Work It

Produced by Timbaland and recorded in 2002 during sessions for Missy Elliott's fourth studio album 'Under Construction', the track was co-written by Elliott and Timbaland and features Elliott's signature layered vocal technique, including a backwards vocal hook that became one of the song's most discussed elements. Released in September 2002 on Elektra Records, 'Work It' debuted to widespread critical acclaim and reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100, earning Elliott the Grammy Award for Best Female Rap Solo Performance in 2004; the track was celebrated for its innovative production and Elliott's playful, confident lyricism at a moment when she was consolidating her status as one of the most inventive figures in hip-hop and R&B. The song's backwards vocal hook, unconventional structure, and Timbaland's genre-blending production have made it a repeated reference point in discussions of early 2000s sonic innovation, and it remains one of Elliott's most enduring and recognisable recordings, widely featured in film, television, advertising, and retrospective critical lists.