Supa Dupa Fly

This debut album from Missy Elliott is fine. Not great, but fine. The music is listenable, but this is definitely not where you will find Missy's most influential work. To me, this is an entry that could have been replaced with a more iconic Missy Elliott album, but this was instead chosen for its historical significance. Missy was part of a movement of validating and legitimizing the existence of female rappers in the mainstream, and this debut album represents that big push. That said, this album relies heavily on features and in my opinion, doesn't show off Missy's true prowess that she developed following this album. Missy's inclusion in this project is absolutely warranted. But I question the choice of this album. A weak 3.

I wish I liked this a lot more than I did. I liked the intro with busta in it, but past that the album was mostly downhill from there

757 represent - Timbaland is easily in the GOAT conversation for production. The whole album is funky and soulful af, and so deep and rich. I could probably listen 10 times in a row and hear new elements. I really can't believe this was '97 - it feels way ahead of its time.

Seriously, another missy Elliott album? The author of this book really did just fill gaps wherever hey. This just went on and on and on without end, yet another nameless rap album from the late 90s when it lost all character and started to sound like generic mass produced crap. This is the rap equivalent of poison or nelson. 2/5.

I don’t know if it’s the slower pace, the beats, or the samples used, but this is undeniably 90s and that it comfortingly familiar even when I have never heard any track beyond The Rain. Is this the best hip hop album? No. Would I put this on while I get shit done. Absolutely. I hover between 3 and 4 but I think pure nostalgia bumps this up to 4.

Had this at a 4/10 rating thirty minutes in halfway through, until I saw red upon realizing I was halfway through thirty minutes in! Snoozefest full of weak bars except for Lil Kim's past- left-field Finnegan's Wake reference, which I missed because I was catching Z's. Inexplicably in the top 100 of Rolling Stone's 2020-edition Top 500 Albums list, above and below some astronomically superior works. 3/10

I love Missy E, but this one is a miss. Too many Timbaland ad libs and iffy features. Best track: Hit 'Em wit da Hee

This album is really a trip to listen to in 2021. It's all about the vibe, above all else. The standard formula is Missy's smooth vocalizing setting the scene of a blunt smoke-filled room in late 90's NYC, followed by a guest emcee coming in to lay down the raps. It is maybe a tad repetitive, but it makes for an excellent chill album that's easy to listen to.

Another classic album in one of my favourite genres. Very much of its time, but Missy is one of the best and it was great listening to all her early stuff again. A couple of the tunes on the 2nd half of the album dragged a bit but on the whole it was great fun to listen to.

"Supa Dupa Fly" is the sound of a big step forward for the genre: I was struck by the feeling that in 1997, Missy Elliott developed a brand of hip-hop and R&B still celebrated and explored by women artists in the current scene. Themes of feminism, sex-positivity, body confidence and solidarity between women help to make the album a fresh and engaging listen, although the songs themselves weren't always up to scratch. The first half jumps out immediately, a result of all four singles being placed together at the very start. This isn't to say it's the best material, but it's certainly the most immediate, the most demanding of attention. I enjoyed Elliott's vocals across all of these tracks, as well as the scratchy bass hook in "Hit 'Em Wit da Hee", the brass sample and chorus of "Sock it 2 Me" and the soulful groove of "The Rain". In the second half (appropriately, from "Pass da Blunt" onwards) it all becomes hazier, mellow, more subtle- on first couple of listens, this is where my interest began to wane. Sensual slow jam "Friendly Skies" and the cool detachment of "Why You Hurt Me" both strike good tones but are overlong. "I'm Talking" is another weak link- there are surely stronger, smarter hooks she could have used than "my style of rapping/I'm such a good rapper." But "Izzy Izzy Ahh" and "Gettaway" are good fun and help prop up a weaker second half. A strong array of guest stars (Lil' Kim with a James Joyce reference, Da Brat with a lightning-speed rap, Ann Peebles via sample) add different perspectives to the music and all give distinct voices. And finally, Timbaland's production is bold and innovative throughout, with a lot of layers that are fun to unpack. As well as the sampling and rhythms, some of my favourite arrangements pushed beatboxing (the final minute of "Pass da Joint", the vocal percussion in "They Don't Wanna Fuck Wit Me", and the accompaniment to "Gettaway"). This just scrapes 4* and would have been stronger still if a couple of tracks were shaved off towards the end: it starts brilliantly and Missy Elliott's vocals made a great combination with the guest stars and Timbaland's production.

