Which female rapper released the 1997 debut album Supa Dupa Fly?

The female rapper who released the 1997 debut album Supa Dupa Fly was Missy Elliott. Released on July 15, 1997, it introduced her as a solo artist and established a highly distinctive partnership with producer Timbaland.

Before going solo, Elliott had worked in the group Sista and had already built experience as a songwriter and collaborator. She and Timbaland helped create songs for Aaliyah’s 1996 album One in a Million, then brought that futuristic, rhythmically inventive approach to Supa Dupa Fly. Timbaland produced the album, which was recorded in Virginia in a remarkably short session.

The album’s best-known single was “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly),” accompanied by a memorable Hype Williams-directed video. Other singles included “Sock It 2 Me,” “Hit Em wit da Hee” and “Beep Me 911.” The record reached number three on the US Billboard 200 and topped the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

A frequent mix-up is confusing the album’s featured guests with its main artist. Lil’ Kim, Da Brat, Busta Rhymes and Aaliyah-related collaborators appear in the project’s orbit, but Supa Dupa Fly is Elliott’s debut studio album.