FKA twigs Praises the 'Chic Vulgarity' of Missy Elliott's Lyricism: 'So Tender and So Sensual'

Jack IrvinTue, April 28, 2026 at 9:49 PM UTC

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FKA twigs in April 2026; Missy Elliott in November 2025Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty; Kevin Mazur/Kevin Mazur/Getty -

FKA twigs praised Missy Elliott's lyricism and rhythmic style in an essay for The New York Times

She highlighted Elliott's unique delivery and memorable moments in songs like "Work It" and "Get Ur Freak On"

Elliott was named by the NYT as one of "The 30 Greatest Living Songwriters"

FKA twigs is going deep on why she's a fan of Missy Elliott.

The "Cellophane" artist, 38, wrote about Elliott's lyricism in an essay published on Tuesday, April 28 as the "Work It" rapper, 54, was featured on the New York Times list of "The 30 Greatest Living American Songwriters."

twigs, whose real name is Tahliah Barnett, praised Elliott as "so rhythmic" and recalled early memories of hearing her music. "I grew up listening to her, and I was dancing a lot. Her music was like the holy grail; you couldn’t take a hip-hop class and have it not be to Missy Elliott," she wrote.

Missy Elliott in October 2025Credit: Taylor Hill/WireImage

"She was able to be so tender and so sensual — and also had this chic vulgarity to some of her lyrics," said twigs of Elliott. "But she always had this silky delivery."

The Eusexua musician highlighted Elliott's "hooky rhythms" and singled out two "completely addictive" moments in her music: the introduction of "Get Ur Freak On" as well as the "ra-ta-ta-ta" verse of "Work It."

twigs commended Elliott's unique lyrics and pronunciation, especially on "Work It" when she raps, "Don't I look like a Halle Barry post-ahhh."

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"But it just seemed natural, the way she would use her mouth and use vowels and consonants to create the beat," she wrote.

The essay found twigs further praising how Elliott's "rhythms" left listeners feeling "like they could get involved."

"She took these rhythms into pop culture. It’s playful," wrote twigs. "Her lyrics were cheeky, naughty, quite confrontational sometimes, but she delivered it so you wanted to eat it, like it’s digestible, without diluting herself at all. She completely changed the culture by being herself."

Throughout Elliott's career, she's scored five top-10 albums on the Billboard 200 as well as 11 top-10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

The "Gossip Folks" rapper has won four Grammy Awards, and she's a member of both the Songwriters Hall of Fame as well as the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Elliott reacted to her inclusion on the "30 Greatest Living American Songwriters" list by taking to her Instagram Stories and writing, "I am so humbly GRATEFUL."

on People

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”