Beep beep.... Missy Elliott's debut album is a perfect introduction for those who want to dig into why she remains a influential figure in pop, R&B and hip-hop nearly twenty-five years on. Apart from the Busta Rhymes stuff and the spoken word outro, almost every song here is a banger from the hits to the deep cuts. An essential listen all around. Favorites: Hit 'Em With da Hee, Sock It 2 Me, The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly), Beep Me 911, Pass da Blunt, Best Friends, Don't Be Comin' (In My Face), Why You Hurt Me, I'm Talkin'.

A hip hop album with strong R&B influences. I'm sure this album was a major impact on encouraging female artists into the industry. The main appeal is the fantastic production by Timbaland which gives it a very futuristic funky sound to lots of the tracks (you should just see the videos), from space sound effects to robotic drones. Out of this world beats consistently throughout. That being said, despite her sexy voice, I don't think Missy is a great rapper, and for most of the second side, I was just curious what Timbaland was going to try to do.

Wanna like this more than I do. Some of the beats are really eccentric and I like that but it just doesn't completely gel for me. I think it's the combination of the more r&b sung elements that throw me off. Favorite track is "Izzy Izzy ahh" where she's doing this kinda laid back ODB thing. I like it when she gets more nonsensical and playful like that.

Hit and Missy

I started off thinking that this was yet another boring album that’s on here for some historical or music critic reason but by the end I was totally on board. The vocals are basically nick cave from the boatman’s call mixed with frank Sinatra but the production is on a whole other level of mixing genres and it’s all really beautiful sounding

Fantastic beats from Timbaland, and some bomb features as well. It is unfortunate that I find Missy Elliot herself to be so dreadfully boring. I genuinely do not get her hype someone please explain it to me.

Hard to contextualize this one. Progressive female rapper from the 90's. Groovy jams. Trouble is I can't remember if this was breaking new ground or just sounding like what else was out there at the time.

This is Missy's first album and it feels like a freshman attempt. It's a bit jumbled and weak, missing that weird snap that makes a Missy joint so recognizable. It's far more generic R&B than hip-hop but the unique spark that makes Missy the queen is there, just barely visible, buried in the sand. I'm glad she dug it out for further albums. Sadly, there's not enough here to save this first one.

Another week, another overlong hip hop album with too many songs and skits. Is there any point in the making of these albums where someone pipes up that maybe 17 songs is too many and 10 or 12 is more than enough. Some good stuff, a lot of average, the Busta Rhymes intros/outros are embarrassingly bad as is 'Missy's Finale', where she thanks the people who worked on the album. Same time next week?

I’m a firm believer in the idea that any album that is given the accolade “must hear before you die” should be able to transcend the time in which it was made. This album has a song called “Beep Me 911” on it. I doubt there is a human alive today under the age of 35 who knows what that meant. Supa Dupa Fly is the posterchild for an album that is “of its time”. It’s not terrible, but it’s a 27 year old time capsule to my ears.

I'd rather take a cheese grater to my eardrums than listen to this again.

I have to be honest, I had to just skim through this album because I really did not like it. Now I need to go cleanse the palate with some King Crimson or something. Favorite Track(s): “Friendly Skies”

This was a big barrel of wank. That’s my review.

Moronic, low brow and pretty obnoxious in parts. Propped up by a host of thoroughly skanky guests.

Supa Dupa Good xD

Early Timbaland and Missy. Some of the greats.

More Missy, yes please

so good! so many killer features and production is on point on every single track!

this is a great album! Missy is so cool and I absolutely love seeing this on the list

Missy is a queen. Point blank, period.

They don’t wanna fuck w me!!

Always a pleasure.

