A five-time grammy winner, Missy Elliott is one of hip-hop's most vibrant hitmakers and video stars. In '05 she scored five nominations -- including Best Rap Album, for The Cookbook. "In that category, I'm up against all guys," she says. "That's always a pleasure." Just back from Africa and Saudi Arabia, Miss E talks about voting for herself, meeting Ozzy backstage and her love of the White Stripes.

Since you've won some Grammys, you're eligible to vote. Did you vote for yourself this year?

Naw, but I should have! I've been out of the country. I haven't voted, but next year if I'm nominated, I'm going to put in about ten votes for myself.

What are some of your favorite records of 2005?

You're talking to somebody who really doesn't even listen to the radio. I watch A&E, and that's it.

Is that to preserve the purity of your sound?

Yes, definitely. That's why I don't listen to the radio. It distracts my creativity [laughs].

What was your reaction the first time you won a Grammy?

I was like, "Wow, this is the awards show I grew up watching, seeing Michael Jackson and Cyndi Lauper" -- people I always looked up to. At home I have a room where I keep my awards, and it's always a humbling experience to look in there.

Do you write an acceptance speech in advance?

I used to think that was bad luck. But when I won, I'd get everybody mad, because I'd forget to mention them. So now I try to list in my head the very top, top people.

Who's the most random celebrity you've met backstage at the Grammys?

Ozzy Osbourne. His wife was like, "This is Missy Elliott." I thought he didn't know who I was, because he took thirty seconds and was like, "Oh, OK, how ya doing?"

Do you ever see yourself complaining if you don't win?

I've only done that one time, and never publicly. My first time at the Grammys, "The Rain" didn't win Best Video; "I'll Be Missing You," Puffy's video, won. But I was like, "Why can't both of them win?" Biggie had passed away, and I knew I couldn't complain.

Do you ever get bored during the ceremony?

Every awards show has down-time. That's when you go get popcorn. But mostly I love watching the performances, because I like to get ideas -- whether it's rock or country or hip-hop.

Any Grammy performances that have really impressed you?

The White Stripes. Just from watching them perform, it made me go and get one of their CDs.

Can we expect a White Stripes-Missy collabo someday?

Oh, that would be hot. That would most definitely be hot.

You were just in Africa, right? What were you up to?

I was doing shows. I had a chance to go to Angola, where you have to get all of these shots, and you can't drink the water. It was a great experience being out there with people with, like, fifty plates on their heads and babies strapped around them. I went to Saudi Arabia, too.

Do Angola and Saudi Arabia love Missy Elliott?

Oh, yeah. In Angola, some guy leaped on stage and covered me with all these wet kisses. In Saudi Arabia, the women are in black dresses with their faces covered, but they all know Missy. Maybe when Saddam was in the hole, he was playin' my joints on his iPod.

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