Missy Elliott’s iconic 1997 debut solo “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” has become the first hip-hop song to be beamed into space. The song was transmitted on Friday by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory through the Deep Space Network (DSN) DSS-13 radio dish antenna.
The song was sent the 158 million miles between Earth and Venus at the speed of light, with a total travel time of about 14 minutes. “My song ‘The Rain’ has officially been transmitted all the way to Venus, the planet that symbolizes strength, beauty and empowerment,” Elliott wrote on X. “The sky is not the limit, it’s just the beginning 👽👽”
“Both space exploration and Missy Elliott’s art have been about pushing boundaries,” said Brittany Brown, director of the Digital and Technology Division at NASA HQ’s Office of Communications in Washington, who had pitched the idea. “Missy has a track record of infusing space-centric storytelling and futuristic visuals in her music videos, so the opportunity to collaborate on something out of this world is truly fitting.”
