She has become the first female rapper inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, joining the likes of Run-DMC, Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, N.W.A., and Tupac Shakur.
Elliott was honoured at the 38th Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony, which took place on Friday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The event was streamed and featured performances and speeches from other inductees, such as Rage Against the Machine, Foo Fighters, Tina Turner, Carole King, and Jay-Z.
Elliott was introduced by her longtime friend and fellow rap icon, Queen Latifah, who praised her for her groundbreaking and influential work in hip-hop and pop music. Queen Latifah said that Elliott was “one of the greatest producers ever, period” and that she “opened the door to new possibilities in all aspects of contemporary music, very much including rock and roll”.
Elliott accepted the honour with a humble and emotional speech, thanking God, her family, her fans, and her collaborators, such as Timbaland, Aaliyah, and Pharrell Williams. She also paid tribute to the other female rappers who came before her and inspired her, such as MC Lyte, Salt-N-Pepa, Lauryn Hill, Lil’ Kim, and Da Brat.
Elliott also delivered a stunning performance of some of her biggest hits, such as “Get Ur Freak On”, “Work It”, “Pass That Dutch”, and “Lose Control”. She was joined by a group of dancers and a live band and wore a glittering gold suit and bucket hat that matched the cover art of her debut album, Supa Dupa Fly.
Elliott’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a well-deserved recognition of her legacy and contribution to music, as well as a historic moment for female rappers and hip-hop.
