In the last five years, Method Man was a driving force on Wu-Tang Clan’s The Saga Continues album. He also released two installments of his Meth Lab series with Hanz On. Looking to 2020, Iron Lung is already slated to be teaming up with longtime affiliate Streetlife for a collaborative LP. However, as the decade comes to a close, Method Man insists that he’s over cursing in his raps. A few years back, the Wu wordsmith explained that change from the ’90s and 2000s. “That’s how I write ’em now,” Meth’ told Ambrosia For Heads in mid-2015 near the 30:00-mark. It was in promotion of the first Meth Lab compilation. “I haven’t cursed in my rhymes since Wu-Massacre.” “So if you hear a rhyme where I curse, just know that’s before [2010’s] Wu-Massacre. Listen to the whole Wu album, A Better Tomorrow—not one curse word [from me].” That was true on The Saga Continues, The Meth Lab Season 2: The Lithium, and other recent feature spots alongside Black Moon, Ghostface Killah, E-40, and Bun B & Statik Selektah. As Tical Turns 25, Method Man Brings The Pain To A Havoc Beat (Video) Expounding on that decision, Method Man said, “I just wanted to separate myself from the pack, for one. For two, I challenged myself to see if I could do it. I was writin’ for somebody, and they didn’t want curse words in the record. So I was sayin’, “You know what? Let’s see if I can write something hard without putting curse words in it, and don’t tell nobody and see if they notice.” Meth’, who spent part of his upbringing on Long Island, is not the only lyrical legend from the area who has spoken openly in recent years about trying to reduce the profanity. Rakim recently told The Breakfast Club about his motivation to keep it cleaner than some of his peers. Black Moon Make Their Return And Bring Method Man With Them (Audio) “I got away with a couple,” Rakim admitted to Charlamagne Tha God. “In the beginning, I would go home [and] make a tape, and [my parents] would probably be the first ones to hear it. I found myself trying to please them; ‘I wonder what my moms or my pops gonna say when they hear this.'” Rakim says he shifted his writing given [that] circumstance. “I didn’t put the cursing in, for that reason. In the beginning, it was just like subconsciously. Like, I wasn’t trying not to curse, it’s just that I didn’t curse…because I knew if it came out right [my parents were] gonna be my biggest fans.” For Rakim, his parents were instrumental in his creative gifts. “All my insight, all my musical background came straight from them. I think my moms gave it to me genetically, and I think my pops instilled it me because he loved me so much.” LL Cool J, DMX, Redman & Method Man Explain The Real Definition Of A Freestyle#BonusBeat: In honor of Tical‘s 25th-anniversary, DJ Philthy Rich made a tribute mix to Meth’s 1994 debut:
It’s not even two weeks into 2019 and Missy Elliott is already leading the charge of women breaking barriers in Hip-Hop as this weekend, she received the honor of being the first female Hip-Hop artist to be inducted into the prestigious Songwriters Hall of Fame. Joining Jay-Z and Jermaine Dupri, Elliott is one of the few rappers to receive an induction into the legendary hall of fame.
According to Songwriters Hall of Fame Chairman Nile Rodgers, “I’m very proud that in my first year as Chairman of the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame that we are recognizing some of the culturally most important songwriters of all time. The 2019 slate of inductees represents diversity and unity across genres and gender, highlighting our dedicated mission to honor music creators who have enriched our lives. These are writers who in their time literally transformed music and helped make what’s happening today possible.”
To qualify for induction into the hall of fame, a songwriter must be a published writer for a minimum of 20 years with a notable catalog of hit songs. Missy Elliott, who has been active in the industry since 1997, has attained “unprecedented success, including U.S. sales in excess of 30 million. Missy’s six studio albums have each been RIAA platinum certified or better, marking her as the only female rapper to achieve that remarkable accomplishment” according to a statement from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Additionally, the induction committee made note of not just her solo success, but also of her numerous collaborations with other legendary artists such as Beyonce, Ciara, and many more as well as her stunning Super Bowl halftime performance in 2015. The committee also praised her work with former First Lady Michelle Obama for her role in the creation of “This Is For My Girls,” an all-star anthem to female empowerment as part of Obama’s Let Girls Learn initiative.
The Hall of Fame’s 50th Annual Induction and Awards Dinner will take place on June 13 in New York City.
Missy’s career includes writing, production, and development for a plethora of Hip-Hop and R&B acts dating back more than 25 years. Elliott has six solo albums, all certified gold or better. She worked extensively on albums by Aaliyah, 702, Monica, and Tweet, among others. She is a five-time Grammy Award-winner (out of 22 nominations), including “Best Rap Solo Performance” for 2002’s “Get Ur Freak On.”
