Missy Elliott Receives Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
Missy Elliott gets her flowers.
The rap icon cemented her legendary status when she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Monday (Nov. 8).
Friends and family gathered on Hollywood Blvd. to pay tribute to the 50-year-old Grammy-winning rapper, songwriter, and producer, who was honored by Ciara, Lizzo, and her manager Mona Scott-Young during the live-streamed induction ceremony.
Lizzo took the stage while reciting her idol’s “Work It” lyrics. “You are the brightest star in the universe,” she told Missy before breaking down in tears. “I watched you my entire life and I saw a superstar in you, but I also saw myself… You lived 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.”
Ciara also paid tribute to her “1, 2 Step” collaborator. “We define music genres such as R&B, hip-hop, and pop. And then there’s a genre of Missy,” she said. “Like she says in her classic song, ‘We Run This’—’My style can’t be duplicated or recycled’…There is only one Missy.”
Following the touching tributes, an emotional Missy took the podium to reflect on her iconic career. “Through the grace of God and faith, I’ve kept going. If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t be standing here,” she told the crowd. “I’d come here 20 some years ago and used to walk past all of these stars and just imagine. It’s just a blessing to dream big and it truly happened.”
She dedicated the honor to her “sisters in hip-hop,” including Queen Latifah, Monie Love, Sha-Rock, Angie Stone, Roxanne Shanté, Yo-Yo, MC Lyte, and Salt-N-Pepa. “All of y’all who started before me ’cause y’all are the backs that we stand on, y’all are the foundation,” said Missy. “Y’all ran so we could walk. Y’all stood up for something so we could sit comfortably, so I thank y’all for this moment.”
Watch the full ceremony below.