Early Life
Originally named Melissa Arnette Elliot, Missy Elliott was born July 1, 1971, in Portsmouth, Virginia. Her mom worked at a power company while her dad was a U.S. Marine.
Missy’s home life was not the greatest. Her father was extremely violent, often beating her mom in front of Melissa. At the age of eight, she was sexually abused by an older cousin. When Missy was 14, she and her mom ran away and created a life on their own.
The traumatic experience didn’t affect her interest in music. Elliott was in her teens when she formed a girl group Sista and signed a deal with Swing Mob Records. The contract encouraged her to move to New York, but the label closed, and the album never got released. As a result, Sista split up.
Career
Missy Elliott continued to write and produce songs even after the failure with Swing Mob Records. She wrote songs for SWV, Aaliyah, Raven-Symoné. As a vocalist, she appeared for the first time in a remix of the famous song, The Things You Do.
With the help of Sylvia Rhone, the CEO of Elektra Entertainment Group, Missy Elliott launched her label Goldmind and released her debut album Supa Dupa Fly in 1997. The album sold millions of copies, and Missy Elliott was awarded the prestigious title of Rolling Stone rap artist of the year.
She continued to record her songs and write songs for her colleagues. In the late ‘90s, she produced two songs for Whitney Houston and appeared on Mel B’s single I Want You Back. Missy’s albums, Da Real World and Miss E… So Addictive albums followed in 1999 and 2001. Both albums went platinum. She was awarded a GRAMMY award for her single Get Ur Freak On in 2002.
Missy Elliott Relationships: Who Has She Dated?
It appears that Missy Elliott is single at the moment. In the past, she was in the following relationships:
Nicole Wray (1996-1998)
Trina (1997-1998)
Faith Evans (1999)
Tweety (1999-2002)
Olivia Longott (2002-2004)
Lil’ Kim (2003)
Karrine Steffans (2003)
Da Brat
Timbaland
In the News
Due to childhood abuse, Missy Elliott experienced subsequent depression. In 2008, she was diagnosed with Grave’s disease. Her big comeback followed in 2015 when she appeared during the 2015 Super Bowl halftime show to perform alongside Katy Perry.
Keep up with Missy Elliott’s career and the latest gossip with The Shade Room!
