Missy Elliott saves the Super Bowl halftime show

Last November, Missy Elliott performed the finale at the Soul Train Awards, rapping the final verse of '90s party anthem "Ladies Night." As I feverishly tweeted my ass off, it dawned on me that radio-ready rap music is missing a massive voice in Missy. Just listen to the cheers at 3:07 when she takes the stage (and don't mind what's left of Lil' Kim):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oz7WI3A2SNYTonight, I had the same "jump off the couch" reaction to Missy's surprise appearance at the Super Bowl, where she performed a medley of her hits that yanked the show from headlining blowup doll Katy Perry and odd companion Lenny Kravitz (despite Perry riding in on an 15-foot-tall geometric lion puppeteered by men in black suits). Somewhere between "Get Ur Freak On" and "Lose Control" I asked myself: Why is this badass bitch not in the studio? Why is she not on my radio right the fuck now? And why do all of her songs STILL SOUND LIKE THEY CAME FROM THE FUTURE?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhCeEULUIHkBut the public had other [predictably basic] questions tonight, according to Google Trends:"WHEN WAS MISSY POPULAR"??? Are you for real? I also cannot imagine why anyone would care how Miss "Pep Rally" Perry knows Missy (she likely doesn't), or how much weight the rapper lost (she looks great).  Here's what matters, aside from the fact that this was the first worthwhile halftime show since Nipplegate '04: The tracksuit-sporting queen of the rap video -- who had the world gawking as she rocked a garbage bag and goggles in "Da Rain" back in '96 -- is in an "appearances only" stage of her career much too soon. Longtime partner in crime Timbaland is off making hits for singing actors on FOX's hip-hop Drama-with-a-capital-D, Empire, so surely he can drop a bit of brilliance Missy's way.  These navel-gazing "artists" who think Twitter beefs adequately fill the gaps could use some inspiration:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYKI8tAELXYhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UODX_pYpVxkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPoKiGQzbSQhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOUMI9h7DNAhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEzTXCSDjdUhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jD_k7Ni1btU Still, happy to know the heads got it tonight.  Come back, Missy!