Missy Elliott Explaining Why She Doesn't Fly Private Is A Mood, A Flex, And All The Things
Missy 'Misdemeanor' Elliott is cultural royalty for many ways that supersede music. She is revolutionary, before her time. She has emerged as the undisputed queen of Afrofuturistic hip-hop since her solo debut in '97. From the late '90s, she has built an unparalleled legacy, one that continues to evolve in a predominantly male-dominated industry. Her catalogue is deep; un-fck-withable and nostalgic all around thanks to samples, out-of-the-box production techniques, lyrics and her ultimate muse: music videos.
So, needless to say, sis knows what's she's doing out here.
On my daily scroll on the 'gram, I came across her popular 2019 interview with Angie Martinez, where the two of them discuss her journey from 90's Missy, to peak-of-her-career groundbreaking Missy, to the legend that she has evolved into today. The two mega-watt curators discussed her journey, her untimely Graves' disease diagnosis, and more.
But it was when Martinez brought up her MTV Cribs episode where we got all our lives (again), as the conversation of money, and longevity in this music industry, popped off all because of a car bed. Yes, a car bed. After Angie asks her if she still has or sleeps in the bed, Missy's response went down in hip-hop's flex history:
"Well, I have 7 houses, so I don't even be at that house."
Talk yo sh*t, Missy! (which, both me and Angie Martinez scream at the same time)
Sidebar: it was her humble approach to saying so, for me. She continues:
"Seven houses all paid for. No mortgage. Amazing credit. How you think I was able to be gone for 14 years? I'm blessed to still be financially okay. I've seen people [who] sometimes may catch me in the airport and be like, 'why you not on a private jet?!' 'Cause I plan on living for a long time and I'm not finna spend all my money and then, come 70, I'm sitting somewhere back in coach. Nah. I'm saving my money. I be looking like...ya'll go right ahead because when that money run out..."
We stan a saving, frugal, RICH queen.
And listen, as much as this conversation is well above most of our tax brackets, there's something refreshing about seeing a woman of her caliber, practicing spending precautions.
"If you notice, people who have it, don't really have to do that. Most of the time when you have it--I just always says spend your money wisely. This thing, especially for artists, you know, you could be hot and getting mad mad bread, especially the way stuff is moving now, there's new artists every second, now you want to save that money."
The two then touch on cars, where she admits she has over 10. Angie reaffirms, "So you have over 10 cars, and 7 houses, but you won't fly private."
"No, because that's not an investment. And this is not to knock anybody, I'm not mad at people feeling like, 'hey I work hard, I want to be able to enjoy.' But for me, God willing, I plan on living for a long time, and I don't want my money to run out."
Watch the full interview below (the conversation begins at the 29:00ish mark)
Are you a member of our insiders squad? Join us in the xoTribe Members Community today!
Featured image via Giphy
Charmin Michelle is a southern native and creative spirit who works as a content marketer and events manager in Chicago. She enjoys traveling, #SummertimeChi, and the journey of mastering womanhood. Connect with her on Instagram @charminmichelle.
Smile, Sis! These Five Improvements Can Upgrade Your Oral Hygiene Instantly
This article is in partnership with Sensodyne.
Our teeth are connected to so many things - our nutrition, our confidence, and our overall mood. We often take for granted how important healthy teeth are, until issues like tooth sensitivity or gum recession come to remind us. Like most things related to our bodies, prevention is the best medicine. Here are five things you can do immediately to improve your oral hygiene, prevent tooth sensitivity, and avoid dental issues down the road.
1) Go Easy On the Rough Brushing: Brushing your teeth is and always will be priority number one in the oral hygiene department. No surprises there! However, there is such a thing as applying too much pressure when brushing…and that can lead to problems over time. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and brush in smooth, circular motions. It may seem counterintuitive, but a gentle approach to brushing is the most effective way to clean those pearly whites without wearing away enamel and exposing sensitive areas of the teeth.
2) Use A Desensitizing Toothpaste: As everyone knows, mouth pain can be highly uncomfortable; but tooth sensitivity is a whole different beast. Hot weather favorites like ice cream and popsicles have the ability to trigger tooth sensitivity, which might make you want to stay away from icy foods altogether. But as always, prevention is the best medicine here. Switching to a toothpaste like Sensodyne’s Sensitivity & Gum toothpaste specifically designed for sensitive teeth will help build a protective layer over sensitive areas of the tooth. Over time, those sharp sensations that occur with extremely cold foods will subside, and you’ll be back to treating yourself to your icy faves like this one!
