She's a Bitch

Last updated
"She's a Bitch"
Shesabitch.jpg
Single by Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott
from the album Da Real World
ReleasedApril 20, 1999 (1999-04-20)
Recorded1998
Studio Master Sound Studios
(Virginia Beach, Virginia)
Genre Hip hop
Length3:59
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Timbaland
Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott singles chronology
"I Like Control"
(1999)
"She's a Bitch"
(1999)
"All n My Grill"
(1999)
Music video
"She's a Bitch" on YouTube

"She's a Bitch" is a song recorded by American rapper Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott for her second album, Da Real World (1999). Produced by Timbaland, it was released as the album's debut single, and despite an expensive music video directed by video director Hype Williams, the song peaked only at number 90 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, with Da Real World's other singles "All n My Grill" and "Hot Boyz" going on to greater chart success. Elliott performed the song live on a number of occasions, including the 2017 VH1 Hip Hop Honors: The '90s Game Changers .

Contents

Lyrics and production

Speaking to Interview in 1999, Missy Elliott explained how she wished to highlight the double standard of using "bitch" to pejoratively denigrate certain behaviors in women, but not in men, arguing that "you don’t hear people call males bitches":

Music is a male-dominated field. Women are not always taken as seriously as we should be, so sometimes we have to put our foot down. To other people that may come across as being a bitch, but it's just knowing what we want and being confident. If I'm paying people and they're not handling my business right, I have to check them. 'Cause sometimes you're nice and people don't jump on what they're supposed to do, but if you go in there screaming at everybody—"Look, why aren't my posters up?" or "Why wasn't my single out on this day?"—then they jump right on it.

Missy Elliott, describing the message behind "She's a Bitch" to Interview in 1999 [1]

Keith Farley of AllMusic wrote that Missy Elliott "reappropriates the insult to refer to strong females", considering it "the best example" of her "satirical nods to other clichéd notions of hip-hop" present throughout Da Real World. [2] Timbaland's production contains influences of electro, with Charles Aaron of Spin characterising it as "firing short bursts of sound around Missy's short bursts of bitchery" as an "808 drum machine implodes in your face" during the breakdown. [3]

Music video

The "She's a Bitch" video was directed by Hype Williams on May 1, 1999; similar to his other clips for Elliott, Williams makes extensive use of unique effects, costuming, and sets. Highlights of the video include Elliott and her dancers being raised from underwater on a giant hydraulic "M", and also a complete set made from electroluminescent lighting.

Critical reception

Writing for Rolling Stone , music journalist Touré praised "She's a Bitch" as "a furiously celebratory, slyly feminist anthem that reclaims an oppressive word, shattering its power to offend while burning down the clubs with a blazing beat and her roaring flow". [4] By contrast, in an otherwise positive review of Da Real World, David Browne of Entertainment Weekly dismissed "She's a Bitch" as "one of the album’s most unremarkable and most cluttered tracks", criticising its selection as the lead single. [5]

Stereogum and Paste ranked the song number ten and number nine, respectively, on their lists of the 10 greatest Missy Elliott Songs. [6] [7]

Sampling

Track listings

UK single

12-inch promo [8]

Side A

  1. "She's a Bitch" (Radio Edit) – 3:27
  2. "She's a Bitch" (Clean Version) – 3:27

Side B

  1. "She's a Bitch" (Instrumental) – 4:00
  2. "She's a Bitch" (Acapella) – 3:48

US single

12-inch promo [9] [10]

Side A

  1. "She's a Bitch" (Radio Edit) – 3:27
  2. "She's a Bitch" (Clean Version) – 3:27

Side B

  1. "She's a Bitch" (Instrumental) – 4:00
  2. "She's a Bitch" (Acapella) – 3:48

CD promo [11]

  1. "She's a Bitch" (Radio Edit) – 3:27
  2. "She's a Bitch" (Clean Version) – 3:27
  3. "Audio Bio" – 1:25

Europe single

CD promo [12]

  1. "She's a Bitch" (Radio Edit) – 3:27
  2. "She's a Bitch" (Clean Version) – 3:27

Personnel

Charts

Chart (1999)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [13] 70
Germany (Official German Charts) [14] 84
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade) [15] 6
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [16] 53
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [17] 26
US Billboard Hot 100 [18] 90
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [19] 30

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Missy Elliott</span> American rapper (born 1971)

Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott, sometimes nicknamed as Misdemeanor, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She began on her musical career as a member of the R&B girl group Sista during the 1990s, who were part of the larger musical collective Swing Mob—led by DeVante Swing of Jodeci. The former group's commercially unsuccessful debut album, 4 All the Sistas Around da World (1994), was released by Elektra Records and met with positive critical reception. She collaborated with album's producer and Swing Mob cohort Timbaland to work in songwriting and production for other acts, yielding commercially successful releases for 702, Aaliyah, SWV, and Total. She then re-emerged as a solo act with numerous collaborations and guest appearances by 1996, and in July of the following year, she released her debut studio album, Supa Dupa Fly (1997).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tweet (singer)</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1971)

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"Back in the Day" is a 2003 hip-hop song by Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, featuring guest vocals from Jay-Z and Elliott protégé Tweet. The song appears on her 2002 album Under Construction and was at one time planned for release as a single. It peaked at #86 on Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart in 2003 before being scrapped as a single.

<i>Supa Dupa Fly</i> 1997 studio album by Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott

Supa Dupa Fly is the debut studio album by American rapper Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, released July 15, 1997, on The Goldmind, East West, and Elektra Entertainment Group. The album was recorded and produced solely by Timbaland in October 1996, and features the singles, "The Rain ", "Sock It 2 Me", "Hit Em wit da Hee" and "Beep Me 911". Guest appearances on the album include Busta Rhymes, Ginuwine, 702, Magoo, Da Brat, Lil' Kim, and Aaliyah. The album was recorded in just two weeks.

<i>Da Real World</i> 1999 studio album by Missy Elliott

Da Real World is the second studio album by American rapper Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, released on June 22, 1999, by East West, 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.

The Goldmind, Inc. is an American record label founded in 1997 by rapper Missy Elliott. Elliott and Goldmind were once distributed through East West Records & Elektra Entertainment Group, Until 2004 when Time Warner sold WMG to a private investment group. The new owners then merged the Elektra with sister label Atlantic Records, transferring Elliott and Goldmind. Goldmind is home to Missy Elliott, specializing in R&B/hip-hop/soul music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Missy Elliott discography</span>

The discography of American rapper Missy Elliott consists of six studio albums, three compilation albums, one extended play, seventy-four singles and twenty solo music videos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oops (Oh My)</span> 2002 single by Tweet

"Oops (Oh My)" is a song by American singer Tweet from her debut studio album, Southern Hummingbird (2002). It features vocals from American rapper Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, who co-wrote the song with Tweet, while production was handled by Timbaland. The song was released on January 11, 2002, as the album's lead single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hot Boyz (song)</span> 1999 single by Missy Elliott

"Hot Boyz" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Missy Elliott featuring American rapper and singer-songwriter Lil' Mo. The remix version of the song was an urban hit featuring Nas, Eve and Q-Tip. The remix broke the record for most weeks at number-one on the US R&B chart on the issue dated January 15, 2000; as well as spending 18 weeks at number one on the Hot Rap Singles from December 4, 1999, to March 25, 2000, a record not broken until "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X in 2019. The song also reached number 5 on the US Hot 100 on January 15, 2000. In the UK, the song became the biggest hit from the Da Real World album; it peaked at #18, being Missy's sixth top 40 and fourth top 20 solo success. On February 4, 2000 the song was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One Minute Man</span> 2001 single by Missy Elliott featuring Ludacris and Trina

"One Minute Man" is a song written by American rapper Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott. It was written and produced by Elliott and Timbaland for her third studio album Miss E... So Addictive (2001) and features guest vocals by rapper Ludacris. Incorporating elements of oriental music, the song deals with premature ejaculation. Elliott, a rapper, also sings on the record.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Make It Hot (Nicole Wray song)</span> 1998 single by Nicole featuring Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott and Mocha

"Make It Hot" is the first single from Nicole's debut album of the same name. The single was released on June 2, 1998. The single was written by Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, Tim Mosley, and A. Richards, and was produced by Timbaland. The song features Mocha and Missy Elliott and uncredited lead and background vocals from Keli Nicole Price.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All n My Grill</span> 1999 single by Missy Elliott featuring Big Boi and Nicole Wray

"All n My Grill" is the second single from Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott's 1999 album, Da Real World. The song featured Big Boi of Outkast and vocal ad-libs from her former protégé, Nicole Wray. The song had more success than the first single, "She's a Bitch".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)</span> 1997 single by Missy Elliott

