Missy Elliott: Rapper, singer, songwriter, producer, and now doctor?
That’s right, because it’s been recently reported that Elliott will receive an honorary doctor of music degree from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, and she’ll be the first female rapper to receive that honor.
Missy Elliott will receive an honorary doctorate from the Berklee College of Music. (Photo: Getty Images, Josh Brasted)
It’ll be given to her on May 11 at the school’s commencement ceremony in Boston inside Agganis Arena, and students will perform Elliott’s, as well as the other recipients’ music. Justin Timberlake and Broadway musician Alex Lacamoire also will receive honorary doctorates from the school.
“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 Berklee College of Music.
The doctorate is the second huge honor that Elliott received this year, because on Jan. 12 she was the first female rapper to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, after Jay-Z and Jermaine Dupri were inducted in 2017 and 2018, respectively.
Elliott began her professional music career as a member of the all-female R&B group Sista before she began working with longtime collaborator Timbaland.
Her first solo album was 1997’s “Supa Dupa Fly,” which spawned the single “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly),” and its memorable video that gave fans their first glimpse into the rapper’s uniqueness.
And as a producer she’s created songs for a who’s-who list of artists, including Jodeci, Aaliyah, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Busta Rhymes and Ciara.
On Tuesday, March 12, Elliott responded to the doctorate news and simply wrote: “I am soooooo HUMBLED!.”
“Finally getting all the credit and accolades you deserve!!!” one of her followers tweeted afterward.
