Missy Elliott, born in Portsmouth, Virginia in 1971, made her mark on the music industry as a producer and artist. Beginning her career with the group Sista under Swing Mob label, she gained recognition for her work with artists like Aaliyah and Tweet. Elliott's debut album, Supa Dupa Fly in 1997, was a commercial success, setting the stage for her influential contributions to rap and R&B throughout the late '90s and 2000s. Her subsequent albums, Da Real World, Miss E...So Addictive, Under Construction, This Is Not a Test!, and The Cookbook, all achieved double platinum status.

In the mid-2000s, Missy Elliott continued her success with hit singles like "Get Ur Freak On" and "Work It," earning Grammy awards for her work. Despite health challenges related to Graves' disease, she remained active in the music industry, producing for various artists and releasing sporadic tracks. In 2019, she made a mainstream resurgence with the Iconology EP, followed by collaborations with artists like Toni Braxton and Dua Lipa. Recognized for her contributions, Elliott was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame, Hollywood Walk of Fame, and became the first female rapper inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2023.