Cici Featured on Missys New Album

After taking a break from working with Timbo on Cookbook, Elliott has recently rejoined her creative partner to forage into pastures (sort of) new on her forthcoming as-yet-untitled album. As well as Tim, Missy has teamed with Danjahands, Swizzy and Souldiggaz, as well as no doubt a couple of other people, to be announced.

"There's something very special about Missy and her ability to draw from herself, rather than the radio or where other people are going," Mona Scott told RWD when we cornered the legendary manager for a quick chat. "Her music is uniquely her own, it's where she's at in her life. She always goes against the grain and follows her own pain."

The last track, and finally we get to the really good stuff. "I'm talking real-talk here," Missy confesses. "I let me heart guide my pen. To know where hip hop's going, you got to know where it's been." Hip Hop Don't Die is the most revolutionary track on the record. Not because the music (vocals from Ciara) is that genre-bending or mind-blowing, but because for once, as she said herself, Missy's actually talking about herself. As she guides us through her incredible career, you finally get a glimpse into, if not who Missy is exactly, then at least what's important to her. There's no bragging or boring 'I'm the donn-age' going on, just a reflection over her past and present career that is both funny and surprising in equal parts.