Supa Dupa Fly
Encyclopedia
Upon its release, Supa Dupa Fly received critical acclaim among music critics. Writers lauded record producer Timbaland
's production as unique and revolutionary, whose "lean, digital grooves are packed with unpredictable arrangements and stuttering rhythms". Music critic Garry Mulholland described Timbaland's production, "eschewing samples for a bump 'n' grind electronica, strongly influenced by the digital rhythms of dancehall reggae, but rounder, fuller, fatter". Elliott's rapping
, singing and songwriting also received much acclaim. The 2004 edition of The New Rolling Stone Album Guide rated the album five out of five stars, noting that the avant-garde
sound of the album "made Elliott and Timbaland the hottest writer/producer team around". Mulholland called the album a "key prophecy of the dominant 21st century black pop", noting Elliott's ability to "avoid the whole east vs. west, playas vs. gangstas mess." He described Elliott's style as "everything the hip hop doctor ordered; a woman who could flip between aggression and romance, sex and nonsense, materialism and imagination, without batting one outrageously spidery eyelash".
With the release of Supa Dupa Fly, Elliott became one of the most prominent female rappers. The album is credited for redefining hip hop
and R&B
. Steve Huey of Allmusic felt that the album was "arguably the most influential album ever released by a female hip-hop artist", calling it a "boundary-shattering postmodern masterpiece". Spin
magazine ranked the album at number nine on its Top 20 Albums of the Year. In 1998, four out of five music critics from The New York Times
ranked the album as one of their top ten favorite albums of 1997. The album earned Elliott two Grammy Award
nominations: Best Rap Album
and Best Rap Solo Performance
for "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)
".
Supa Dupa Fly debuted at number three on the Billboard 200
with 129,000 copies sold in the first week released, the highest debut for a female rapper at the time. The album remained on the chart for 37 weeks. As of June 2008, the album sold 1.2 million copies in the United States and was certified platinum
by the Recording Industry Association of America
.
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
's production as unique and revolutionary, whose "lean, digital grooves are packed with unpredictable arrangements and stuttering rhythms". Music critic Garry Mulholland described Timbaland's production, "eschewing samples for a bump 'n' grind electronica, strongly influenced by the digital rhythms of dancehall reggae, but rounder, fuller, fatter". Elliott's rapping
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
, singing and songwriting also received much acclaim. The 2004 edition of The New Rolling Stone Album Guide rated the album five out of five stars, noting that the avant-garde
Avant-garde
Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
sound of the album "made Elliott and Timbaland the hottest writer/producer team around". Mulholland called the album a "key prophecy of the dominant 21st century black pop", noting Elliott's ability to "avoid the whole east vs. west, playas vs. gangstas mess." He described Elliott's style as "everything the hip hop doctor ordered; a woman who could flip between aggression and romance, sex and nonsense, materialism and imagination, without batting one outrageously spidery eyelash".
With the release of Supa Dupa Fly, Elliott became one of the most prominent female rappers. The album is credited for redefining hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
and R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
. Steve Huey of Allmusic felt that the album was "arguably the most influential album ever released by a female hip-hop artist", calling it a "boundary-shattering postmodern masterpiece". Spin
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
magazine ranked the album at number nine on its Top 20 Albums of the Year. In 1998, four out of five music critics from The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
ranked the album as one of their top ten favorite albums of 1997. The album earned Elliott two Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
nominations: Best Rap Album
Grammy Award for Best Rap Album
The Grammy Award for Best Rap Album is an award presented to recording artists for quality albums with rapping at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards...
and Best Rap Solo Performance
Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance was awarded from 1991 to 2011, alongside the Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. Previously a single award was presented for Best Rap Performance....
for "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)
The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)
"The Rain " is a 1997 hit song recorded by American rapper Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott. It was written and composed by Don Bryant, Bernard "Bernie" Miller, Elliott, and producer Timbaland for her debut album Supa Dupa Fly and contains a sample of Ann Peebles' 1974 single "I Can't Stand the Rain",...
".
