For over a decade now, Missy has been one of the most demanded writers in the industry, and though she isn’t in the spotlight as prominent as before, this protege of Devante Swing is still in the background penning hits songs for some of the biggest artists out right now. If you ever hear the phrase “HOT ISH, NEW (insert artist’s name)” on a song, you can pretty much guarantee two things: 1. The single is written by Missy Elliott and 2. The song is going to be a smash.

Also check out all of our other Producer Top 10 Lists

10. Tamia “Can’t Go For That” (2000)

This song appeared on Tamia’s “Brand Nu Day” album.

9. Destiny’s Child “Get On The Bus” (1999)

One of those songs that I feel was ahead of its time. The song didn’t do too well on the charts back in the day, but it still sounds new to this day.

8. Tweet “My Man” (2005)

Here’s a great joint from Tweet’s second album.

7. Nicole Wray “Make It Hot” (1998)

It’s a shame Nicole Wray’s career never took off. Her first album had a lot of great jams on it.

6. Monica “So Gone” (2003)

I feel this song allowed kept Monica’s career afloat. We saw Aaliyah and Brandy take big risks on their third albums exchanging the sound they had in the mid 90s for a more futuristic style. Monica came out with “All Eyez On Me” which didn’t really work out for her. This song, however, did as the soulful beat really let her sing. Fun Fact: R&B singer Tweet actually wrote the hook of this song.

5. Mariah Carey “Babydoll” (1997)

This song is off Mariah’s “Butterfly” album which many consider to be her best.

4. Total “Trippin” (1997)

At one point during the mid 90s, Missy and Timbaland were all over the radio with records. This was one of the first to appear on the radio with plenty soon to follow.

3. Ginuwine “I’ll Do Anything/I’m Sorry” (1996)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuIUOd0mTPY

It’s kind of shocking to know that Missy hasn’t really written for any Male artists besides a selected few. She sure as hell is capable of writing male records like this one for Ginuwine.

2. 702 “Steelo” (1996)

“Can I just say, that is STILL my jam, ok! *Laughs* I love “Steelo,” it’s just something about that record to me. And maybe I’m saying this because I was a part of making it happen, but I really feel like how many years later, it came out in ’96, this is 2010, almost 2011, over ten years later, to me I still feel like it goes hard, I just do. I’ve been to places in New York at clubs or overseas even out at a party and randomly they’ll just play it, and it still sounds good to me! *Laughs* You know how you can hear something from back in the day and you still enjoy it but you can tell it’s a little dated, that’s an old school joint. To me “Steelo,” there’s just something about it that’s has this current appeal. Did I think it was going that big? No, I wasn’t even thinking about the level of success, I just knew I was 17, I had a record deal, I had just graduated high school and I was like this is the life! I’ve got a song on the radio, a and I was on my way to college and instead I took a detour and I’ve got an album out! It was so much going on that I wasn’t even thinking about the success of the song, I wasn’t thinking about if this was really happening or what is happening right now. *Laughs* So oh my God, I was just happy that we got to work with Missy on that one and that’s kinda like where that sound started, that sound came from with 702. She was on that record at the time and that was back when she was getting ready to blast off with her career. What I will say is I didn’t know that her career was going to end up how it did. Not because she wasn’t talented, she was just so talented as a song writer and a producer, but just because oh my goodness, we established such a close relationship and we were friends back then, and she was like your homey. *Laughs* And all of the sudden she’s this huge hip hop female legend, oh my goodness it’s crazy, people just blow up right before your eyes and it’s like wowww. I’m just happy we were able to get her for a minute before she blew up like that.” in an interview we did with Meelah.

1. Aaliyah “4 Page Letter” (1996)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErMSF2YUiO0

I actually wanted to put “Heartbroken” on here because it’s the best Aaliyah/Missy song in my opinion. However, there’s no denying how much of a genius Missy is for writing this. You can’t really go wrong with any of the songs they did together.

HM:
Virginia Williams “3:30 In The Morning”
SWV “Can We”
Mya “My Love is like…Wo”