Missy Elliott Comes Out Of Shadows, Reveals Why She Won't Work It

Music veteran Missy Elliott has stepped forward to speak out on why she has been absent from the hip-hop scene as of late and if her hunger for the entertainment industry is still there.

In an interview, Missy killed the retirement speculation and admitted her lack of music stemmed from needing motivation.

In a video chat with Yahoo!'s "The Yo Show," Missy discussed her lengthy hiatus from the music industry. "When I create something, it's gotta be special and it can't just be to throw something out there because I feel like I'm Missy," said the 42-year-old rapper. "I gotta feel like what I'm giving the fans is 100 percent and that it's game-changing. I don't just throw out microwave records." (Rap-Up)

The 42-year-old musician also promised a long-awaited new album would still hit store shelves in the future.

"Just being inspired by things is what I'm grabbing for because music is different now," she explained. "Not to say that it's bad, it's just different now, so I'm just trying to make sure that what I give is 100 percent because I know that expectations is high from my fans and it's high of myself." She did, however, reassure fans that she is planning a comeback. "It's coming. I just ain't telling nobody when." (Rap-Up)

Music executive Yandy Smith previously hit up SOHH and gave her opinion on Missy's status in the game, having previously managed her at Violator.

I think what's interesting about these artists and what makes them great is their ability to keep on reinventing themselves," Smith told SOHH. "Missy really hasn't been gone, she has manifested herself to Keyshia Cole, Jazmine Sullivan and Monica. All of those hit records that you hear, Missy has had a hand in them. She's been busy writing and producing and being very instrumental in a lot of the hits that we've heard throughout the past couple years." (SOHH)

A couple years ago, producer Timbaland claimed fans could expect a new album from her by the summer.

"Me and Missy are both coming with our albums at the same time, and it will be in June," Timbo told MTV News in his Miami home February 3. It's been three years since Timbaland released Shock Value II and seven years since Missy dropped The Cookbook. If all goes according to plan, fans won't have to wait much longer. "Right now, we're preparing to get both our videos, our first singles, shot kinda at the same time," Tim said. "We want to do it as a movement and spontaneously." (MTV)