
Today is Missy Elliott’s 45th birthday, and if you’ve been a fan as long as I have then you’ve been holding her down since the cassette tape era. Elliott was born July 1, 1970, in the town of Portsmouth, Virginia. She would overcome many hardships at a young age, but ultimately they would lead her to a very successful career. Although she hasn’t released an album since 2005, Elliott’s music has remained a prominent mainstay. In honor of her 45th birthday, we’ve put together a list of 5 songs to celebrate Missy Elliott’s 45th birthday. Check them out below and let us know your favorite in the comment section.
1. Missy Elliott- Work It
2. Missy Elliott- The Rain
3. Missy Elliott- Get Ur Freak On
4. Missy Elliott- Lose Control
5. Timbaland & Magoo ft. Aaliyah and Missy Elliott- Up Jumps Da Boogie

Mike “Orie” Mosley is a freelance writer/photographer and cultural advocate from St. Louis. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Arts, Entertainment & Media Management from Columbia College Chicago and a Masters in Higher Education Administration from LSU. He is also the co-founder of music and culture website www.theconscioustip.com. In his spare time, he’s probably listening to hip hop & neo soul music, hitting up brunch or caught up in deep conversations about Black music. You can follow him on Twitter @mike_orie or on Instagram @mikeorie.