In the early 1990s, Timbaland was already at the start of his career and producing music for some of the biggest names in music. While he was with Aaliyah and SWV, Missy Elliot was desperately trying to break into the industry as a performer (via Biography). After forming a girl group, Sista, and signing with the label Swing Mob Records, it looked as though Elliot was going to follow her old friend into the industry. However, Swing Mob went bankrupt before releasing the group's first album, which was mostly written and produced by Elliot.
Elliot moved to New York to partner with Timbaland, becoming a hip-hop version of Gerry Goffin and Carole King, writing and producing songs for other artists but not themselves. And like Carole King, Missy Elliot eventually stepped out into the limelight herself. In 1997, after setting up her own label, Goldmind — with assistance from Slyvia Rhone, the CEO of Elektra Records (formerly Elektra Entertainment Group Inc.) — Elliot released her debut album, "Supa Dupa Fly." The album went platinum, earned her the title of rap artist of the year by Rolling Stone, and launched Elliot from a star behind the curtains to the new face of hip hop. The team of Timbaland and Missy Elliot co-produced and co-wrote the album and continued their collaboration throughout the next decade. While the pair found success together, individually and with different collaborators, Timbaland still had a hand in every one of Elliot's albums up until 2005, when she went on a hiatus (per NME).
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