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Live Review: Vanessa Elisha gets her freak on in steamy Missy Elliot cover

26 October 2016 | 3:14 pm | Jackson Langford

The RnB artist, Vanessa Elisha, drops a smooth and sexy rendition of 'Friendly Skies', one of the hip-hop legend's earliest releases.

Australian RnB up-and-comer VANESSA ELISHA is straight up killing it right now. As a sneak peek of what to expect from her anticipated EP It's A Day and Night Thing, the RnB songstress as dropped a smooth AF cover of Missy Elliot's 'Friendly Skies', a deep cut from the hip-hop legend's debut record Supa Dupa Fly.

"I really wanted to pay homage to Missy Elliott’s early work and how it has inspired my sound," said Vanessa about the cover. "I wasn't sure I’d even put it out at the time, but I completely switched up the beat and fell in love with the rework, so I had to share it.”

You're bound to fall in love with her stellar re-work too. For those who have heard the original, you'd know it features Ginuwine as well as those distorted synths that he made famous with his all-conquering 'Pony.' Vanessa has completely switched it up and given it a genuinely modern makeover. While still maintaining that oozing sexuality Missy Elliott weaved into the original, this rendition gives a song glistening layers and complex vocals that somehow his both nostalgic and futuristic, strongly reminiscent of American RnB artist, Banks.

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Besides this exciting and unexpected cover, Vanessa Elisha is really cementing herself as an artist to watch as the list of her collaborators is growing larger and larger. The list includes Sweater Beats, Different Sleep and XXYYXX, with whom she made 'Unknown' which went on to become a Billboard #1 Real Time single as well as being sampled by Tory Lanez for the lead single for his album. Words of advice: don't sleep on Vanessa Elisha.

Words by Jackson Langford

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