NEW YORK (CelebrityAccess) Missy Elliott was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame earlier this month, making her the first female rapper to receive the honor.
Elliott was inducted by Queen Latifa, and was also feted by former US first lady Michelle Obama.
“Missy, I want to thank you for all of your trailblazing ways,” Obama said via taped video. “Thank you not for just sharing your gift with the world, but for being an advocate for so many people out there, especially young girls who are still figuring out how to make their voices heard.”
Elliott broke down at the end of her 10-minute speech
“Every time I come up to a podium … even with all the work that I’ve done, I don’t know, and I’m assuming it’s just God, I don’t know why I am here,” she said, according to Socialite Life. “I want to say one thing to the writers, to the upcoming writers, ‘Do not give up’. We all go through writer’s block. Sometimes you just have to walk away from a record and come back to it. But don’t give up because I’m standing here. And this is big for hip-hop, too.”
The ceremony took place May 14. Cat Stevens was also inducted.