3) Floss, Rinse, Brush. (And In That Order!): Have you ever heard the saying, “It’s not what you do, but how you do it”? Well, the same thing applies to taking care of your teeth. Even if you are flossing and brushing religiously, you could be missing out on some of the benefits simply because you aren’t doing so in the right order. Flossing is best to do before brushing because it removes food particles and plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach. After a proper flossing sesh, it is important to rinse out your mouth with water after. Finally, you can whip out your toothbrush and get to brushing. Though many of us commonly rinse with water after brushing to remove excess toothpaste, it may not be the best thing for our teeth. That’s because fluoride, the active ingredient in toothpaste that protects your enamel, works best when it gets to sit on the teeth and continue working its magic. Rinsing with water after brushing doesn’t let the toothpaste go to work like it really can. Changing up your order may take some getting used to, but over time, you’ll see the difference.
4) Stay Hydrated: Upping your water supply is a no-fail way to level up your health overall, and your teeth are no exception to this rule. Drinking water not only helps maintain a healthy pH balance in your mouth, but it also washes away residue and acids that can cause enamel erosion. It also helps you steer clear of dry mouth, which is a gateway to bad breath. And who needs that?
5) Show Your Gums Some Love: When it comes to improving your smile, you may be laser-focused on getting your teeth whiter, straighter, and overall healthier. Rightfully so, as these are all attributes of a megawatt smile; but you certainly don’t want to leave gum health out of the equation. If you neglect your gums, you’ll start to notice the effects of plaque buildup, which can irritate the gums and cause gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. Seeing blood while brushing and flossing is a tell-tale sign that your gums are suffering. You may also experience gum recession — a condition where the gum tissue surrounding your teeth pulls back, exposing more of your tooth. Brushing at least twice a day with a gum-protecting toothpaste like Sensodyne Sensitivity and Gum, coupled with regular dentist visits, will keep your gums shining as bright as those pearly whites.
Blac Chyna Opens Up About Her Initial Fear To Share Her Spiritual Journey With Others
Watching Angela “Blac Chyna” White’s transformation in real-time has truly been a sight to see. It wasn’t that long ago that she announced that she was reversing her cosmetic surgeries in an effort to go back to who she was before the world came to know her as Blac Chyna. In previous interviews, she stated that she was dissolving her facial and lip fillers, removing her breast implants, and getting a butt reduction, as well as removing the dimple piercings that enhanced her fame and controversial tattoos.
In a recent Tamron Hall interview, the mother of two said that she has “fully recovered” from the procedures. She is also celebrating one year of sobriety and opened up about being worried about how her new journey would be received by others.
“I’ve been in the entertainment industry for so long, right, and of course, like, you know, coming out, I’m like young, I’m gonna do wild things as we all have,” she said.
“...I feel like by me being vocal and showing everybody you can change your life and things can get better, like through myself, that right there is an accomplishment, and that’s a part of freedom, too.”
But as she started on her journey, many people have shown her grace, which is something she’s grateful for. “And then the fact that people have been showing me grace, it’s like amazing,” she said. “And I feel like when I did it, I just did it. It was more so like spiritual thing and I feel like people see that, and I’ve always been like my authentic self, so what you see is kinda what you get with me, and that’s just kinda what it is.”
Chyna, who recently received an honorary doctorate from Sacramento Theology Seminary and Bible College, has also repaired her relationship with her mom, Tokyo Toni. The social media celebrity surprised her daughter on the Tamron Hall Show. Prior to the sentimental surprise, Chyna dished on the reconciliation and having a better understanding of her mom.
“I must say, some of the things I have to take accountability for because, like my actions. As a mother, you don’t want to see your daughter doing certain things ‘cause it’s like it doesn’t matter what my past was or what we’re going through, I didn’t raise you that way,” she admitted. “So, it’s like, okay, maybe I was a little bit wrong. Maybe I was acting out a little bit. But I feel like as we grow older, I kinda see more, and I understand more.”
Chyna will be starring in season two of Fox's reality competition show Special Forces: World's Toughest Test.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image by Kevin Winter/Getty Images
