#tbt: Get Ur Freak On by Missy Elliott
It’s equal parts ridiculous and comical that there are people who think Missy Elliott is an up-and-coming artist, thanks to Katy Perry to boot. So, in honor of "Hip-Hop’s First Lady of Innovation," we’re throwing back to one of Missy’s early beats.
Innovative is one way of putting it. Missy has always had a taste for the bizarre, eccentric, and unconventional, so it comes as no surprise that “Get Ur Freak On” is replete with Bhangra elements, funky imagery and 3D rendering, and outlandish outfits. The main beat comes from the tumbi, a traditional Indian string instrument. And Missy seamlessly flows her lyrics to this traditional tune that would otherwise be out of place in modern Western music.
So remember kids, Missy has been around a long time, spitting new and catchy verses and engaging with culture and sounds. Her career has been a tour-de-force of hip-hop artistry and poetic exuberance — long before Katy Perry found her niche in the kitschy theatrics of dancing sharks and beach balls.