Missy Elliott (real name Melissa Arnette “Missy” Elliott) was officially inducted in into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame on Thursday (June 13, 2019) in New York, marking the first time a female rapper has received the honor. She’s only the third rapper to receive the award, which was given to Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter in 2017 and Jermain Dupri in 2018.
At the event, both Queen Latifah (real name Dana Elaine Owens) and Michelle Obama spoke about Elliott’s importance as an artist. As part of the tribute, Lizzo (real name Melissa Viviane Jefferson) and Da Brat performed her 1997 single “Sock It to Me.”
The five-time Grammy-award winning artist is best known for her smash hits “Get Your Freak On” and “Work It,” and is the only female rapper to have six albums certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Elliott has also written top-charters for Aaliyah, Beyoncé, Whitney Houston, Mary J. Blige and Ciara, Monica, Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige, Ariana Grande, Destiny’s Child, Fantasia, Jazmine Sullivan, SWV, Total, 702, and Mya, among others.
Check out video from the event below.
