Missy Elliott’s “Get Ur Freak On” Crowned Greatest Song of the Century by Rolling Stone; Shaggy’s “It Wasn’t Me” Got Snubbed Off The List
Written by b87fm on 10/09/2025
Missy Elliott’s “Get Ur Freak On” Crowned No. 1 Song of the Century by Rolling Stone
Missy Elliott just secured another crown. On Wednesday, Rolling Stone dropped its list of the 250 Greatest Songs of the 21st Century (So Far) — and sitting at the very top is none other than Missy’s 2001 banger “Get Ur Freak On.”
The list celebrates the most iconic and influential records of the past 25 years, including Tweet’s “Oops (Oh My),” Post Malone & Swae Lee’s “Sunflower,” DaVido’s “Unavailable,” and Scarface’s “My Block.” But it’s Missy’s genre-smashing, Timbaland-produced anthem that took the No. 1 spot.
“That’s amazing,” Missy said when she got the news. “I’m super excited and thankful that after all these years that it could be at the top of y’all list.”
Released as the lead single from Miss E… So Addictive, “Get Ur Freak On” tore through the Billboard Hot 100’s Top 10 and held its ground for weeks. The song made a triumphant comeback in 2015 after Missy’s unforgettable Super Bowl XLIX Halftime Show performance.
Missy also revealed the record was almost never made. “He [Timbaland] just started hitting anything,” she told Rolling Stone Music Now.
“He was bamming on the keyboard ’cause he was ready to go. And he hit something and I was like, ‘That’s it right there.’ And he was like, ‘What? What you talking about?’ I just went in the booth and did the record.”
And the icon isn’t slowing down. Missy confirmed she’s back in the studio and planning a 2026 tour. “I have something in the works,” she teased. “It’s just different. It’s me being experimental again… I got some stuff coming. Some fire.”
Top 10 Songs of the Century (So Far)
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Missy Elliott – “Get Ur Freak On” (2001)
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Yeah Yeah Yeahs – “Maps”
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Beyoncé ft. Jay-Z – “Crazy in Love”
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The White Stripes – “Seven Nation Army”
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Taylor Swift – “All Too Well”
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Robyn – “Dancing on My Own”
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Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”
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Radiohead – “Idioteque”
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Britney Spears – “Toxic”
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Frank Ocean – “Thinkin Bout You”
Bad Bunny “Safaera” • The Strokes “Last Night” • SZA “Snooze” • Daddy Yankee “Gasolina” • OutKast “B.O.B.” • Mariah Carey “We Belong Together” • Drake “Hotline Bling” • Billie Eilish “Bad Guy” • Adele “Someone Like You” • Steve Lacy “Bad Habit” • Lady Gaga “Bad Romance” • Wizkid feat. Tems “Essence” • Chappell Roan “Pink Pony Club” • D’Angelo “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” • Jay-Z “99 Problems.”
Dancehall also made its presence loud and clear with three major records:
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Sean Paul – “Get Busy” (#92): Powered by Diwali Riddim, this 2002 smash didn’t just top charts—it shifted the sound of pop music forever.
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Gyptian – “Hold You” (#125): A slow-wine classic that went from Boston airwaves to global dominance. (Yes—Notorious VOG broke that record right here on urban radio before it took off.)
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Koffee – “Toast” (#203): A soulful, uplifting anthem that helped usher in a new era of “Dancehall Soul.”
But let’s be real — Shaggy’s “It Wasn’t Me” not making the list? Wild. That 2000 megahit is basically a cultural utility at this point—used in movies, commercials, memes, and everyday conversation. Leaving it off feels like a major oversight and disrespect.
Nearly 25 years after its release, “Get Ur Freak On” isn’t just a song. It’s a cultural landmark.
Check out the full Rolling Stone list of the 250 Greatest Songs of the 21st Century (So Far) below.
