Missy Elliott Wows L.A. With Spectacular Tour

“I’m just the warm-up, baby!” Timbaland announced during his opening set on July 12 for the highly anticipated Out of This World Tour – The Missy Elliott Experience. This marked Missy Elliott’s first headline outing and the second night of the tour’s Los Angeles stand at Crypto.com Arena. Timbaland’s performance featured an array of classics from his hit arsenal, including “The Way I Are,” 50 Cent’s “Ayo Technology,” and Justin Timberlake’s “My Love,” offering the packed house a teaser for what was to come when Missy Elliott took the stage.

Joining Timbaland in bringing their A games were featured guests Ciara and Busta Rhymes. Draped in black leather, Ciara made her entrance to an explosion of enthusiastic cheers. Proclaiming she had “just had my fourth baby,” she showcased her undiminished dancing prowess with a fiercely flexible dance crew, performing hits such as “Goodies,” “Ride,” “Like a Boy,” “Promise,” “Level Up,” and “1, 2 Step.”

Following Ciara, rap legend Busta Rhymes, accompanied by his hype man Spliff Star, elevated the excitement further with songs like Chris Brown’s “Look at Me Now,” “Turn It Up,” “I Know What You Want,” and “Pass the Courvoisier.” He also brought Ty Dolla $ign and 310Babii to the stage. “We lift our artists up,” Rhymes said emphatically, “That’s what we’re supposed to do.”

Finally, it was time for Missy Elliott. Her 90-minute show was divided into four acts, introduced by dancer/master of ceremonies Kanec. The first act began with a dramatic spaceship landing onstage, followed by the rise of a portal door bearing a giant “M.” Missy Elliott, donned in a silver helmet, launched into “Throw It Back” and kept the energy high with an eight-song set that included “We Run This,” “Sock It to Me,” and “I’m Really Hot.”

The next two acts featured roaring crowd-pleasers such as “The Rain,” “She’s a B—-” (performed in a billowing bubble coat), “Get Ur Freak On,” “One-Minute Man,” “Drip Demeanor,” and “Coochie Don’t Fail Me Now.” Four circular screens above the arena relayed the onstage performances for fans, while Elliott, sporting vibrant red hair, went toe-to-toe with her dance troupe. During the second act, she even hopped onto a smaller circular platform to get closer to her fans on the floor.

In the fourth act, dubbed “the last stop on the planet,” Elliott and her crew wore graffiti-splashed outfits with kaleidoscopic neon colors. Transitioning from a “WTF (Where They From)” mashup to “Bring the Pain” and “Work It,” Elliott surprised everyone by taking a victory lap around the venue, high-fiving fans as she passed by.

Returning to the stage, she concluded the final act with “Pass Dat Dutch” and “Dance with Me” before tearing it up with Timbaland on “Up Jumps the Boogie,” Rhymes on “Touch It,” and Ciara on “Lose Control.”

Toward the show’s end, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer expressed her gratitude, saying, “I never take for granted that you spent your hard-earned money; this means a lot. I appreciate every last one of you all. Amen!” As the satisfied crowd left Crypto.com Arena, their sentiments echoed Busta Rhymes’ earlier comment: “Thank you, Missy, for putting us all together.”

The 30-date North American Out of This World Tour – The Missy Elliott Experience continues in Las Vegas on July 13, with upcoming stops in Denver on July 16, Houston on July 20, and Washington, D.C., on August 8, before concluding on August 23 in Rosemont, Illinois.

Source: Various sources