The 47-year-old Elliott’s journey of tenacity and perseverance began in Portsmouth, Virginia. The rapper, producer, and singer had a difficult childhood, involving accounts of physical abuse from her father and reports of molestation from a cousin when she was eight. The family also lived in Jacksonville, North Carolina for a period, when Elliott’s father, a shipyard welder, moved there for work.
Music would become a driving force in Elliott’s life by her teens. She co-formed R&B group Fayze. Timbaland, who was from the same area, produced the group. In 1991, Jodeci member Devante Sway heard some of the group’s material and signed them to his Swing Mob/Elektra Records imprint. In 1993, a backed Sista (a re-brand under Devante’s suggestion) released “Brand New.”
Living together in New York City, Swing Mob became a unit, also including Tim’, Magoo, and later, Ginuine, Tweet, and Playa. In the early ’90s, Elliott began offering her writing to others, including Cosby Show actress Raven Symone (see: “That’s What Little Girls Are Made Of”), as well as extensive work with Jodeci on the group’s second and third albums. In late 1994, Swing Mob released Sista’s 4 All The Sistas Around Da World. It contained Timbaland and Devante production (as well as Mr. Dalvin), with appearances by Mary J. Blige and K-Ci. After the group’s lone LP.
As Swing Mob disbanded from the label, Missy would continue production, writing, and development. She and Tim’ partnered and worked acts. None would be bigger than Aaliyah, whose One In A Million album featured extensive production, songwriting, and some raps from Missy. The 1996 double-platinum effort gave way for Elliott’s solo career. One year later, back on EastWest/Elektra, she would release Supa Dupa Fly. At a time when many female Rap artists led with sexual imagery and song themes, Elliott’s approach focused on inventive deliveries, universal subject matters, and a universe of jaw-dropping music videos.
The album debuted at #3, with more than 125,000 units, a first for a female solo MC at that time. Elliott joined JAY-Z on tour and persisted with a series of feature spots on albums.
Although the 1990s introduced Elliott to the masses, she reached her greatest strides between 2000 and 2005. 2001’s Miss E…So Addictive, 2002’s Under Construction, and 2005’s The Cookbook were each Top 3 on the charts. Under Construction contained two Top 10 singles, “Gossip Folks” with Ludacris and “Work It.” At a time when tough-talking Rap music was in vogue, Missy kept the party moving, and connected the genre to its origins, through sampling homages, fashion, and dance.
On her most recent album, 2005’s The Cookbook, Elliott again flashed Rap music back to an oft-overlooked part of its origins. “Lose Control” paid respects to Cybotron and Hot Streak, while reinvigorating club DJ records of the early 1990s, thanks to Fatman Scoop. It became Elliott’s first multi-platinum single.
Outside of her own catalog, Missy has appeared on hits ranging from MC Lyte and Lil’ Kim records to pupils including Ciara and her Gold Mind Records artist, Tweet.
In the last 14 years, Elliott has remained comparatively quiet. She has released a handful of promotional singles, always hinting at a seventh album. 2015’s “WTF (Where They From)” with Pharrell and 2017’s “I’m Better,” featuring Lamb, each made the charts. So did Missy’s two Step Up 2: The Streets songs more than a decade ago.
One year ago to the month, while receiving an award presented by Janet Jackson, Elliott told the public about her private battle with autoimmune illness Graves’ Disease. “I was sick and I couldn’t even lift a pen,” Missy told the audience during her acceptance speech, referring to her diagnosis of Graves’ Disease, an autoimmune disease. “My nervous system had broken all the way down. I didn’t come up in here in a wheelchair. Nobody helped me get up here. I’m walking…by the grace of God.” According to ABC News, Elliott confirmed the diagnosis to media and fans in 2011, but has been very quiet publicly about her health. She had been feeling effects since 2008. “I was on medication for a short while but have been off it for quite some time now,” she said then in a press release, “I manage the condition through diet and exercise.”
Elliott joins an induction class that includes Cat Stevens (nka Yusuf), Tom T. Hall, John Prine, and Jack Tempchin. Dallas Austin, a songwriter/producer recognized for his work with TLC, P!nk, Gwen Stefanie, and Boyz II Men, will also be inducted. Austin founded Rowdy Records, a label that also featured Rap artists including Illegal and Y’all So Stupid. Outside of those acts, he has produced for Erick Sermon and Poison Clan’s JT Money.
The induction ceremony will take place June 13 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.
