It’s been thirteen years since the futuristic sound of Portsmouth, Virginia native Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott’s debut Supa Dupa Fly changed the sound of Black music in 1997. With the release of her first single “The Rain,” Missy seemingly became an “overnight sensation.”

Yet, contrary to what many fans might’ve known at the time, Melissa Arnette Elliott (born July 1, 1971) had put in much work behind the scenes before becoming a visible success, and eventually a five-time Grammy winner. “Since day one I’ve always did the kind of music that I wanted to do,” Missy recalls. “Of course, when I told my mother that I was going to be a superstar, she thought that I was crazy. She wanted me to join the army or the navy, like my father.”

However, the teenager who had grown up worshipping Michael Jackson had different plans.

“I met Timbaland in 1988 soon after his group SBI (Surrounded By Idiots) with Magoo and Pharrell had broken up,” she says. She had formed a group called Fayze with two other girls and recruited Tim as Mosely as their producer. “We tried to get Teddy Riley’s attention, but he wasn’t checkin’ for us.” Nevertheless, after a chance meeting with Donald “DeVante Swing” DeGrate of the bad boy soul quartet Jodeci in 1992, she and Tim (and the group, whom DeVante renamed Sista) were invited to join his budding production team Swing Mob in Rochester, New York. Jodeci was working on the follow-up to their platinum-selling debut Forever My Lady, an album that would be titled Diary of a Mad Band.

Serving as the Jodeci’s main songwriter and producer, DeVante was like a ’90s Sly Stone, full of musical genius and hedonistic desires.

“Their stay in Rochester was simultaneously a scary and a magical time,” recalls studio engineer Jimmy Douglass. “DeVante had all of these talented kids living in this house: Timbaland, Ginuwine, Missy, the group Sista, Magoo, Playa and Tweet. He had all this talent living under one roof and if he had treated them better, DeVante would have owned the world.”

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DeVante had it all with the icing on the cake, indeed. But sudden success can fuck up some people's balance and in result everything they worked hard for if they let it.

Yeah Devante did have a lot of talent under his wings...but they did eventually get some exposure, especially when Aaliyah and Missy's careers took off. So I think that should be water under the bridge by now. Sadly, Aaliyah's gone, Ginuwine's career has fizzled right along with Missy's (though she's still successful at producing), Magoo???..(where is he at these days?), didn't Tweet put out another album recently?, Playa, I really loved "Cheers 2 U"..wonder where they are at these days too and Timbaland, well we know where he is at this point.

I don't think it will be the same for Playa since Static's passing, he was the pulse of that group(and for many acts). To me, he was one of the last good R&B writers.

missfee said:

Cinnie said:

missfee said:

Ginuwine's career has fizzled right along with Missy's (though she's still successful at producing)

I wouldn't count her out quite yet, I don't think you could consider her last outing as fizzling out

I really haven't been excited about her music in recent years. Maybe she hasn't fizzled out to you yet, and thats cool, but she has for me.

missfee said:

Cinnie said:

missfee said: I wouldn't count her out quite yet, I don't think you could consider her last outing as fizzling out

I really haven't been excited about her music in recent years. Maybe she hasn't fizzled out to you yet, and thats cool, but she has for me.

She just hasn't followed up her 2005 album. Hard to be excited about silence. Folks are still holding their breath for Lauryn Hill and D'Angelo though?

Harlepolis said:

I don't think it will be the same for Playa since Static's passing, he was the pulse of that group(and for many acts). To me, he was one of the last good R&B writers.

Static was a ghost writer for many of Timbaland's biggest hits. He also ghost wrote for a lot of rappers and R&B stars like Lil Wayne. Static & Aaliyahs passing is so sad to me. Especially since they both dated back in the day. There deaths was so sudden and tragic. To me when Aaliyah died that is when that whole camp AAliyah, Missy, Timbaland, Ginuwine fell apart. Devante got on heavy drugs and has never been the same. He was gifted and could have been huge. Missy is not done yet. That girl is to multi talented to be written off. She will definitely be back.

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Harlepolis said:

I don't think it will be the same for Playa since Static's passing, he was the pulse of that group(and for many acts). To me, he was one of the last good R&B writers.

Static was a ghost writer for many of Timbaland's biggest hits. He also ghost wrote for a lot of rappers and R&B stars like Lil Wayne. Static & Aaliyahs passing is so sad to me. Especially since they both dated back in the day. There deaths was so sudden and tragic. To me when Aaliyah died that is when that whole camp AAliyah, Missy, Timbaland, Ginuwine fell apart. Devante got on heavy drugs and has never been the same. He was gifted and could have been huge. Missy is not done yet. That girl is to multi talented to be written off. She will definitely be back.

I expect and hope for a very long career for Missy, like Gladys Knight or something.

And anyway, isn't the movie adaptation of her life story is still in progress? I'm def intrested to see this.

Years ahead of its time production wise really. Coulda dropped this in 1996/7 probably. Missy and Timbaland are both on the track of course. (Timbaland on scratching duty).

[Edited 6/7/10 22:44pm]

Harlepolis said:

And anyway, isn't the movie adaptation of her life story is still in progress? I'm def intrested to see this.

She has a movie adaptation of her life already??? Why?

How is DeVante and K-Ci nowadays? Have they sobered up yet? Out of most of the 90's R&B groups, I think Jodeci could possibly come back the strongest.

Musicslave said:

How is DeVante and K-Ci nowadays? Have they sobered up yet? Out of most of the 90's R&B groups, I think Jodeci could possibly come back the strongest.

Well I do know that K-Ci & JoJo have sobered up, but not sure about DeVante and Dalvin. K-Ci & JoJo can still sing, but of course their voices aren't as superior as they were in Jodeci's heyday. If all 4 got serious and did a reunion tour, I'd pay to see it.