When Missy Elliott hit Coachella’s main stage on April 11, it wasn’t just a performance—it was a masterclass. For Day 1 of Weekend 1, Missy dove right in and delivered twenty tracks of pure, genre-defining excellence from one of hip-hop’s most iconic innovators.
A Party at the Desert
She kicked things off with a tribute to the Transformers franchise. She entered the main stage at the start of “Throw It Back,” disguised as a car before transforming into herself, rocking an Optimus Prime-inspired outfit.
Missy moved through her most iconic hits with ease, with the stage presence of someone who knows how to command a stage. The staging was futuristic, the choreography was sharp, and the transitions between tracks? Seamless. One moment you were losing it to “Get Ur Freak On,” the next you were hit with the raw power of “She’s a Bitch,” complete with that iconic black patent leather outfit reborn for 2025.
And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better—boom. She hits the audience with “Work It,” “Pass That Dutch,” and “Lose Control” in a final back-to-back combo that shook the Empire Polo Club.
The Setlist:
- Throw It Back
- Cool Off
- We Run This
- 4 My People
- Sock It 2 Me
- I’m Really Hot
- The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)
- I’m Better
- She’s a Bitch
- Gossip Folks
- All n My Grill
- One Minute Man
- Hot Boyz
- Get Ur Freak On
- Lick Shots
- Ching-A-Ling
- WTF (Where They From)
- Work It
- Pass That Dutch
- Lose Control
A Living Legend
The whole thing felt less like a set and more like a proclamation. Missy Elliott is one of the most influential hip-hop artists from the ’90s and 2000s, but she doesn’t always get the same amount of recognition as her peers. Her performance at Coachella reminded everyone why she’s one of the best rappers out there. Her Coachella set was a celebration of creativity, legacy, and pure, unadulterated joy. A living, breathing reminder that she’s been ahead of the curve since day one… and still is.
