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American Morning

Showbiz Today Reports: Missy Elliott's Innovative Style

Aired May 17, 2001 - 10:40   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Hip-hop's Missy Elliott is showcasing her innovative style once again on her latest CD that has hit the shelves.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Our Michael Okwu has more for from New York in our "Showbiz Today Reports."

MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, guys. And good morning.

That's right. Rapper Missy Elliott parlayed some French lyrics into a chart-topping hit in the remake of the song, "Lady Marmalade." To do it, she called on some of her friends, who also happen to be some of hip-hop's hottest female talent. But "Lady Marmalade" isn't Missy's only jam. She's got a brand new album out.

And, as CNN's Jodi Ross tells us, once again, Missy's a hit.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JODI ROSS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With her new single "Get Ur Freak On," Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott isn't looking for trouble anymore.

MISSY ELLIOTT, SINGER: This album feels so upbeat, so bright, it makes me want to dance.

ROSS: Big news from the 29-year-old singer/rapper, who says she's tired of all the anger.

ELLIOTT: As females, we went through our period where we were very upset with the guys, I can admit. And they were good records. They was excellent records. It was just that, I myself had to say: Now where do I go from here? Do I make another record like that? No.

ROSS: So the third album from Elliott is "Miss E... So Addictive," a record almost impossible to wrangle.

ELLIOTT: I didn't want to make an album that was just in a category of hip-hop or R&B or mainstream. I wanted to make an album for everybody.

ROSS: As is typical Elliott style, she asked fellow artists like Jay-Z and Eve to sing along. ELLIOTT: There's only a handful of female M.C.s who make their mark and become a household name in this business. And I want to be the one that brings us together. I love collaborating with people.

ROSS: People like Christina Aguilera, Pink, Mya and Lil' Kim, who she brought together for a remake of "Lady Marmalade."

ELLIOTT: You're dealing with four very talented divas of this generation in a studio, you get kind of nervous, like, "Oh my God," like, you're scared because you don't know what's going to happen. But when we got in there, the fortunate thing is, everybody was on one accord.

ROSS: Elliott is also an executive at her own record label, the Gold Mind, featuring an up-and-coming artist named Nicole. With her bejeweled hand in so many pots, she's earned the nickname "Puff Mommy."

ELLIOTT: I love "Puff Mommy" because I love "Puffy." I don't have a problem with being called somebody that's innovative when it comes to the business side like that.

ROSS: Innovative is how many describe Elliott's music videos. She's always played a sort of cartoon of herself. But now she's showing her true face to her fans.

ELLIOTT: You didn't see me in no kind of makeup, mask or nothing. It was just Missy.

ROSS: Jodi Ross, CNN Entertainment News, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

OKWU: That's it for this hour, but check us next in our next "Showbiz Today Reports," when Marg Helgenberger from the hit crime drama "C.S.I." joins Laurin Sydney live. That's at 11:35 a.m. Eastern.

I'm Michael Okwu, reporting live from New York City.

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