Missy Celebrates Innovative Career With Headlining Tour

“I just have to say that I love and appreciate each and every one of you,” Missy Elliot said as the applause from the crowd at Toyota Center began to die down. “I want to thank you all for being here because you’ve all been through a lot. You’re all survivors. It inspires me to see all of your faces lift up in support of us because you didn’t have to be here.”

A few days ago, NASA announced that it was teaming up with Grammy Award-winning rapper/singer/songwriter Elliot to send her song “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” to Venus, one of the MC’s favorite planets. Elliot’s song is the second to be beamed into deep space by NASA using a satellite dish, the first being The Beatles’ “Across the Universe,” a testament to the impact the Virginia native has had on the industry since her debut in 1997.

Since then, her six albums, production, songwriting and musical arrangements have earned her four Grammy Awards, six BET Awards, two American Music Awards, eight MTV Video Music Awards, the first female rapper inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, a Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award and countless other accolades.

Her influence on the music industry is immeasurable, both audio and visual, which is why it’s surprising that today, after more than two decades of a genre-defining career, she’s headlining a tour. She’s opened for and accompanied artists like Janet Jackson, Eminem, 50 Cent, Mariah Carey, Jay-Z and Beyonce.

But the Out of This World Tour: The Missy Elliott Experience Tour is her first headlining tour. The announcement sent fans scrambling to get tickets, especially after it was revealed that Elliot would be joined by Ciara, Busta Rhymes and Timbaland. All four artists are known for their music as well as their innovative visuals, something Elliot wanted to emphasize with this tour. Earlier this month, she spoke to ET about the importance of adding her guest stars to the tour and what fans can expect.

“I wanted to make sure it wasn’t just a concert. They’ve been hearing these records for years. I wanted to give them a visual and make them feel like they’re part of these videos. That’s the most important thing, to feel like they’re immersed, like they’re there. Really out of this world. That’s what I want them to feel.”

Making fans feel part of the visual universe is exactly what the tour accomplishes. Elaborate costume changes, gigantic sets and massive video projections transport fans directly into the creative minds that created music videos for songs like “Hot Boys” and “Get Ur Freak On.” June Ambrose, the costume designer for iconic videos like “Mo Money Mo Problems” and “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly),” designed over 250 costumes for Elliott and his backup dancers as they transitioned from spaceships hurtling into the abyss to city streets adorned with colorful graffiti.

The two have worked closely together since Elliot’s first music video in a baggy black jumpsuit, and Ambrose’s touch is felt throughout the show. Ambrose is also responsible for Elliot’s futuristic look in the 1999 music video She’s a bitch with Elliot who recently said Vanity Fair It’s still one of her favorite projects. Guests and contributors to the show point out that Elliot isn’t just looking to do a regular concert. Just like her videos, she manages to do something different in the concert space with her innovative looks and visuals.

The resulting show is a veteran of the game, both nostalgic and refreshing. Guests are greeted at the beginning of the show by four talking heads representing different eras of Elliot’s career. As Missy’s four heads debate what the audience should hear, the projection zooms in and out, making the images appear almost three-dimensional. Whether it’s Elliot flying through space on a giant screen or herself dwarfed by a version of herself from the “Sock It 2 ​​Me” music video, Elliot is a master of bringing the old into the new, highlighting key moments from her videos while updating those memories with elaborate costumes and sets. It’s a fact Elliot embraces.

“Some of these kids weren’t even born when these songs came out,” a breathless Elliot exclaimed, gesturing to her performers. “And they’re up there dancing like crazy! You’re giving it your all for them and showing them some love!”

And if Elliot wasn’t enough, there’s the addition of Busta Rhymes and Ciara, who could also be headliners on tour. Ciara dazzled her dancers as she moved up and down a tilted and elevated stage. Busta Rhyme and Spliff Star continued to cement their reputation as two of the best live acts around, even enlisting Bun B to perform “Get Throwed” and “Big Pimpin'” for the cheering crowd.

Missy Elliott’s Out of This World Tour is more than just a concert—it’s a tribute to a visionary artist who has continually pushed the boundaries of music and visual creativity. By assembling an exceptional lineup of guest artists and incorporating immersive, conceptual visuals, Elliot has created an experience that honors her past while showcasing her present and future. As fans old and new gather to witness it all, it’s clear that Missy Elliott’s influence on the industry remains as powerful as ever.

List of songs
1. Throw it back
2. Cool down
3. We manage this
4. 4 My people
5. Sock me
6. I’m really hot
7. The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)
8. I’m feeling better
9. She’s a bitch
10. Gossip
11. Everything in my grill
12. Treat yourself
13. Tongue flicks
14. The One Minute Man
15. Sexy boys
16. Call me 911
17. Drip
18. Kitten
19. Wicked man
20. Ching-A-Ling
21. WTF (Where did they come from)
22. Work it
23. Pass me that Dutch
24. Boogie is the jump
25. Touch it
26. Losing control