CLEVELAND, Ohio– When the dust settles on Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York tonight, it will be hard to pinpoint a more moving moment than the induction of Portsmouth, Virginia’s Missy Elliott.
Queen Latifah, who presented Elliott for induction, understood this from the minute she hit the stage.
Perhaps that’s because, as the first female hip-hop inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — as a first-time nominee, no less — the feels were positively huge.
“Nothing stayed the same when Missy came on the scene,” Latifah said. “Missy has shattered barrier after barrier for herself and other women. Entire generations of artists owe a debt to Missy.”
But even those firsts and feels couldn’t top the biggest surprise of the night:
Elliott’s mother was in the audience at the induction — seeing her daughter perform live for the very first time. She obliged with a frenetic multimedia blitz and a medley of her hits “Get Ur Freak On,” “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly),” “Work It,” “Pass That Dutch” and “Lose Control.”
Related: 14 pure gold moments from the 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductions (photos)
Related: Kate Bush a huge presence at 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductions despite her absence
Related: Sheryl Crow inducted into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with assists from Olivia Rodrigo, Stevie Nicks
She absolutely brought the house down. It was a performance for the ages.
“You don’t have to sit down for me,” Latifah laughed after it was over.
“This is history in the making, y’all. This woman does not play, she goes hard for the art.”
“I’m still pinching myself. All of these people [in the induction class] have impacted people around the world with their music,” Elliott said after a standing ovation.
“Mommy, thank you for letting me write songs on your walls!”
Elliott dedicated her award to her mom who raised her as a single parent, along with the many female emcees who inspired her—Salt-N-Pepa, Queen Latifah, Roxanne Shanté and MC Lyte—and longtime collaborator/ legacy super-producer and high school pal, Timbaland.
“All those people gave me their shoulders to stand on,” Elliott said. “These are the people who inspired me.”
Born Melissa Arnette Elliott, her musical journey began in the early 90s with the girl group Sista. Although the act didn’t achieve mainstream success, it provided Elliot with valuable tools and experience to help her navigate what would be an auspicious future in the music industry.
In fact, it wasn’t long before her prodigious talents caught the attention of Timbaland; the two began collaborating, creating a partnership that would revolutionize hip-hop and R&B.
In 1997, Elliott released her debut album “Supa Dupa Fly” with its fortified blend of R&B, hip-hop and flourishes of eclectic electronics and loops.
It was a massive expression of emancipation and empowerment, enveloped in a whole new, futuristic smooth—a creative mishmash of jungle, dancehall, bhangra, buttery-smooth and leathery soul.
And the groundbreaking videos accompanying these sassy, sexy sounds? As surreal as the music itself.
It was a perfect (and perfectly-timed) answer to male-dominated hip-hop.
Elliott became something of a fashion and feminist icon along the way—pushing the boundaries of visual storytelling with personality-plus on full display. Messages of strength, self-confidence and strength further solidified her status as an artist; writing and producing songs for Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige, Whitney Houston, Destiny’s Child, Mariah Carey, Beyoncé and Ciara elevated her to an exalted producer status.
Throughout her career, Missy Elliott has earned numerous accolades: Grammy Awards, MTV Video Music Awards and a place in the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Her impact on the music industry is considerable, immeasurable. It would have been far more grievous crime than a “Misdemeanor” (an early career nickname of Elliott’s) to have kept her waiting.
“It’s the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, this is deeper,” Elliott said, getting choked up.
“Just try to spread love.”
