Supa Dupa Fly

On her 1997 debut, Missy Elliott collaborated with genius producer Timbaland to create a strange and catchy feminist future-funk landscape. The album is filled with guest-stars, including Busta Rhymes, Aaliyah, and Lil Kim. But by the time the album made it to number three on the pop charts and also topped the hip-hop charts, it was clear who the real star was. In her videos Elliott played the clown, but the smooth, funny raps showed her to be very smart as well. The song's first single "The Rain," mixed the hook from Ann Peebles' soul classic "I Can't Stand the Rain" with elastic bass lines, the sound of grasshopper chirping, and squiggly synth lines. Supa Dupa Fly is equal parts invention, melody and funk.