New Album, Nicki Minaj & More

Published: Thursday 19th Nov 2015 by Sam
missy-elliott-billboard-cover-thatgrapejuice

Rap icon Missy Elliott is storming the comeback trail with galactic new single ‘WTF (Where They From).’ And she’s wasting no time hitting the promo circuit either. Check out her new Billboard magazine cover above.

The Virginia native’s return is one many thought they’d never see. After all, in an industry where audience attention spans are shrinking, her 10 year hiatus as an artist (guest features excluded) may as well have been double that.

Yet, as the age old adage goes, patience is a virtue. And Elliott’s fans, as well as the music industry at large, were rewarded handsomely when the Pharrell assisted jam was unleashed one week ago.

In a juicy sit-down with with Billboard, the femcee opens up about her return, being shy, and her new album. She also offers an interesting response when quizzed (naturally) on Nicki Minaj.

Excerpts below…

Missy on her hiatus:

“If I wanted to do The Missing Files of Missy Elliott, I have probably six albums just sitting there.

[The break wasn’t supposed to be that long] but it was much needed. People hadn’t realized that I haven’t just been an artist, I’ve been a writer and a producer for other artists. When you’re writing that much, your brain is like a computer. You have refresh it.”

Missy on her new album:

[Pharrell and Timbaland are doing the album]. The only two producers that understand me. When I go like “this” [referring to her total commitment to the single and the new phase that it promises] you know that it’s something I totally believe in.”

Missy on being shy:

“I was always feisty, always that kid that would be on the porch with a hairbrush singing or rapping. I got more shy as I got older and realized people could be laughing at me, or judging me.

I never record in front of anybody. [Even] Tim has never seen me record a day in his life. It’s just me and my little Yorkies, Poncho and Hoodie.”

Also on Ms. Minaj, the feature reads as such:

When asked about Nicki Minaj, who is clearly influenced by Elliott, she mock-innocently replies, “Oh, she is?” (Speaking to her influence generally, she adds, “Unfortunately, breaking news, there is only one Missy.”) Still, she would love to see more woman MCs on the charts — when she was coming up, that was much more common. “It was me, [Lil’] Kim, Lauryn [Hill], Eve, Foxy [Brown], Trina,” she says. “There’s room for so many. It’s important.”

[TGJ note: We felt it apt to share the following whole so as to preserve the context. Translation: there’s no shade!]

Awesome interview! The rest of which you can click here to read.

We imagine we’re one of many that are all sorts of excited for the album. Pending then, we’ll keep this on replay:

Your thoughts?

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  1. Ashy November 19, 2015

    Watch the barfs pile up here and attempt to drag Missy

    • Brandy Norwood is Queen November 19, 2015

      Them hoez should know better!

      • Lil Kim thee ONLY QB November 19, 2015

        Artistically speaking, Missy would demolish Nicki but when it comes to bars….Missy Elliot is Nicki Minaj’s son. Don’t come for me because this is a true statement. Missy was named an innovative not for her lyricism, but for her amazing nusic videos. That’s not taking away from her music because she has TONS of bops.

      • Rihanna The Great November 19, 2015

        You must mean that Missy would be SAFAREE’s son because Nicki does not write her rhymes.

    • You tried November 19, 2015

      MISSY U BETTER SPEAK TRUTH! MINAJ WHOLE PERSONA IS A COMBINATION OF MANY GREAT FEMALE MCS that she had in her own words “SHITTED ON”! THERES NO LIES IN THAT TEA! I’m so glad that missy SPOKE TRUTH AND DIDNT FEEL THE NEED TO KISS ANYONES A** in the process

      • Cupid November 19, 2015

        Lol Missy was a little shady… She knows Nicki was built to initially be a Kim

  2. Brandy Norwood is Queen November 19, 2015

    When is the Brandy Missy collabo coming I’m so ready for it!

    • Lake Erie November 19, 2015

      Yeeeees!!!!! That would be sooooo epic! !!!!!! Missy has a true Nack for women with soulful voices, so I bet that collabo would be a masterpiece!

  3. Nickiara Keys November 19, 2015

    Flop & Trash define this woman

    • Kemar (@S_C_Jr on Twitter) November 19, 2015

      *Six Platinum albums, 5 Grammys, innovator, songwriter and producer define this woman.

      • Brandy Norwood is Queen November 19, 2015

        That’s right let that hatin a** h** know!

