Missy Elliott hasn’t released an album in 12 years, but ever since she stole the Super Bowl halftime show from Katy Perry (this was before the words “Super Bowl” and “stole” took on a different meaning), she’s kept busy. “Misdemeanor” has put out a handful of new singles (including the new Ghostbusters theme with Fall Out Boy), appeared alongside fellow luminaries Queen Latifah and Salt-N-Pepa at VH1’s Hip Hop Honors, joined Michelle Obama and James Corden on “Carpool Karaoke,” and declared “I’m Better.” Oh, and Hillary Clinton praised her “dazzling” talent. Elliott, who’s headlining the incredible FYF Fest with Frank Ocean and Nine Inch Nails, is constantly looking forward, but her fans just discovered something from her past.
Everyone knows “Work It.” The first single from Elliott’s best-selling album, Under Construction, which was nominated for Album of the Year at the Grammys (it lost to OutKast’s Speakerboxxx/The Love Below), was a cross-genre hit that you still can’t go 20 minutes without hearing on the radio. But have you ever looked at the lyrics for “Work It”? A lot of people haven’t, apparently, and they’re just now realizing what Elliott is saying in the hook.
Is it worth it? Let me work it
I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it
Ti esrever dna ti pilf, nwod gniht ym tup
Ti esrever dna ti pilf, nwod gniht ym tup
“Ti esrever dna ti pilf, nwod gniht ym tup” is literally what happens when “I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it” is literally flipped and reversed. (It’s a real “Yvan eht Nioj” moment.) This lyrical revelation is blowing minds.
She really put it down flipped it and reversed it, I was oblivious all this time 🤦🏿♂️ pic.twitter.com/mKVIXQjZ5P
— Brown Sugaa 🍫 (@ItsBrownSugaa_) March 24, 2017
When you realize she REALLY FLIPS IT AND REVERSE IT!!! pic.twitter.com/8NMozRsYmU
— Aamia Areal (@aamiaareal) March 22, 2017
https://twitter.com/sjames_fit/status/843994114333065216
https://twitter.com/yolandaestrello/status/844611357240688641
https://twitter.com/sydneyfinchum/status/845096306486005760
Can't believe she literally put it down, flipped it & reversed it. 15 years later, we're just realizing. Well done @MissyElliott . Touché.
— devon sawa (@DevonESawa) March 26, 2017
Confirmation – @MissyElliott really did flip it and reverse it. pic.twitter.com/qNiyVj2mhp
— Nate G. (@NateGMixedIt) March 24, 2017
I just realized the gibberish in @MissyElliott song Work it is ACTUALLY flipped & reversed #FlashbackFriday pic.twitter.com/ud9BDRHzAZ
— Tammia (@Tammia_A) March 24, 2017
https://twitter.com/rbartonshaw/status/844912084294889472
I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it is Ti esrever dna ti pilf nwod gniht ym tup LITERALLY FLIPPED AND REVERSED@MissyElliott genius pic.twitter.com/ITkwENAWF9
— maricuya (@wish3ry) March 25, 2017
Some people aren’t impressed, though.
It took y'all this long to understand that @missyelliott literally put her thing down, flipped it & reversed it? I mean, she kinda said..
— BEEZ (@bgttibz) March 25, 2017
But Elliott still tweeted a shoutout to everyone who just realized her genius.
S/O 2 all who just now figured out what I was saying on my song #WORKIT AFTER 15 YEARS 😫🤣 yup I FLIPPED IT & REVERSED IT🤣 go to snap👻try it pic.twitter.com/Ut5c6djMu0
— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) March 24, 2017
Wait until the internet finds out what John Lennon is saying “Rain.”
(Via Twitter)
