Missy Elliott, original name Melissa Arnette Elliott, byname Missy Misdemeanor, (born July 1, 1971, Portsmouth, Virginia, U.S.), American rapper and music producer who made a mark on the male-dominated hip-hop world with her talents for writing, rapping, singing, and music production. From an early age, Elliott demonstrated a knack for performance, and her big break came in 1991 when Jodeci band member DeVante Swing signed Elliott’s group, Sista, to his Swing Mob Records label. Lack of funds prevented the release of Sista’s debut album, however, and the group subsequently broke up. Elliott teamed up with childhood friend Timbaland to cowrite
Missy Elliott candidly revealed what inspired her to remain persistent in her early career. The “Work It” rapper responded to a fan question on Twitter last week, answering…