Missy’s career includes writing, production, and development for a plethora of Hip-Hop and R&B acts dating back more than 25 years. Elliott has six solo albums, all certified gold or better. She worked extensively on albums by Aaliyah, 702, Monica, and Tweet, among others. She is a five-time Grammy Award-winner (out of 22 nominations), including “Best Rap Solo Performance” for 2002’s “Get Ur Freak On.”
The 47-year-old Elliott’s journey of tenacity and perseverance began in Portsmouth, Virginia. The rapper, producer, and singer had a difficult childhood, involving accounts of physical abuse from her father and reports of molestation from a cousin when she was eight. The family also lived in Jacksonville, North Carolina for a period, when Elliott’s father, a shipyard welder, moved there for work.
Music would become a driving force in Elliott’s life by her teens. She co-formed R&B group Fayze. Timbaland, who was from the same area, produced the group. In 1991, Jodeci member Devante Sway heard some of the group’s material and signed them to his Swing Mob/Elektra Records imprint. In 1993, a backed Sista (a re-brand under Devante’s suggestion) released “Brand New.”
Living together in New York City, Swing Mob became a unit, also including Tim’, Magoo, and later, Ginuine, Tweet, and Playa. In the early ’90s, Elliott began offering her writing to others, including Cosby Show actress Raven Symone (see: “That’s What Little Girls Are Made Of”), as well as extensive work with Jodeci on the group’s second and third albums. In late 1994, Swing Mob released Sista’s 4 All The Sistas Around Da World. It contained Timbaland and Devante production (as well as Mr. Dalvin), with appearances by Mary J. Blige and K-Ci. After the group’s lone LP.
As Swing Mob disbanded from the label, Missy would continue production, writing, and development. She and Tim’ partnered and worked acts. None would be bigger than Aaliyah, whose One In A Million album featured extensive production, songwriting, and some raps from Missy. The 1996 double-platinum effort gave way for Elliott’s solo career. One year later, back on EastWest/Elektra, she would release Supa Dupa Fly. At a time when many female Rap artists led with sexual imagery and song themes, Elliott’s approach focused on inventive deliveries, universal subject matters, and a universe of jaw-dropping music videos.
The album debuted at #3, with more than 125,000 units, a first for a female solo MC at that time. Elliott joined JAY-Z on tour and persisted with a series of feature spots on albums.
Although the 1990s introduced Elliott to the masses, she reached her greatest strides between 2000 and 2005. 2001’s Miss E…So Addictive, 2002’s Under Construction, and 2005’s The Cookbook were each Top 3 on the charts. Under Construction contained two Top 10 singles, “Gossip Folks” with Ludacris and “Work It.” At a time when tough-talking Rap music was in vogue, Missy kept the party moving, and connected the genre to its origins, through sampling homages, fashion, and dance.
On her most recent album, 2005’s The Cookbook, Elliott again flashed Rap music back to an oft-overlooked part of its origins. “Lose Control” paid respects to Cybotron and Hot Streak, while reinvigorating club DJ records of the early 1990s, thanks to Fatman Scoop. It became Elliott’s first multi-platinum single.
Outside of her own catalog, Missy has appeared on hits ranging from MC Lyte and Lil’ Kim records to pupils including Ciara and her Gold Mind Records artist, Tweet.
In the last 14 years, Elliott has remained comparatively quiet. She has released a handful of promotional singles, always hinting at a seventh album. 2015’s “WTF (Where They From)” with Pharrell and 2017’s “I’m Better,” featuring Lamb, each made the charts. So did Missy’s two Step Up 2: The Streets songs more than a decade ago.
One year ago to the month, while receiving an award presented by Janet Jackson, Elliott told the public about her private battle with autoimmune illness Graves’ Disease. “I was sick and I couldn’t even lift a pen,” Missy told the audience during her acceptance speech, referring to her diagnosis of Graves’ Disease, an autoimmune disease. “My nervous system had broken all the way down. I didn’t come up in here in a wheelchair. Nobody helped me get up here. I’m walking…by the grace of God.” According to ABC News, Elliott confirmed the diagnosis to media and fans in 2011, but has been very quiet publicly about her health. She had been feeling effects since 2008. “I was on medication for a short while but have been off it for quite some time now,” she said then in a press release, “I manage the condition through diet and exercise.”
Elliott joins an induction class that includes Cat Stevens (nka Yusuf), Tom T. Hall, John Prine, and Jack Tempchin. Dallas Austin, a songwriter/producer recognized for his work with TLC, P!nk, Gwen Stefanie, and Boyz II Men, will also be inducted. Austin founded Rowdy Records, a label that also featured Rap artists including Illegal and Y’all So Stupid. Outside of those acts, he has produced for Erick Sermon and Poison Clan’s JT Money.
The induction ceremony will take place June 13 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.
