On July 12th, the music icon Missy Elliott marked history with her 1997 hit ‘The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly),’ which became the first ever hip-hop song transmitted to space.
More info:NASA
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Music icon Missy Elliott made history when her 1997 hit ‘The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)’ was transmitted to planet Venus
Image credits:ESA
Image credits:Missy Elliott
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California sent the song’s transmission into space at 10:05 a.m. PDT on Friday, July 12.
“Both space exploration and Missy Elliott’sarthave been about pushing boundaries,” explained Brittany Brown, who is the digital communications lead at the NASA headquarters in Washington and was the one to ask Missy’s team to collaborate with the agency.
“Missy has a track record of infusing space-centric storytelling and futuristic visuals in her music videos, so the opportunity to collaborate on something out of this world is truly fitting,” she added.
Besides Elliott’s 1997 hit ‘The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly),’ only one other song has reached space – The Beatles ‘Across the Universe’ in 2008. Therefore, the singer couldn’t contain her joy and excitement about such an incredibly touching achievement in her music career.
“I still can’t believe I’m going out of this world with NASA through the Deep Space Network when ‘The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)’ becomes the first ever hip-hop song to transmit to space!” Elliott shared. “I chose Venus because it symbolizes strength, beauty, and empowerment and I amso humbledto have the opportunity to share my art and my message with the universe!” she added.
Since her debut and very well-known album, ‘Supa Dupa Fly,’ in 1997, she has released 6 more creative studio albums and received several American Music Awards, as well as multiple ASCAP awards for her songwriting and contributions to the music industry. Elliott has sold millions of albums worldwide and earned numerous accolades, including multiple Grammy Awards.
‘The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)’ becomes the first ever hip-hop song to transmit to space
Image credits:NASA
In 2021, two of NASA’s missions were selected toexploreVenus and send data back to Earth using the DSN: DAVINCI (Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging), with its launch no earlier than 2029, and VERITAS (Venus Emissivity, Radio Science, InSAR, Topography, and Spectroscopy), launching no earlier than 2031.
While NASA and the DSN, together with the European Space Agency, continue Venus’ exploration, Elliott’s music is trying to reach out to different worlds.
The four-time Grammy-winning rapper, who was also honored with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, has beeninspiring peoplefor decades all over the world, and who knows, maybe now she will find new fans far beyond Earth?
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