"WTF (Where They From)" - Missy Elliott ft Pharrell Williams [YouTube Official Music Video]

Missy is back!

"WTF" is Missy Elliott's first new music video in seven years. 2015 has seen a resurgence from the hip hop legend, which seemingly began with an unexpected guest appearance during Katy Perry's Super Bowl Halftime Show and continued with her Janet Jackson collaboration "BURNITUP!"

One of the most creative and visionary artists in modern music, Missy Elliott is a living legend. Dave Meyers — who has now directed 12 Missy Elliott music videos including "Work It," "Lose Control," "We Run This," and "Get Ur Freak On" — does another amazing job here. The dance moves are awesome, the costumes are fantastic, and there's incredible use of old-fashioned and new-fashioned stage craft.

Given the hook about "Where you from," it's appropriate that Missy taps another Virginia native, Pharrell Williams, on the track as a producer and MC. Given Pharrell's recent success as a pop artist, it's easy to forgot he has been one of the great hop hop producers of the 2000s, especially for his work with the likes of Jay Z, Snoop Dogg, and Ludacris. This new beat is another classic, with layered polyrhythms and slick studio wizardry.

Today, Pharrell shared some of the inspiration behind "WTF" on Power 106 LA's The Cruz Show. The repeated vocal sample, "In person," comes from a Piers Morgan interview with Rachel Jeantel, who was the last person that Trayvon Martin called before he was gunned down by George Zimmerman in 2012. Pharrell explained in the interview that Jeantel is being given full credit and payment for the sample, which is a great way to help her overcome that tragedy and make a better life for herself.

Have Pharrell and Missy been on a record together before? Yes, on Skillz' "Crew Deep" (The V.A. Remix) with Clipse in 2002. They also performed "Come Get It Bae" together at the 2014 BET Awards and worked together on NBC TV show The Voice.

The song is expected to be on Missy's long-awaited next album, rumored to be called Block Party. For the latest music, news, and tour dates from Missy Elliott, check out her Zumic artist page.

Source: Atlantic Records YouTube