photo credit: Nikola Spasenoski // Shutterstock
After showing her creative talents and skills in the music industry for over 20 years, Missy Elliott was officially inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame on Thursday, making her the first female rapper to ever be inducted.
Queen Latifah shared warm words on her long-lasting friendship with Missy, as she inducted her in. And Forever First Lady Michelle Obama, even sent in a video telling Missy how much a fan she is.
“Missy, I want to thank you for all of your trailblazing ways,” Obama said in her video message that aired during the event. “Thank you not for just sharing your gift with the world, but for being an advocate for so many people out there, especially young girls who are still figuring out how to make their voices heard.”
Singer/rapper Lizzo performed at the ceremony, bringing Missy’s colorful and eccentric music videos to life. Da Brat joined her to perform, “Sock It 2 Me.”
Missy gave a 10-minute speech that ended with her in tears of joy.
“I am thankful,” she said, pausing for a few seconds.
“Every time I come up to a podium … even with all the work that I’ve done, I don’t know, and I’m assuming it’s just God, I don’t know why I am here,” she said with tears in her eyes as the audience erupted with cheers and applause. “I want to say one thing to the writers, to the upcoming writers, ‘Do not give up.’ We all go through writer’s block. Sometimes you just have to walk away from a record and come back to it. But don’t give up because I’m standing here. And this is big for hip-hop, too.”
Over the years Missy has written for everyone, specifically girl groups and pop and R&B soloists, including the late icon Aaliyah, Beyoncé, Whitney Houston, Monica, Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige, Ariana Grande, Destiny’s Child, Fantasia, Jazmine Sullivan, SWV, Total, 702, Mya, Tweet and others.
Missy becomes the first female rapper but the third rapper in general to be inducted. Jay Z was inducted in 2017 and Jermaine Dupri in 2018.
Written by Clarke Jones
Source USA Today