Rapper and music artist Missy Elliot had a historic night she'll never forget - she has officially become the first female rapper to be honored by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The 52-year-old star was so moved that tears welled up in her eyes during her acceptance speech.
The ceremony was a star-studded event, and Missy was introduced by none other than fellow hip-hop artist Queen Latifah. Queen Latifah praised Missy for her unique and groundbreaking music, saying, "Nothing sounded the same after Missy came on the scene." She went on to call Missy a "futurist," someone who's always ahead of her time, even if she doesn't try to be. Missy, whose real name is Melissa, spoke to the audience in Brooklyn, reflecting on the significance of the moment. She said, "This is the 50th anniversary of hip hop, so this is different than me just being up here." The importance of the occasion was not lost on her.
Queen Latifah also highlighted Missy's courage in addressing misconceptions, stereotypes, and misogyny that women in the music industry face. She emphasized that Missy's message is for everyone and it's all about the belief that "It’s possible to do everything and to be great at it." The prestigious recognition comes two years after Missy Elliott received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, another fantastic achievement in her career. She shared her excitement about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction on X (formerly Twitter), expressing her gratitude and celebrating the doors it opens for all the talented women in hip hop.
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Missy wowed the crowd with a performance of her biggest hits, including Get Ur Freak On, The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly), Work It, Pass That Dutch, and Lose Control. The star was excited to be among fellow inductees and said, "I’m still pinching myself to even be in a room with some of the inductees that I see." Another heartwarming aspect of the night was that it was the first time Missy's mom, Patricia, saw her perform live. Missy had previously avoided having her conservative mom in the audience due to some "little words" she didn't want her to hear. But for this special occasion, she made an exception.
