Missy Elliott thoroughly reshaped R&B, hip-hop and pop, and became a beacon for mainstream-minded outsiders in the process. Born Melissa Arnette Elliott in Portsmouth, VA, in 1971, the rapper grew up heavily involved in music in church. After her early-’90s R&B group Sista dissolved, she joined forces with their producer, Timbaland, in time to share songwriting and production duties on Aaliyah’s 1996 album, One in a Million. The following year, Elliott properly debuted with Supa Dupa Fly and its trippy lead single, “The Rain”, which would be her breakthrough. After blasting hip-hop into the 23rd century with mind-bending party-starters like 1999’s “Hot Boyz”, 2001’s “Get Ur Freak On” and 2002’s “Work It”, Elliott opened the door for crunk&B princess Ciara with an iconic feature on 2004’s electrifying “One, Two Step”. More than a decade later, with full icon status, she laid down verses for Ariana Grande and Lizzo, two of countless pop artists who are forever in Missy’s debt.