Just a transcendent hip-hop record that still feels groundbreaking 25 years later.

This was great! Loved her voice.

Another incredible debut

A quarter century old and still sounds fresh and modern as can be.

crying, screaming, throwing up this album is so good!!! sock it 2 me, the rain, izzy izzy ahh were so good. something abt the sound of this album rlly tickled my brain in the best way. pass da blunt SENT MEEEE lmao bc pass the dutchie has been on my rotation lately & i did not expect to hear it here. I love how she references some rlly classic songs in such an original way, it's rlly well done ❤️❤️❤️

Incredible album. You could tell Missy and Timbaland we’re gonna be stars from the beginning.

great

Great samples. Very entertaining. Loved it.

When this album appeared, I cheered aloud! So excited to finally see Missy on the list. Top notch!!!

5/5. Every song was enjoyable and fun and the beats were amazing. Some okay songs but no bad ones.

Missy created a classic album with this one!

This album is super-duper fly.

Wow. How did this come out in 1997 am still sound like the future in 2022? The production and rapping were both great and it clearly influenced everyone from OutKast to Drake who pushed hip hop to be more ambitious as a genre. And this was a debut album?! Extremely bold but it works! I never heard this before and will need to relisten to fully grasp it all.

Missy Elliott had years of experience as a writer and performer before releasing her debut. That maturity shows. In addition, her close working relationship with influential producer Timbaland is on full display here as well. This is an exceptional release. It was not written for me. This is a black urban album from a woman's perspective. That in and of itself would put it on my list. However, the music is creative and exceptional throughout. Timbaland's style (I call it stutter stop production, but I am sure there is a better phrase) became ubiquitous in the decade, but I am not sure the work with Miss Elliott is not the peak.

Absolutely shocked by how negative these reviews are. Maybe just because I'm a huge fan of Timbaland, but I think this album is fantastic

This is the funkiest rap album I can remember ever hearing. It's awesome. Favorite track: Don't Be Coming (In My Face)

Makes me want to walk like Christoper Walken in that Fat Boy Slim video. Favorite track is Why You Hurt Me.

Amazing. So fun. Legendary. Love love love. I can’t stand the rain!

Pass da blunt love to see it

Missy being missy

Chill and energetic all at once. Captures the moment in time but also timeless.

she's so cool

It is Supa Dupa Fly. My wife grew up listening to Missy Elliott. This album sounds like a good time.

This is a classic...for its production and uniqueness. And within the album, although she touts her "rapping," I think she knows it. She brings a style and it feels largely improvised, but it's a great groove. Also, it means my man Busta made the list. Which is validating some.

I think missy could've made some real proper all time greats but was held back to some extent by the industry expecting her to be tied into the mellow rnb side of things. This is almost there and has tracks that would be at home on an all time great hip hop album but the whole tracklist doesn't quite get there and that's super dissapointing to me because Missy had the ability if she'd been allowed the freedom that other artists were at the time. That being said this album is still a great time and a really enjoyable time capsule for this period

COOL

Straight fire

She way great from the jump and has only improved since.

6/24 Bomb Timbaland production over Missy's fly singing and rapping, classic. Standout Track: Hit Em wit da Hee, The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly), They Don't Wanna Fuck wit Me, Bite Our Style Interlude, Izzy Izzy Ahh, Gettaway

Missy is wonderful, r&b leads the front of this album and rap leads the back half, great vibe

I was not anticipating to like this album as much as I did. Timbaland has such great producing chops. Only song I didn't like was that Genuwine song

Skelsættende album for kvindelig rap og r&b, chill vibe, fed Timbaland-produktion

Man glömmer lätt att detta släpptes på 90-talet och att varken Missy eller Timbaland hade gjort särskilt mycket innan detta. De satte ett sound som lever kvar än och det förtjänar sina stjärnor i betyg.

Great album. Lots of fantastic hip hop with a smooth serving of R&B to top it off. Easy 4 stars.

Missy Elliott is a goddamn national treasure and you can’t tell me otherwise. This album slaps, it was recorded in 1997 but sounds like it’s from 2007. Had no idea Timbaland produced.

