{"id":23508,"date":"2026-07-31T20:42:03","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T15:42:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=23508"},"modified":"2026-07-31T20:42:03","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T15:42:03","slug":"missy-elliott-fans-only-just-realising-what-the-lyrics-to-hit-work-it-are","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=23508","title":{"rendered":"Missy Elliott fans only just realising what the lyrics to hit Work It are"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<p>MISSY Elliott fans have only just sussed out details about the lyrics to her hit song Work It \u2013 24 years after the song came out.<\/p>\n<p>The rapper and singer-songwriter, 55, released Work It back in September 2002.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_16775918\" class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-caption alignnone aligncenter\"><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span>Missy Elliott fans have only just caught on to an interesting detail about her song Work It<\/span> <span class=\"credit\">Credit: YouTube<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_16775917\" class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-caption alignnone aligncenter\"><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span>Rapper and singer-songwriter Missy released Work It in September 2002<\/span> <span class=\"credit\">Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DbVQBcRPKt1\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DbVQBcRPKt1\/<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In the song, Missy sings the lyrics: \u201cIs it worth it, let me work it, I put my thing down, flip it, and reverse it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The next line initially appears to be a totally nonsensical stream of letters: \u201cTi esrever dna ti pilf nwod gniht ym tup I.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"single__inline-module inline-module inline-module--newsletter aligncenter inline-module--thesun aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-newsletter\" data-source-unit=\"Inline Newsletter Module Entertainment\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__inner\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__title-wrapper\">\n<p><h3 class=\"inline-module__title headline headline--combo-sm-md\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up for the <span class=\"newsletter-name theme-entertainment\">Entertainment<\/span> newsletter\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<p><h3 class=\"inline-module__title headline headline--combo-sm-md\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThank you!\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_16695511\" class=\"wp-caption\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-no-modal=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/DD-TOPIC-BANNER-video-all-in-one-place-1.jpg?w=960\" alt=\"\" class=\"alignnone size-thesun-article-image wp-image-16695511\" width=\"960\" height=\"296\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/07\/DD-TOPIC-BANNER-video-all-in-one-place-1.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 2048w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/07\/DD-TOPIC-BANNER-video-all-in-one-place-1.jpg?resize=300,93&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 300w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/07\/DD-TOPIC-BANNER-video-all-in-one-place-1.jpg?resize=768,237&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 768w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/07\/DD-TOPIC-BANNER-video-all-in-one-place-1.jpg?resize=1024,316&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/07\/DD-TOPIC-BANNER-video-all-in-one-place-1.jpg?resize=1536,474&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 1536w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/07\/DD-TOPIC-BANNER-video-all-in-one-place-1.jpg?resize=600,185&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 600w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/07\/DD-TOPIC-BANNER-video-all-in-one-place-1.jpg?resize=878,271&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 878w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/07\/DD-TOPIC-BANNER-video-all-in-one-place-1.jpg?resize=744,230&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 744w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/07\/DD-TOPIC-BANNER-video-all-in-one-place-1.jpg?resize=576,178&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 576w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/07\/DD-TOPIC-BANNER-video-all-in-one-place-1.jpg?resize=440,136&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 440w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/07\/DD-TOPIC-BANNER-video-all-in-one-place-1.jpg?resize=424,131&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 424w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/07\/DD-TOPIC-BANNER-video-all-in-one-place-1.jpg?resize=180,56&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 180w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/07\/DD-TOPIC-BANNER-video-all-in-one-place-1.jpg?resize=107,33&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 107w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/07\/DD-TOPIC-BANNER-video-all-in-one-place-1.jpg?resize=130,40&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 130w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/07\/DD-TOPIC-BANNER-video-all-in-one-place-1.jpg?resize=227,70&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 227w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/07\/DD-TOPIC-BANNER-video-all-in-one-place-1.jpg?resize=175,54&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 175w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/07\/DD-TOPIC-BANNER-video-all-in-one-place-1.jpg?resize=200,62&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 200w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/07\/DD-TOPIC-BANNER-video-all-in-one-place-1.jpg?resize=231,71&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 