Missy Elliott honored by Berklee.
Saturday (May 11th), Missy Elliott made history as she received an honorary doctorate degree, awarded by the Berklee College Music.
Among a group honorees that included Justin Timberlake and Alex Lacamoire, the five-time Grammy award-winner became the very first hip-hop act, male or female, to be presented with an honorary doctorate from the prestigious institution, a fitting culmination for the veteran’s decades-long career.
She now joins the ranks the likes Duke Ellington, B.B. King, Aretha Franklin and Quincy Jones, who have all been awarded the honor.
“This year’s honorary doctorate recipients are being recognized for their achievements and influences in music, and for their enduring global impact,” read a statement from the school.
In June, Missy is also set to become the only female hip-hop artist to ever be inducted into the Songwriters Hall Fame.
“It’s amazing. To me, it’s important to have equality,” said Hall FO Fame chairman Nile Rodgers, who announced the decision in January this year. “I’ve written with a lot women songwriters, but not nearly enough. That’s sort my secret goal — I want to have more women songwriters.”
He would add that Elliot is one his “favorite writers all time.”