by Missy Elliott’s Lasting Impact on Cardi B
When discussing influential female rappers who paved the way for modern artists like Cardi B, Missy Elliott’s name is always at the top of the list. As one of hip hop’s most pioneering and creative artists, Missy broke barriers for women in the male-dominated genre during the 1990s. Over two decades later, her impact can still be seen in the work of rappers embracing their femininity and pushing creative boundaries. No current artist feels Missy’s influence more than Cardi B, who has directly cited the veteran rapper as a role model and inspiration throughout her career. From breaking into a genre dominated by men, to genre-bending experimentation, confident delivery styles, and captivating performances, Missy Elliott left an indelible mark on Cardi B’s music journey.
Paving the Path for Female Rappers
Before Missy Elliott emerged on the scene in the late 90s, it was rare to see a successful solo female rapper. The genre was still in its early mainstream years and faced challenges accepting women as MCs in their own right. Missy changed the game, proving through her innovative style and commercial success that female rappers could not only compete but thrive in hip hop. Her iconic albums Supa Dupa Fly (1997) and Da Real World (1999) showed that women could rap just as hard, if not harder, than their male counterparts. Missy’s rise demonstrated there was an audience for strong, confident female voices in hip hop.
This paved the way for future artists like Cardi B to feel empowered pursuing rap careers without facing the same doubts and barriers as pioneers like Missy. In an interview with Billboard, Cardi B directly credited Missy for helping female rappers gain more respect and opportunities. “When Missy Elliott was coming out, a lot of people weren’t ready for that,” Cardi said. “I feel like she proved to the world that women can rap too.” By normalizing the presence of women at the forefront of hip hop, Missy opened many doors that Cardi B has since walked through. The Bronx rapper was able to achieve mainstream success on her own terms thanks to trailblazers like Missy proving it was possible.
Genre-Bending Creativity
Another area where Missy Elliott left a clear mark on Cardi B is in genre-bending experimentation and creative concepts. Throughout her career, Missy has fearlessly blended hip hop with elements of R&B, pop, rock, electronica, and beyond. She incorporated live instrumentation, unusual sounds, and avant-garde production styles that pushed musical boundaries. This influence is evident in Cardi B’s willingness to sample and fuse different genres in her own songs.
For example, Missy’s 1999 hit “She’s a Bitch” blended chopped-and-screwed verses with psychedelic rock guitars. Cardi B’s breakout hit “Bodak Yellow” incorporated elements of Southern trap alongside a catchy hook and melodic verses. On her debut Invasion of Privacy, Cardi incorporated influences from reggaeton, Latin pop, and bubblegum bass alongside her hard-hitting raps. Like Missy, she’s not afraid to experiment with unconventional sounds and styles. This creative risk-taking approach allows both artists to stay fresh and reach new audiences outside of hip hop.
Dynamic Flow and Delivery
In terms of rapping ability, Missy Elliott and Cardi B also share a dynamic and confident delivery style. Known for her lightning-fast flows, Missy packs complex rhyme schemes and punchlines into every verse. She raps with charisma and personality, commanding attention through her delivery alone. Cardi B cites Missy as one of her biggest influences in terms of flow, and it’s evident in her own energetic style.
Like Missy, Cardi packs dense, multi-syllabic rhymes into her verses at breakneck speed without losing clarity or control. She rides beats with assurance, bouncing between melodic hooks and aggressive rapping. Both artists bring an element of showmanship to their performances, keeping listeners engaged through vocal inflections, ad-libs, and charisma on the mic. This influence is a big part of what makes Cardi such an entertaining listen – she carries the torch of dynamic, captivating delivery that Missy helped pioneer for female MCs.
Stage Presence and Showmanship
Part of Missy Elliott’s legacy also lies in her iconic music videos and live performances. From early conceptual videos like “The Rain” to elaborate productions like “WTF,” Missy always pushed the boundaries of visual storytelling. She brought an element of dance and choreography rarely seen from rappers at the time. In concert, Missy was a high-energy powerhouse known for connecting with crowds through charisma, freestyling, and unique staging.
Cardi B clearly draws inspiration from Missy in how she presents herself onstage. Her performances are filled with intricate choreography, elaborate costumes, and an ability to command a crowd’s attention through sheer personality and stage presence. Like Missy, Cardi gives highly-entertaining shows that feel more like elaborate productions than standard rap concerts. She owns the stage with an infectious confidence and knows how to keep audiences engaged through her entire set. Both ladies understand performance is as important an art form as the music itself.
Acknowledging the Influence
In various interviews, Cardi B has openly acknowledged Missy Elliott’s influence on pushing her own career and artistry forward. She has called Missy “one of the most creative artists ever” for her risk-taking approaches to music, videos, and performances. Cardi has said watching Missy’s artistic growth and resilience through the industry taught her the value of hard work and pushing past doubters.
Most of all, she looks up to Missy as a role model for female empowerment. In a 2018 interview with Billboard, Cardi said “When I first came out, a lot of people were putting me down and saying I wasn’t going to last in the game. But I had Missy Elliott to look up to – she dealt with the same thing.” By directly crediting Missy for inspiration and guidance, Cardi pays homage to the path that was paved for her generation of female rappers.
Over two decades into her career, Missy Elliott’s influence lives on through new artists like Cardi B who carry her torch of boundary-pushing creativity and confident femininity. From the way she broke barriers for women in hip hop to her genre-bending experimentation and captivating performances, Missy left an undeniable mark on the music industry. Her protégé Cardi B is a living testament to how one pioneering artist can inspire endless new voices by proving nothing is impossible.