"The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)" is the debut solo single by American rapper Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott. It was written and composed by Don Bryant, Bernard "Bernie" Miller, Elliott, and producer Timbaland for her debut album Supa Dupa Fly (1997) and contains a sample of Ann Peebles' 1973 single "I Can't Stand the Rain", whose lyrics serve as the chorus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sock It 2 Me</span> 1997 single by Missy "Misdeameanor" Elliott featuring Da Brat

"Sock It 2 Me" is a song recorded by American rapper Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott featuring American rapper Da Brat. It was written by Shawntae Harris, William Hart, Thom Bell and producer Timothy "Timbaland" Mosley for her debut album Supa Dupa Fly (1997) and released as the album's second single in a slightly re-recorded form. The song is based on a sample from the 1968 single "Ready or Not Here I Come " by the Delfonics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beep Me 911</span> 1998 single by Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott featuring 702 and Magoo

"Beep Me 911" is a song recorded by American rapper and singer Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, featuring vocals by R&B trio 702 and rapper Magoo. It was written and composed by Elliott, Melvin Barcliff and Tim "Timbaland" Mosley for her debut album Supa Dupa Fly (1997) and released as the album's third single in 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hit Em wit da Hee</span> 1998 single by Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott featuring Lil Kim and Mocha

"Hit 'Em wit da Hee" is a single by singer/rapper Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott. The track is found on her debut album, 1997's Supa Dupa Fly. The single was not eligible to chart in the U.S., and it was a success overseas, reaching No. 25 in the UK, her fourth consecutive top 40 hit. The music video edit of the song contains sampled strings from the Björk song "Jóga". In The U.S. the album version was released to radio and it received minor mainstream urban radio airplay and peaked at No. 61 on the U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart. Released from Supa Dupa Fly, it was the final single from the album during summer 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take Away (song)</span> 2001 single by Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott featuring Ginuwine and Tweet

"Take Away" is a song by American rapper Missy Elliott. It was written by Elliott and Timbaland for her third studio album, Miss E... So Addictive (2001), while production was helmed by the latter, with Elliott and Craig Brockman served as co-producers. The downtempo track features guest vocals from R&B singer Ginuwine. While the album version of "Take Away" credits background vocals by 702 member, Kameelah Williams, the single version replaces Williams's vocals with then-newcomer, Elliott's former protégée Tweet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Here We Come (song)</span> 1998 single by Timbaland featuring Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott and Magoo

"Here We Come" is a song by American producer/rapper Timbaland. It features frequent collaborators Missy Elliott and Magoo and serves as the lead single for Timbaland's solo debut album, Tim's Bio: Life from da Bassment (1998). The song also features background vocals by Playa and Darryl Pearson. While the song charted and was released via radio airplay on November 17, 1998, it was not granted a physical release in the United States until March 2, 1999; and on October 5, 1999, for Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take That (Torrey Carter song)</span> 2000 single by Torrey Carter featuring Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott

"Take That" is the debut single by American R&B singer, Torrey Carter. It features guest vocals by Carter's former mentor Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott and was released as the lead single from Carter's unreleased debut album, The Life I Live (2000).

"Lick Shots" is a buzz single by American recording artist Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott from her third album, Miss E... So Addictive (2001). The song was written and produced by both Elliott and frequent collaborator Timbaland.

References

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  2. Farley, Keith. "Da Real World – Missy Elliott". AllMusic . Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  3. Aaron, Charles (August 1999). "Singles". Spin . Vol. 15, no. 8. pp. 155–158. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  4. Touré (July 8, 1999). "Missy Elliott: Da Real World". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on March 16, 2009. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  5. Browne, David (June 25, 1999). "Da Real World". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on April 3, 2015. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  6. Patrin, Nate (March 3, 2015). "The 10 Best Missy Elliott Songs". Stereogum . Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  7. O'Brien, Jon (July 18, 2017). "The 10 Best Missy Elliott Songs". Paste . Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  8. Missy Elliott – She's A Bitch
  9. Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott* – She's A Bitch
  10. Missy Elliott – She's A Bitch
  11. Missy Misdemeanor Elliott* – She's A Bitch
  12. Missy Misdemeanor Elliott* – She's A Bitch
  13. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  14. "Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott – She's a Bitch" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  15. "Tipparade-lijst van week 27, 1999". Dutch Top 40 . Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  16. ""Misdemeanor"+Elliott&titel=She's+a+Bitch&cat=s Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott – She's a Bitch" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  17. ""Misdemeanor"+Elliott&titel=She's+a+Bitch&cat=s Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott – She's a Bitch". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  18. "Missy Elliott Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  19. "Missy Elliott Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 30, 2019.