While much of the nation was going crazy over the hyper-futuristic filmThe Matrix, widespread Y2K hysteria, and the horrific mass shooting at Columbine High School that would lead to a national debate around violence lyrics in music, the growing musical counterculture—particularly around hip-hop and R&B—was catalyzing a bold changing of the guard.
Missy Elliott’s ‘Da Real World’ Changed the Rap Game
Da Real World is the second studio album by American rapper Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, released on June 22, 1999 by Elektra and The Goldmind. The album is noted for adding a raunchier and darker style to Elliott's music, as well as including the overt political use of the term "bitch".
The album features guest appearances from B.G., Juvenile, Lil' Mo, Nicole, Beyoncé, Eve, Eminem, Lady Saw, Da Brat, Aaliyah, Big Boi of OutKast, Lil' Kim, MC Solaar, and Redman.
It spawned the singles "She's a Bitch", "All N My Grill", and "Hot Boyz (Remix)", and has sold 6 million units worldwide.
"It's really hard, the like, sophomore album. You try not to get that sophomore jinx," she wrote. The influential rapper was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 2000 Grammy Awards, featuring artists like Eminem, Big Boi, Redman, Lil' Mo, Lady Saw, Lil' Kim, Aaliyah, Da Brat, B.G., Juvenile, and Beyoncé. Elliott told her fans that this was the hardest album for her to finish but "when it was done it was SO FUTURISTIC and the beats was THEATRICAL. Missy explained in a throwback interview with MTV News .
The project sold an estimate of 131,000 copies within its first week and debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard 200. It has since gone on to sell over 6 million units across the world, as well as led to her being nominated for Best Rap Album at the Grammy Awards in the year 2000. Her latest album arrived 14 years ago, 2005'sThe Cookbook.
Listen to Da Real World below
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