231w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/07\/DD-TOPIC-BANNER-video-all-in-one-place-1.jpg?resize=322,99&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 322w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/07\/DD-TOPIC-BANNER-video-all-in-one-place-1.jpg?resize=664,205&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 664w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/07\/DD-TOPIC-BANNER-video-all-in-one-place-1.jpg?resize=194,60&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 194w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/07\/DD-TOPIC-BANNER-video-all-in-one-place-1.jpg?resize=259,80&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 259w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/07\/DD-TOPIC-BANNER-video-all-in-one-place-1.jpg?resize=960,296&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 960w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/07\/DD-TOPIC-BANNER-video-all-in-one-place-1.jpg?resize=88,28&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 88w, https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/07\/DD-TOPIC-BANNER-video-all-in-one-place-1.jpg?resize=50,15&amp;quality=90&amp;strip=all 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\"\/><\/figure>\n<p>However, it has now been uncovered that it\u2019s actually the previous line in reverse.<\/p>\n<p>On the<a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/au\/podcast\/i-said-im-sorry\/id1896743008\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" data-nyp-affiliate=\"true\"> I Said I\u2019m Sorry podcast<\/a>, host Yaz Haddad told co-host Feras Basal: \u201cYou remember the song from Missy Elliott?\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-readmore\">\n<div class=\"article-readmore__header\">\n<p class=\"article-readmore__headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead more on Missy Elliott\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"article-readmore__content-wrapper article-readmore__content-wrapper--single\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"article-readmore__text-anchor-wrap\" href=\"https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/entertainment\/11679234\/missy-elliott-rap-star-new-album-headline-tour\/\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"article-readmore__content\">\n<div class=\"article-readmore__content-img\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"240\" width=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/06\/NINTCHDBPICT000879720310_572610.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=360&amp;h=240&amp;crop=1\"\/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-readmore__text\">\n<div class=\"article-readmore__text-wrapper\">\n<p class=\"article-readmore__text-kicker\">SECRET ALBUMS <\/p>\n<p class=\"article-readmore__text-headline\">Missy Elliott reveals she&#8217;s secretly recorded six albums of music<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_16775919\" class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-caption alignnone aligncenter\"><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span>On the I Said I\u2019m Sorry podcast, host Yaz Haddad surprised co-host Feras Basal with the information<\/span> <span class=\"credit\">Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DbVQBcRPKt1\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DbVQBcRPKt1\/<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_16775920\" class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-caption alignnone aligncenter\"><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span>Fans were also left stunned after the fun fact was pointed out<\/span> <span class=\"credit\">Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DbVQBcRPKt1\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DbVQBcRPKt1\/<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>He began singing the \u2018Is it worth it\u2019 line, before adding: \u201cI picked up that the next line is everything reversed that she just said.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A surprised Feras responded: \u201cThat\u2019s not just gibberish?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>To which Yaz replied: \u201cNo, that\u2019s her going. I put my thing down, flip it, and reverse it.\u00a0And then she reverses that whole line.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Feras was still in disbelief, as he asked: \u201cShut the hell up.\u00a0Is it actually?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Yaz sang the supposedly nonsense lyric, then flipped it to demonstrate the point.<\/p>\n<p>This revealed the lyric truly is \u201cI put my thing down, flip it, and reverse it\u201d in reverse order.<\/p>\n<p>Left gobsmacked, one fan commented: \u201cI was today years old when I found out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Another said: \u201cAaaaaaaaah blow my mind!!!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While a third chimed in: \u201cThat just fried my brain.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>MISSY Elliott fans have only just sussed out details about the lyrics to her hit song Work It \u2013 24 years after the song came out. The rapper and singer-songwriter, 55, released Work It back in September 2002. Missy Elliott fans have only just caught on to an interesting detail about her song Work It&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":23509,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/07\/newspress-collage-m632r0osa-1785509151281.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&1785497494&w=1920&h=1080&crop=1","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23508","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrity-gossip"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23508","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=23508"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23508\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/23509"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=23508"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=23508"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=23508"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}