Missy Elliot’s track is the first hip-hop song sent into space

In a landmark moment for music and space exploration, NASA has beamed Missy Elliott’s iconic 1997 hit “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” to Venus, marking the first time a hip-hop song has been sent into space.

The historic transmission was made on Friday, July 12, from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. Traveling at the speed of light via the agency’s Deep Space Network, the song traveled an astronomical 257 million kilometers from Earth to Venus, taking about 14 minutes to reach its destination.

Elliott, who is clearly overjoyed at this otherworldly honor, shared her excitement on social media: “YOOO this is crazy! We just went #OutOfThisWorld with NASA and sent the FIRST hip hop song into space via the Deep Space Network. My song ‘The Rain’ has officially been transmitted to Venus, the planet that symbolizes strength, beauty and empowerment. The sky is not the limit, it’s just the beginning 👽👽”

This cosmic milestone follows the Beatles’ “Across the Universe,” which was the first song NASA sent into space in 2008.

Brittany Brown, Digital and Technology Division Director in the NASA Office of Communications, who presented the idea to Elliott’s team, noted the synergy between space exploration and the artist’s work: “Both space exploration and Missy Elliott’s art are about pushing boundaries. Missy has already incorporated space-centric storytelling and futuristic imagery in her music videos, so the opportunity to collaborate on something out of the ordinary is really fitting.”

Produced by Timbaland, Missy Elliott’s “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” from her debut album Supa Dupa Bow Tie marked her rise to become a major player in hip-hop and R&B.

It debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 with 129,000 copies sold in its first week of release, becoming the highest-charting debut by a female rapper at the time and topping the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The track’s innovative production by Timbaland and unique music video directed by Hype Williams left a lasting impression on the music industry, establishing Elliott as a creative force and setting the stage for her successful career.