Supa Dupa Fly debuted at number three on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
with 129,000 copies sold in the first week released, the highest debut for a female rapper at the time. The album remained on the chart for 37 weeks. As of June 2008, the album sold 1.2 million copies in the United States and was certified platinum
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
.
Track listing
| # | Title | Composer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Busta's Intro" featuring Busta Rhymes Busta Rhymes Trevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., better known by his stage name Busta Rhymes ,Smith is an American rapper, producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the alias Busta Rhymes after NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes... |
Trevor Smith | 1:53 |
| 2 | "Hit Em wit da Hee Hit Em wit da Hee "Hit 'Em wit da Hee" is a single by singer/rapper Missy Elliott. The track is found on her debut album, 1997's Supa Dupa Fly. The single was not eligible to chart in the U.S. , and it was a success overseas, reaching #25 in the UK, her fourth consecutive top 40 hit... " featuring Lil' Kim Lil' Kim Kimberly Denise Jones , better known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is an American rapper and actress who was a member of the group Junior M.A.F.I.A..... |
Melissa Elliott Missy Elliott Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one... , Kimberly Jones, Timothy Mosley Timbaland Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper.... |
4:19 |
| 3 | "Sock It 2 Me Sock It 2 Me "Sock It 2 Me" is a song recorded by American rapper Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott. It was written by Shawntae Harris, William Hart, Elliott and producer Timothy "Timbaland" Mosley for her debut album Supa Dupa Fly and released as the album's second single in a slightly re-recorded form... " featuring Da Brat Da Brat Shawntae Harris , better known as Da Brat, is an American rapper and actress. Her debut album, Funkdafied, sold one million copies, making her the first female rapper to have a platinum-selling album.-Early life:... |
T. D. Bell, Elliott, Shawntae Harris, W. Hart, Mosley | 4:17 |
| 4 | "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly) The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly) "The Rain " is a 1997 hit song recorded by American rapper Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott. It was written and composed by Don Bryant, Bernard "Bernie" Miller, Elliott, and producer Timbaland for her debut album Supa Dupa Fly and contains a sample of Ann Peebles' 1974 single "I Can't Stand the Rain",... " |
Donald Bryant, Elliott, Bernard Miller, Mosley, Ann Peebles | 4:11 |
| 5 | "Beep Me 911 Beep Me 911 Beep Me 911 is a song recorded by American rapper Missy Elliott, featuring vocals by R&B trio 702 and rapper Magoo. It was written and composed by Elliott, Melvin Barcliff, and Tim "Timbaland" Mosley for her debut album Supa Dupa Fly and released as the album's third single in 1998.The lyrics... " featuring 702 702 (band) 702 , named after the area code of their hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada, is an American platinum-selling R&B trio. Originally a quartet, the group became a trio, which includes sisters Irish , and LeMisha 'Misha' Grinstead, and lead singer Kameelah 'Meelah' Williams... and Magoo Timbaland & Magoo Timbaland & Magoo are a rap duo consisting of producer/rapper Timothy "Timbaland" Mosley and rapper Melvin "Magoo" Barcliff who is of African American and Native American descent.Originally from Norfolk, Virginia, the duo first met when they were teenagers... |
Melvin Barcliff, Elliott, Mosley | 4:57 |
| 6 | "They Don't Wanna Fuck wit Me" | Elliott, Mosley | 3:18 |
| 7 | "Pass da Blunt" | H.B. Bennett, H. Jackson Brown Jr., Elliott, L. Ferguson, R. Lyn, J. Mittoo, Mosley, L. Sibbles, F. Thomas Simpson | 3:17 |
| 8 | "Bite Our Style (Interlude)" | Elliott, Mosley | 0:43 |
| 9 | "Friendly Skies" featuring Ginuwine Ginuwine Elgin Baylor Lumpkin , better known by his stage name Ginuwine is an American singer-songwriter and actor. Signed to Epic Records since the mid-1990s, Ginuwine had released a number of multi-platinum and platinum-selling albums and singles, becoming one of R&B's top artists during the late 1990's... |
Elliott, Mosley | 4:59 |
| 10 | "Best Friends" featuring Aaliyah Aaliyah Aaliyah Dana Haughton , who performed under the mononym Aaliyah , was an American R&B recording artist, actress and model. She was born in Brooklyn, New York, and was raised in Detroit, Michigan. At the age of 10, she appeared on the television show Star Search and performed in concert alongside... |
