Missy Elliott’s 1997 debut hit single “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly),” is now the first hip-hop song to be sent into outer space. NASA revealed it transmitted Missy’s futuristic tune all the way to Venus, which is the rapper’s favorite planet. The song’s radio signal evidently only took 14 minutes to reach Venus from NASA’s Deep Space Network, located in Barstow, California. The 158 million mile transmission of the track was sent at the speed of light from NASA’s set of giant radio antennas. Elliott’s song becomes only the second tune ever to be beamed into outer space, joining the Beatles’ 1970 classic, “Across the Universe.”
“I still can’t believe I’m going out of this world with NASA through the Deep Space Network when “The Rain” (Supa Dupa Fly) becomes the first ever hip-hop song to transmit to space!,” Elliott said. “I chose Venus because it symbolizes strength, beauty, and empowerment and I am so humbled to have the opportunity to share my art and my message with the universe!” (Consequence of Sound)