The 2,708th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame belongs to Missy Elliott!
The 50-year-old hip-hop artist received her Hollywood Walk of Fame star during a ceremony at 6212 Hollywood Boulevard in front of Amoeba Records on November 8, 2021.
“Missy Elliott has broken through the barriers of the male-dominated hip-hop world, and [the] music industry as a whole, as she has led the way for many women who have followed in her footsteps,” Hollywood Walk of Fame Producer Ana Martinez said.
“She continues to break barriers year after year and we’re thrilled to be able to honor her on the Walk of Fame.”
Hip-hop icon
Missy Elliott was honored by her manager Mona Scott-Young and fellow singers Lizzo and Ciara, who introduced her during the ceremony. Janelle Monáe and LL Cool J also paid tribute to Missy Elliott at the afterparty, while Janet Jackson, Busta Rhymes, Queen Latifah, Da Brat, Timbaland, June Ambrose, Teyana Taylor, and Brandy sent their congratulations through video messages.
“I watched you my entire life and I saw a superstar in you, but I also saw myself and I’d never seen myself before. You live so boldly and so beautifully and so unapologetically and so out loud. You have no idea what you have done for so many Black girls,” Lizzo said.
“We don’t deserve you. We don’t deserve Missy Elliott, and still, you continue to give to us and you’ve given with your heart… Let me just drop some words: Genius! Icon! Queen of hip-hop! Visionary!”
Female MCs in hip-hop
During her speech, Missy Elliott said that she dedicates this honor to her “sisters” and “godmothers” in hip-hop, including Queen Latifah, Monie Love, Sha-Rock, Angie Stone, Roxanne Shanté, Yo-Yo, MC Lyte, and Salt-N-Pepa. She also looked back on how she used to just dream about getting her own Hollywood Walk of Fame star decades ago.
“Through the grace of God in faith, I’ve kept going. If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t be standing here in front of a star,” she said.
“I’d come here 20 some years ago and just used to walk past all of these stars and just imagine. It’s just a blessing to dream big and it truly happened. I’m truly standing here.”
The “Get Ur Freak On” hitmaker–who has contributed to the music industry as a rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer–was described by the Hollywood Walk of Fame as “one of the most significant female artists in music history.”
“Missy Elliott is a pioneer of female hip-hop and R&B, [a] groundbreaking songwriter-producer, and [an] across-the-board cultural icon,” the Hollywood Walk of Fame website read.
“The five-time Grammy Award winner–with nominations spanning three decades–has attained unprecedented success. Missy’s six studio albums have each been RIAA platinum-certified or better, marking her as the only female rapper to achieve that remarkable accomplishment.”
Art Daniella Sison