Takes a while to get rolling. Missy is a mediocre rapper at best, but it's about the big picture here. Great beats from Timbaland. Never knew that line in "Work It" was a callback to "Izzy."

Enjoyed this one

Wow 90's rap is dope!

CLASSIC

Only one fantastic song but the whole album is pretty good

Missy Elliott in this sounds like a girl you over here at Denny’s at 1am on a drunken Saturday night and love the story she is telling. I like it

Love coming back to this one. It's a classic, but not my fav Missy album.

Great songwriting and performance by Missy, undercut by Top-Tier Timbaland Production

Enjoyable

Top notch. A bit too RnB for me but the more times I listened, the more I enjoyed it. Great beats and great colabs and fair play to Missy for breaking into a male dominated industry with so much confidence, attitude and talent. Has no doubt paved the way for many other women

Never listened to this before but I really liked it. I was nostalgic anyway

It might be my 90s nostalgia talking, but I liked this one.

Missy earns her spot in the halls of great rappers and proves that there isn't a gender issue. This 90's touched R&B hip-hop record is solid and easy listening.

This album is fast and daring

I have never heard a hip hop album before, because it's not my style actually, I'm not a hip hop fan, but this album, it's really good, I love her voice, the lyrics are quite good. Good album

this is exciting. i've liked her features in songs and i know her hits obviously but i don't know how an entire album of her will go, tons of features i see. first second of music and i'm into it lol. on the second song. take a shot every time someone rhymes missy and pissy. song sounds great though. i'm about halfway through now, i love the vocal layering. okay i'm done. my fave songs were friendly skies, best friends. a really nice listen.

missy/timbaland production set trends for the next decade

This was great.

Really tasty beats, good songs. Feel like it doesn't quite capture the quintessential Missy Elliot we would hear later on.

At the time; it was a refreshing hip hop album.

The thing I love the most about Missy Elliott is that she's all in on her music career. Seemingly every other star who achieved success in her genre has at least tried to pivot into acting. But not Missy Elliott. She may eventually become the Joni Mitchell of rap and hip hop before all is said and done. Hell, she probably already is! I hear some Lauryn Hill here, along with some Prince and maybe even some Nenah Cherry. Overall, I found this to be a delight.

Not that much a rap album, especially compared to her other work, but great production and great rhymes by the legend

Supa Dupa Fly has an accurate title for this album as it does hum and flow smoothly, though not too in your face like the insect. The four singles are bops, with Sock It 2 Me and The Rain being my preferences out of them. The album cuts are mostly great too, with Best Friends being my favourite. Missy Elliott's vocals is smooth, playful and her rapping skills flows so well. Sets a nice chill vibe overall. The featured are great too (though didn't enjoy the intro and outro from Busta Rhymes). Timbaland's production and beats are fantastic here too, making them really enjoyable. Cut a couple of tracks off for b sides or for another album and it would be perfect.

Blijft lekkrr

Awesome album, Timbaland's crisp beats make this an absolute banger. Hip-hop at its finest

A classic. I really got in to Missy Elliot the year I was in Nepal.

Dope

Loved this album, super refreshing, smooth sound

The baddest bitch of the century hitting hard like penitentiary dick. I can only assume that's pretty fucking hard as sadly I have no first hand experience of penitentiary dick.

really enjoyed it, surprisingly. I was mostly passively listening, but didn't get bored and any time I really tuned in it was all good. 4/5

Missy, you are indeed supa dupa fly, Hip hop albums don't always age well, but this one is still damn fine after all these years. If I was going to edit, I would cut the skits and guest spots (I mean, why did we need Busta Rhymes to introduce the album? No offense to Mr Rhymes). Missy's flow is on point, and pairs wonderfully with the consistently funky fresh production from Timbaland. Great choice to keep a consistent vision across the whole album, although tracks maintain their individual identity. Love the singles (obviously), but this one is a great listen throughout.

first listen cool and groovy, timbaland beats are timeless

Nice to hear a female voice in hip-hop. Occasionally discordant and a little too long, but I liked it, especially the first track.