The Road to Stardom with Missy Elliott, Episode 1: Work It

Missy Elliott is looking for the next up-and-coming rapper or singer. If you haven't already, you can check out my preview of the final thirteen here. The winner will get $100,000 and Missy help produce their first singles.

We start out with a fast-paced intro of the audition round with one of Missy’s best songs, “Pass That Dutch,” in the background. We see Akil, Melissa, Eddie, Nilyne, Jessica, and Cori audition for Missy. We also see the “William Hung performances,” such as a girl rapping about Fruity Pebbles and a guy who clucks like a chicken. The contestants will go through different challenges to get them to the winner’s circle. One includes a boxing ring for some reason. They will also receive advice from other celebrities like Busta Rhymes, Jermaine Dupri, and Madonna. (Wow, Madonna. I knew Missy had connections but to get Madonna, that’s pretty damn good.) Of course there will be conflicts as we see Jessica, Nilyne, and Deltrice in a fight. We also see judge Teena Marie wipe tears from Melissa’s face.

Missy raps the theme song. And it’s awesome. The final thirteen celebrate making it this far at a party in New York. Missy comes out and introduces the three women standing behind her as her dancers – wherever she goes, they go. Missy says that “We're going to make some Celine Dion money.” She hands them their VIP passes, which are like the keys on Big Brother. We find out in the credits that Arnold Shapiro and Alison Grodner of Big Brother are the executive producers, and there are other similarities that we'll get to also.

In her interview Melissa says that at nineteen she’s the baby of the group but she’s not intimidated. Yelawolf has a wife and two kids at home with another on the way so this is real for him, while Nic just thinks Nilyne is hot. Matthew says that he’s a crazy Christian and that God will take him where He wants him to. Conversely, Frank B. will do anything to win. Busta Rhymes comes over to the group and wishes them good luck. Akil is staring in awe of Busta and Akil’s first concert was Busta Rhymes.

At the party they are all singing and rapping while Akil plays his guitar. Matthew freestyles, which he says he never does. Jessica says that her first impression of Matthew was that he looked like Justin Timberlake and she questions his persona. Deltrice sings in her jazzy style and says in an interview that she is a diva and that Jessica is a threat. Heather says as a white female rapper she surprises people once she opens her mouth.

The gang goes to their hotel rooms where they all continue to party, except for stick-in-the-mud Matthew who wants to sleep instead. Heather and Jessica bond over their past. Both of their fathers were pastors, although it sounds like Heather says “pasture.” Heather adds that he was very strict; there was no VH1 or MTV at their house, only gospel and Christian music. Jessica says that people may judge her but they don't know her and what she’s been through. She said when she was young she was inspired by drug dealers and prostitutes because they were living a better life. She adds that her mother was a crackhead and talks about how hard it was for her to go through that.

They all head to sleep, where Marcus jokes that Nic and Nilyne look like a couple; he may turn out to be right because they share a bed. It’s 4:54 A.M. when they hit the sack, but they are woken up a mere three hours later when Steve the road manger bangs on the doors and makes a lot of noise. He tells them all to go outside to their bus. They go out and head into a beautiful tour bus with pictures of Missy in there. Unfortunately that’s not their bus. Their bus is an old ugly bus with graffiti all over it. The inside turns out to be worse. The bus is filled with duct tape. Let’s just hope that the entire place isn't held together that way. There is food, gum, and God knows what else all over the place. Deltrice says she never smelled something that bad while Marcus spits out every adjective in the book to describe the bus, or as Nilyne calls it, “the thing.” Yelawolf says that the bus has character. I guess that’s one way to look at it.

The bus/thing stops at a club called S.O.B.’s where they meet their judges. Missy introduces Mona Scott. Mona then introduces Dallas Austin, who Cori says is someone she'd love to work with. Mona also introduces Teena Marie, who Eddie is thrilled to see. Mona says that they have to be ready for an opportunity. Missy wants them to expect the unexpected. Their task is to impress the judges with an impromptu performance. Mona wants them to give the judges something they've never heard before and to do something original.

Nic is first to go and he is wearing a towel under his hat. Mona and Teena complain about it but he keeps it on. He raps and it’s nothing special really. The judges stop him and they mostly rag on him about the towel. Mona doesn't understand how he didn't get the hint and says he shouldn't want her to not like him every time he walks in the room.

Cori is next and she sounds like a soulful Britney Spears. I'm not sure if that’s a compliment or not. The judges like that she is confident and Mona adds that she’s “an entertainer.”

Melissa performs next and admits she’s nervous but you wouldn't notice it when she sings because she sounds smooth and soulful. The judges like how she conquers her nervousness and Teena says that when she sings it’s pure, which I happen to agree with.