#VitalFactz: Happy Birthday - Missy Elliot
Happy Bornday Missy Elliott. Born Melissa Arnette Elliott July 1, 1971. Missy started off in the early 90's forming a female group called Fayze (later renamed Sista). She recruited a neighborhood friend Timothy Mosely (better known as Timbaland) to be the group's producer. In 1991, Fayze caught the attention of Jodeci member and producer DeVante Swing by performing Jodeci songs a cappella for him backstage after one of his group's concerts. Missy & her group joined Devante's Swing Mob family & took Timbaland with her. Missy & Timbaland contributed to Jodeci's albums Diary of a Mad Band & The Show, The Afterparty, The Hotel. After leaving Swing Mob, Elliott and Timbaland worked together as a songwriting/production team, crafting tracks for acts including SWV and 702, but the most notable of them was Aaliyah. In 1997 Missy released her debut album Supa Dupa Fly. This album reached Platinum status & peaked at #3 on Billboard's Hot 200 Albums Chart. Her next 3 albums also reached Platinum status. In 2007 Missy was inducted into the Fourth Annual VH-1 Hip Hop Honors.
