By: Leaya Chen

For nearly 30 years, 53-year-old Missy Elliott has been groundbreaking in hip-hop and pop music, but it wasn’t until summer 2024 that she did her first arena tour. Elliot’s 75-minute performance at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on August 12 blended flashy style with her music in a way that had never been seen before.

The “Out of This World — the Missy Elliott Experience” tour was a 75-minute celebration of her music. The show featured tracks like “Sock It 2 Me” and “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly),” as well as “Get Ur Freak On” and “Work It.” It combined elements of recent pop spectacles, such as Baz Luhrmann’s films and “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”

The stage had many visual elements, like circular floating screens, animated backdrops, dazzling costumes, and fire effects. Elliott’s costumes, ranging from graffiti-covered puffers to an elaborate exoskeleton, were almost as creative as the show itself. Her performance often used her presence more as a guide than a traditional center point.

Special guests and collaborators included Timbaland, R&B star Ciara, and hip-hop legends Lil’ Kim and Busta Rhymes, each adding to the night’s excitement. The show highlighted Elliott’s long-lasting influence on hip-hop and pop. The performance was a reminder of how Elliott has influenced and inspired many artists, hinting at a future where her creative vision could have an even greater presence.
The tour’s impact reshaped the language of music and made her a significant cultural force.