Five-time Grammy Award winner Missy Elliott received an honorary Doctor of Music from Berklee College of Music Saturday, becoming the first female rapper to ever receive one of these honorary degrees.
What We Know…
- Elliott was chosen by the College for her successful work as a producer, superstar, songwriter, singer and rapper. President Roger H. Brown introduced Elliott praising her for bending genres and breaking stereotypes throughout her accomplished career.
- Conductor Alex Lacamoire and singer Justin Timberlake also received honorary degrees at the ceremony. Timberlake and Lacamoire also addressed students, expressing pride and gratitude for the honor.
- Lacamoire is a successful alum of Berklee College class of 1995 recently won Tony Awards for his orchestral work on “Hamilton” and “Dear Evan Hanson.”
- Graduating students performed the honorees’ music at the event and were joined on stage by Timberlake, Lacamoire and Elliott for the finale.
- Elliott is no stranger to this kind of honor; in January of this year, she became the first female rapper inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. She has won five Grammy’s and been nominated for another 18; these are among an impressive portfolio of awards and recognitions from BET, MTV and many others.
- Elliott has been praised recently for her recovery from Graves’ disease, which took her out of the music industry in 2011 due to the destabilizing symptoms.
Elliott’s music and personal success have inspired women around the world as she has broken the boundaries of rap and musical success.