Elliott, Mosley | 4:07 |
| 11 | "Don't Be Commin' (In My Face)" | Elliott, Mosley | 4:11 |
| 12 | "Izzy Izzy Ahh" | Elliott, Mosley | 3:54 |
| 13 | "Why You Hurt Me" | Elliott, E. Floyd, E., Tim Mosley | 4:31 |
| 14 | "I'm Talkin'" | Elliott, Mosley | 5:02 |
| 15 | "Gettaway" featuring Space and Nicole Nicole Wray Nicole Monique Wray, also known as simply Nicole, is an American R&B and hip hop singer. Her 1998 debut single, "Make It Hot"—written and produced by Timbaland and co-written by and featuring Missy Elliott—was certified gold.-Musical career:... |
Elliott, Mosley, Tracey Selden, Lashone Siplin | 4:25 |
| 16 | "Busta's Outro" featuring Busta Rhymes | Mosley, Smith | 1:38 |
| 17 | "Missy's Finale" | 0:24 | |
| * | "Release the Tension" (Japanese bonus track) |
Personnel
Credits for Supa Dupa Fly adapted from Allmusic.- 702702 (band)702 , named after the area code of their hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada, is an American platinum-selling R&B trio. Originally a quartet, the group became a trio, which includes sisters Irish , and LeMisha 'Misha' Grinstead, and lead singer Kameelah 'Meelah' Williams...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, performer - AaliyahAaliyahAaliyah Dana Haughton , who performed under the mononym Aaliyah , was an American R&B recording artist, actress and model. She was born in Brooklyn, New York, and was raised in Detroit, Michigan. At the age of 10, she appeared on the television show Star Search and performed in concert alongside...
– vocals, performer - Kwaku Alston – photographyPhotographyPhotography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
- Gregory Burke – designDesignDesign as a noun informally refers to a plan or convention for the construction of an object or a system while “to design” refers to making this plan...
- Busta RhymesBusta RhymesTrevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., better known by his stage name Busta Rhymes ,Smith is an American rapper, producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the alias Busta Rhymes after NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes...
– vocals, rapRappingRapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
, performer - Richard Clark – assistant engineer
- Nicole WrayNicole WrayNicole Monique Wray, also known as simply Nicole, is an American R&B and hip hop singer. Her 1998 debut single, "Make It Hot"—written and produced by Timbaland and co-written by and featuring Missy Elliott—was certified gold.-Musical career:...
- vocals, performer - Drew Coleman – assistant engineer
- Da BratDa BratShawntae Harris , better known as Da Brat, is an American rapper and actress. Her debut album, Funkdafied, sold one million copies, making her the first female rapper to have a platinum-selling album.-Early life:...
– vocals, performer - Jimmy Douglas – engineerAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
, audio mixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may... - Missy ElliottMissy ElliottMelissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
– vocals, rap, executive producer - GinuwineGinuwineElgin Baylor Lumpkin , better known by his stage name Ginuwine is an American singer-songwriter and actor. Signed to Epic Records since the mid-1990s, Ginuwine had released a number of multi-platinum and platinum-selling albums and singles, becoming one of R&B's top artists during the late 1990's...
– vocals, performer - Lil' KimLil' KimKimberly Denise Jones , better known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is an American rapper and actress who was a member of the group Junior M.A.F.I.A.....
– performer - Magoo – rap
- Bill Pettaway – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Herb Powers – masteringAudio masteringMastering, a form of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device ; the source from which all copies will be produced...
- TimbalandTimbalandTimothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
– vocals, producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, performer, executive producer, mixing
Charts
| Chart (1997) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Dutch Albums Chart | 69 |
| New Zealand Albums Chart Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
49 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
3 |
| U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
1 |
External links
- Supa Dupa Fly at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...
- Article at SpinSpin (magazine)Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...