It's impossible to talk about women in hip hop without mentioning Missy Elliott. With timeless hits like "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)" and "Get Ur Freak On" under her belt, the rap star's effect on the 50-year-old music genre is still so palpable, and Essence won't let the world forget it. Looking poised as ever, Elliott covers the magazine's July/August issue wearing a sparkly, gold sequined suit with black platform boots, as her brown hair blows behind her. The star teamed up with stylist Mike Smith to create the powerful look, which also features an array of statement-making jewelry to match - most notably necklaces that read "Missy Elliott Blvd" and her signature "Iconic" gold piece.
While it's not Elliott's first time covering the publication, this year's issue marks the continuation of hip hop's 50th anniversary celebration and pays homage to Black Music Month. The special edition also celebrates the "Lose Control" singer's history-making status, as she's the first female rapper to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this November. This admirable feat is no surprise for fans, since she's revolutionized the music industry with her own career and written songs for legendary artists like Aaliyah, Lil' Kim, Janet Jackson, and, yes, even Beyoncé. Elliott has earned the respect of those who inspired her stardom, including Sandra "Pepa" Denton of the rap duo Salt-n-Pepa. "She was just talking to me, and I was nobody. She was so kind to me, and I always remembered that," Elliott told Essence of her first time meeting the star.
In addition to her undeniable legacy, the 51-year-old spoke about her mental health - particularly her battle with anxiety. Elliott struggled during the pandemic shutdown of 2020, similarly to most of us. She also shared her experience being diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder, Graves' disease, over a decade ago. "Now I'm fine with being like, 'Hey, I got anxiety' or 'I went through depression,'" she said, continuing, "Even the biggest artist, or just the regular everyday working person, we all go through sh*t. We all do. And it's okay to say, 'Hey, I'm not okay today.'"
The cover also celebrates the Grammy-winning rapper's unmatched creativity in uniting the worlds of fashion and music. Her most notable look is still the black vinyl balloon suit inspired by the Michelin Man, brilliantly styled by June Ambrose for "The Rain" video in 1997. It seemed unusual to the world at the time, but Elliott stayed true to who she was. "I was always just different...And so I never thought, Hey, I'm going to do this, and this is going to change the world. It's going to change the way videos look. Or I want to do the craziest thing ever. Nothing seemed crazy to me," she shared.
As we wait for the singer's Hall of Fame induction, bask in the beauty of her Essence cover outfit ahead.