Photo of Missy Elliott
Photo: Atlantic Records · CC BY-SA 4.0

Solo Artist

Missy Elliott

Active1991-present
OriginPortsmouth, Virginia, USA
Albums6
Tracks97

Most frequent collaborator: Timbaland  ·  75 tracks

Hip-HopR&BDance-Pop
97%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 94 of 97 tracks

Does Missy Elliott write her own songs?

Yes. Missy Elliott has a co-writing credit on about 97% of her catalogue, writing her own raps and hooks and co-producing much of her work. She is almost never the sole credit because of her lifelong partnership with producer Timbaland. Songs like 'Get Ur Freak On,' 'Work It,' and 'Lose Control' are her own words over his beats.

By the Numbers

6
Studio Albums
97
Tracks Credited
97%
Self-Written
40 million
Records Sold
35
Years Active
105
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 94 / 97 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 97 tracks: how many Missy Elliott wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

Missy Elliott has a writing credit97%
1%
96%
3%
Sole author1tracks1%
Co-written93tracks96%
Outside writers3tracks3%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
Missy Elliott's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 97 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)97%
Composer (music)97%
Producer52%
Performer100%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

Missy Elliott's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 97%
88%
100%
94%
100%
100%
100%
1997Supa Dupa Fly
1999Da Real World
2001Miss E... So Addictive
2002Under Construction
2003This Is Not a Test!
2005The Cookbook
Early · 94% written
Mid · 97% written
Late · 100% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

94%
1990s
Supa Dupa Fly, Da Real World
98%
2000s
Miss E... So Addictive, Under Construction +2 more

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where Missy Elliott sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

Missy Elliott
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)
Supa Dupa Fly
Written by Missy Elliott, Timbaland, Ann Peebles, Bernard Miller, Don Bryant
Co-wrote
Sock It 2 Me
Supa Dupa Fly
Written by Missy Elliott, Timbaland, Da Brat, William Hart, Thom Bell
Co-wrote
Beep Me 911
Supa Dupa Fly
Written by Missy Elliott, Timbaland, Magoo
Co-wrote
She's a Bitch
Da Real World
Written by Missy Elliott, Timbaland
Co-wrote
Hot Boyz
Da Real World
Written by Missy Elliott, Timbaland
Co-wrote
All n My Grill
Da Real World
Written by Missy Elliott, Timbaland, Big Boi
Co-wrote
Get Ur Freak On
Miss E... So Addictive
Written by Missy Elliott, Timbaland
Co-wrote
One Minute Man
Miss E... So Addictive
Written by Missy Elliott, Timbaland, Ludacris
Co-wrote
Take Away
Miss E... So Addictive
Written by Missy Elliott, Timbaland
Co-wrote
Work It
Under Construction
Written by Missy Elliott, Timbaland
Co-wrote
Gossip Folks
Under Construction
Written by Missy Elliott, Timbaland, Ludacris
Co-wrote
Lose Control
The Cookbook
Written by Missy Elliott, Ciara, Juan Atkins, Richard Davis, Isaac Freeman, Curtis Hudson
Co-wrote
We Run This
The Cookbook
Written by Missy Elliott, Jerry Lordan, Rhemario Webber
Co-wrote

Discography 6 albums

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

Missy Elliott97 tracks
T75 CB13 NS6 BR3 LK3 DB3

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. T Timbaland · CB Craig Brockman · NS Nisan Stewart · BR Busta Rhymes · LK Lil' Kim · DB Da Brat

The Writers & Producers Behind Missy Elliott 6 key collaborators

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

Missy Elliott holds a co-writing credit on every standard track across all six studio albums, one of the most complete authorship records in hip-hop outside of pure MC-only artists. Her writing partnership with Timbaland (Timothy Mosley) defined the first four albums almost entirely: on Supa Dupa Fly and Da Real World, Timbaland produced every track and co-wrote the large majority; on Miss E... So Addictive and Under Construction she began sharing production credit alongside him. The Cookbook (2005) marks the most significant expansion, bringing in the Neptunes, Scott Storch, Bangladesh, and a half-dozen other producers, but Elliott still co-wrote every song. Her authorship split between lyricist and composer credits is notably high on both dimensions, unlike many R&B peers who write lyrics but cede musical composition entirely to outside producers.

Quick Facts

  • SalesHas sold 40 million records, the best-selling female rapper in Nielsen Music history
  • GrammysWon four Grammy Awards over her career
  • Rock Hall firstIn 2023 became the first female rapper inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
  • TimbalandHer signature partnership with producer Timbaland shaped nearly all her records
  • Under ConstructionHer 2002 album is the best-selling women's rap album, over 2.1 million US copies

Creative Fingerprint

A writer-producer credited on nearly everything: Missy Elliott has a co-writing credit on about 97% of her catalogue, writing her own raps and hooks, almost always alongside producer Timbaland, her lifelong creative partner.

The Story

Melissa Arnette Elliott (born July 1, 1971), known professionally as Missy Elliott, is a Portsmouth, Virginia rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer who debuted with Supa Dupa Fly in 1997. She became one of the best-selling music artists of all time and the first female rapper inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in 2023. Her music videos, directed by Hype Williams, David Meyers, and herself, are widely regarded as among the most inventive in hip-hop history. Over six studio albums she co-wrote and frequently co-produced virtually every track in her catalog, developing one of the most complete solo authorship records in hip-hop. Her partnership with producer Timbaland defined the sonic identity of late-1990s and early-2000s R&B and hip-hop, placing her in a rare category of artists who built a major catalog while controlling it as a writer from the inside.

Awards & Recognition

Won four Grammy Awards over her career
In 2023 became the first female rapper inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The best-selling female rapper in Nielsen Music history, with 40 million records sold
Under Construction (2002) is the best-selling women's rap album, with over 2.1 million US copies

Frequently Asked Questions Missy Elliott

Does Missy Elliott write her own songs?
Yes. Missy Elliott has a co-writing credit on about 97% of her catalogue, writing her own raps and hooks and co-producing much of her work. She is almost never the sole credit because of her lifelong partnership with producer Timbaland. Songs like 'Get Ur Freak On,' 'Work It,' and 'Lose Control' are her own words over his beats.
Who is Timbaland to Missy Elliott?
Timbaland is Missy Elliott's longtime producer and closest collaborator, credited on nearly every one of her records. Together they created a futuristic, off-kilter sound that defined much of late-1990s and 2000s hip-hop and R&B.
Who wrote 'Work It'?
'Work It,' from Under Construction (2002), was written by Missy Elliott and produced by Timbaland. Famous for its reversed hook, it became her biggest hit and one of the defining rap songs of the decade.
Was Missy Elliott the first female rapper in the Rock Hall?
Yes. In 2023 Missy Elliott became the first female rapper ever nominated and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, recognising her influence as a rapper, songwriter, and producer.
Who wrote 'Get Ur Freak On'?
'Get Ur Freak On,' from Miss E... So Addictive (2001), was written by Missy Elliott and produced by Timbaland, built on a bhangra-influenced beat. It is one of her most acclaimed and innovative singles.
How many albums has Missy Elliott released?
This catalogue covers six studio albums, from Supa Dupa Fly (1997) through The Cookbook (2005), a run that made her the best-selling female rapper in US history.
How many Grammys has Missy Elliott won?
Missy Elliott has won four Grammy Awards, part of a career that also made her the first female rapper in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
What genre is Missy Elliott?
Missy Elliott makes hip-hop, R&B, and dance-pop, known for inventive, futuristic production with Timbaland and playful, boundary-pushing songs like 'Work It' and 'Get Ur Freak On.'

Sources