Apple Music Rank: 75
Album: Supa Dupa Fly
Artist: Missy Elliott
Year: 1997
Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
Was I familiar with Missy Elliott? Hell yes
Had I heard Supa Dupa Fly? Been listening to Supa Dupa Fly since day one
Thoughts on Supa Dupa Fly: Some listening experiences stick with you forever. The first time I saw Missy Elliott wearing an inflated trash bag rapping, “Beep beep. Who got the keys to the jeep? Vroom,” over a wildly catchy, minimalist beat I knew I would be a huge fan. How does something that sounded so futuristic in 1997 still sound that way in 2025? The world still hasn’t caught up to Missy Elliott.
Missy sang and rapped with equal skill and did it over beats so unique – created by herself and producer Timbaland – that nobody has truly attempted to match them. When you hear a song by Missy and Timbaland, you know it’s a song by Missy and Timbaland. Usually when someone creates a new style they also create a million imitators. I don’t know anyone else making beats like Tim and Missy. Pharrell’s style is in the same neighborhood, but that’s likely because he also grew up in the same neighborhood. Pharrell has been part of that Virginia crew since day one.
In a 2023 interview with Rick Rubin, Missy stated that she and Timbaland intentionally didn’t listen to other popular music at that time. They just wanted to make what they thought sounded cool sans outside influence. They came up with beats that incorporated unconventional sounds, usually syncopated in a way you’d never expect. You rarely hear a Timbaland/Missy track that doesn’t involve some kind of vocal percussion. Sometimes even speaking words like “chicka chicka” or using a beat box sound in the place of percussion. The entire sound is summed up perfectly on “Pass the Blunt“. Missy opens the track by stating, “It’s too many producers that’s giving off these fraud beats, you know what I’m saying? Your worst mistake is to try to duplicate anything that Timbaland make, alright?” She proceeds to spit two wild verses that include multiple instances of what I can only describe as hip hop scatting. At the 2:20 mark the beat transforms into only beatbox with a human voice bass line and Timbaland jumps in to welcome us to the “Timbaland and Missy hit factory,” and boast that “a lot of people try to sneak in and get the ingredients, but I am the man behind the ingredients.”
I don’t think anyone is going to include Missy on a list of the greatest lyricists in hip hop history. I don’t doubt that she could, but instead she focuses on flow and humor. Supa Dupa Fly is track after track of Missy bragging about how nobody else sounds like her. Tired of listening to her brag? On top of otherworldly creativity and the ability to spit, she happens to possess a singing voice as good as anyone in the business. Prime example: “They Don’t Wanna Fuck Wit Me“. If she’s not going to rap to you about how “none of y’ll fools ain’t got shit on me” she’ll sing it to you, and she’ll do it to you in a way that’ll make you laugh. By the time you’re done listening she has employed a style so perfect and one-of-a-kind that it’s impossible to argue against her, not that anyone would want to. Seriously, find me one Missy Elliott hater. Usually people who talk that much shit inspire countless haters. Missy is better than all of us, and we all know it and love her for it.
For the record, this is not my favorite Missy album. I’m not complaining about Apple Music’s choice. My favorite is 2002’s Under Construction. I think it’s a better album start to finish and contains classics like “Work It” and “Gossip Folks“. For pure shock value it’s hard to top her debut. By the time Under Construction dropped we knew what to expect from Missy. Outrageous vocals over beats that sounded like they were generated by hip hop robot from the year 3000. Nothing Missy did could ever be as eye opening as her debut album. It’s a great choice for the 100 Best of All Time list, and in fact, I would’ve put it much higher. It’s my favorite album of the 26 I’ve written about so far.
Favorite track: There’s plenty to choose from on this album, but “Beep Me 911” is a goddamn 90s hip hop/R&B masterpiece. Frenetic beat. Missy singing the first two verses. Timbaland’s constant mumbling in the background – an underrated aspect of the Timbaland experience. The third verse features an assist from one of my favorite 90s R&B groups – 702 (R.I.P. Grinstead sisters). The only thing missing is Missy spitting some rhymes. Instead she passes the baton to Magoo (R.I.P) who blasts out of the gates with a wild verse sounding like Q-Tip sucked on some helium. It’s damn near the entire Missy Elliott package in just under five minutes.
Will I listen to Supa Dupa Fly again? Of course
Would I buy it on vinyl? Already did
To access more expert analysis of the Apple 100 Best Albums list click here.
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