Missy Elliot makes a surprising comeback, stirring up the music industry

By KATIE FRAZIER

Step aside Katy Perry because the queen of rap has come back to steal the show and claim her crown. “You make me feel like I’m living a teenage dream” was more like “I feel like I’m living in 2003” thanks to the incredible Super Bowl 2015 halftime performance by Missy Elliott.

Performing some of her greatest hits, such as “Get Ur Freak On,” “Work It” and “Lose Control,” Elliott instantly transported millions of viewers back to the earlier 2000s. Although Katy Perry made headlines for months leading up to her Super Bowl 2015 halftime show, it was Elliott who, after a long career hiatus, seemed to come out of nowhere and immediately bring the crowd to their feet.

Amidst a medley of dancing sharks and colorful beach balls, Elliott absolutely dominated her halftime slot. Elliott, revered as one of the most revolutionary rappers of our generation, is responsible for the infectious beats and club anthems that dominated the millennium. She shared the stage with the sparkling and energetic Katy Perry and showed the world the return of the independent female vocalist.

Aside from being an incredibly talented rapper, producer and successful businesswoman, Elliott has a lot to teach the public on feminism and the importance of being a powerful woman in a male-dominated profession. Known for her “tomboy” aesthetic in many of her iconic music videos, Elliott proves that she can play the game with the boys.

I always admired Elliott’s independence, body-positivity and witty lyrics. She is proud of her voice and her size. With lines like “Whatchu know about that/so cute and fat,” Elliott shows she is not ashamed of her body and allows her voice to be heard. She also supports women who embrace their sexuality in ways that are sometimes considered socially unacceptable. Her song “Work It” proclaims: “Girls, girls, get that cash/If it’s nine-to-five or shaking that a**/Ain’t no shame ladies do your thing/Just make sure you ahead of the game.”

For younger age groups that are not familiar with Missy Elliott’s music, social media exploded with people asking if Katy Perry had just unleashed a new musical talent into the world. Elliott then responded on Twitter proclaiming that she had, in fact, returned, and her 2.5 million followers seemed overjoyed. Elliott instantly became a trending search on Google and iTunes, and three of the songs that she performed at the Super Bowl halftime show stole the fourth, fifth and seventh spots on the iTunes charts. Elliott is back and better than ever, and she wants everyone to know it. Patriots and Seahawks fans may disagree on a lot of things, but not the glorious return of Missy Elliott.