Where in the World is Missy Elliot?

Before Nicky Minaj was rocking her oversexed baby doll antics (no disrespect, love Superbass), there was Missy Elliot. If you grew up in the nineties and were a hip hop fan then you're singing one of her songs right now. Missy proved that smart girls could make it in in the rap game and be raunchy, keeping her clothes on while doing it. With hits like 'The Rain', 'Get Ur Freak On', 'One Minute Man' and 'Work It', it's no wonder that she's the only female rapper to have six platinum albums. I won't lie, I wasn't too enthusiastic about some of the singles she released toward the end of the first decade but I still like her music and haven't stopped wondering when her new album was going to be released. Well, I got my answer today by way of The Guardian. Missy didn't just slip into oblivion, she was recovering.

Missy is suffering from Graves' Disease. According to PubMed Health, this is an autoimmune disorder that leads to overactivity of the thyroid glands and is most likely to affect women over 20. The thyroid gland regulates the body's metabolism and the metabolic process gone awry can lead to a lot of problems, such as moods swings and hair loss. Another symptom, as Missy found out, is muscle weakness. Of this she says, "I was trying to put my foot on the brake, but my leg was jumping. I couldn't keep the brake down and almost crashed."

Having been diagnosed with the disease three years ago, the rapper has undergone radiation therapy and is a regular at her gym. "I'm 30 pounds lighter because I've been exercising. My thyroid is functioning, so I haven't had to take medication in about nine months. [But] you live with it for the rest of your life."

She has confirmed that her seventh album is in the works, no words as to when exactly but I anticipate that it will be soon. Here's to hoping that her condition continues to improve and that her new album brings it the way only Missy Elliot can.