    • Fancy BISH November 19, 2015

      Missy puts out QUALITY music, and she more hits than misses…unlike Nicki, who throws EVERYTHING at the wall to see what sticks…so glad Missy turned down the beat for that WACKACONDA trash…and Missy has NEVER flopped…so I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about…h**! lol

      • Fancy BISH November 19, 2015

        *has more hits than misses* 🙂

    • Rihanna The Great November 19, 2015

      Much like the smell of your vagīna. Isn’t that why Meek Mill, Future and Swizz Beatz gone gay???

  4. coolness November 19, 2015

    She looks great and her hair and makeup harken back to the outrageous video looks of the 90s era. I’m excited for her comeback because it’s high time we got something fresh from a trailblazing veteran in the game. Inb4 this turns into a Missy vs Nicki warfest which I KNOW it will.

  5. Barb-wire November 19, 2015

    Come Through with the album Misdemeanor!!!

    • truth(Janet is QWEEN, was a hot MaDINOSAUR is a flop! Deal!) November 19, 2015

      When will Nicki? ????

  6. StrawberryMuffin24 November 19, 2015

    I love Missy and so happy she’s back!

    Now I need Iggy to drop her new single!

    • Fancy BISH November 19, 2015

      Yaaaaaaaaas! 🙂

    • Bey-Minaj November 19, 2015

      Iggy drop a new single? Why would u wanna wish that on anyone? ????

      • Fancy BISH November 19, 2015

        I’m not giving these Garbaj fans a pass today lol

    • Nicko November 19, 2015

      Lmaoo ur hatred for Nicki is so obvious ????. Iggys new single will flop like her previous ones plus her radio deal is over :-/ sorry lmao

      • Bye Oniglette November 19, 2015

        But Iggy has had a NUMBER ONE. Where’s Onika’s?

      • Cupid November 19, 2015

        Atleast iggy raps about something worth rapping about… Giving a positive message and still succeeds. Missy also just proved that you can release a positive song and she hopefully brought awareness to this generations of developing adults.

  7. LIL’ KIM IS THE G.O.A.T. November 19, 2015

    The barfz could never drag Missy. Their fave wouldn’t exist without Kim and Missy. HOnika is a clone clown. “You bitçheś have no identity. All you h*** is Jane Doe.”—Lil’ Kim

    • Bey-Minaj November 19, 2015

      STFU like seriously.

      • LIL’ KIM IS THE G.O.A.T. November 19, 2015

        Go and suck HOnika’s stink ašs puśšy.

  8. Lake Erie November 19, 2015

    Lmao!! “On the porch with the hair brush” love it!!! Lol. I can not wait to hear what she has brewing. She told no lies, only one missy, no gimmicks.

  9. Nicko November 19, 2015

    *yawns* thats why Onika stay paying these hasbeens dust lmao. Missy is so fake lmao she claims that unity among femcees is needed yet she stays shading Onika on twitter (check her “likes”). Poor hasbeen, Nicki already outsold u, NEXT. PS: WTF is trash. It sounds like lose control which sounds like work it. Her music is repetitive n boring, no versatility.

    • Bye Oniglette November 19, 2015

      You’ve been extremely pressed and perturbed since Missy dropped a single. Why so bothered? Feeling a bit shook?

    • Misdamenor November 20, 2015

      You know it’s ok for you enjoy more than one artist at a time right? I think 90% of beef steams from stand that don’t have the mental capabilities to focus one more than one task at a time.

  10. Ronnie November 19, 2015

    To be fair, even as a Nicki fan, I agree there should be more female rappers on the charts. But I can’t stand when people act like its Nicki’s fault that they’re not. The fans just don’t support like they use to. And Nicki is successful because she has a loyal fan base that has been growing since she was underground. I’m glad Missy is coming to shake things up a bit, I just hope her comeback doesn’t lack consistency.

    • Lake Erie November 19, 2015

      But the women back then reached out to one another. Sure there may have been some competitiveness amongst the women then but thats hip hop and they all were still dominating in their own right. You know it was all kim’s idea to get the ladies together for “ladies night”. But things may have changed because nicki has reached out to and I believe linked up with Dej loaf, and the barbershop has eve in it so we will see what chemistry was there between them two when it comes to the promoting of the movie. So it’s not nicki’s fall but for her to be so many years in and she still hasn’t done anything to up lift her peers (females rappers) does draw questions. (YeeezyShruggs)

  11. 4everBrandy_Ci November 19, 2015

    Missy Elliott is that chick there’s no doubt and I think this album will let people know she still has it!!!!! I think it’s time for people to appreciate the music and Missy is one of the greats of her time. I loved the interview!

  12. @JanetCIARA_ November 19, 2015

    Wondering if Missy has a Ciara collab on this new album! That would be so sick for the nostalgia!

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