American rapper and producer Missy Elliot is making history.
She will be awarded an honorary Doctor of Music degree from the Berklee College of Music at their commencement ceremony on the 11th of May 2019. Elliott, 47, will become the first female rapper in history to ever receive an honorary doctorate from the prestigious institution.
The top music training institution announced this on their social media platforms yesterday (13.03.19).
ANNOUNCEMENT: @jtimberlake, @MissyElliott, and @LacketyLac to Receive Honorary Doctorates at #Berklee Commencement https://t.co/6OvOkfWCkE pic.twitter.com/k9Bsr1W42G
— Berklee College of Music (@BerkleeCollege) March 12, 2019
Born Melissa Arnette Elliott, Missy Elliot replied to the tweet saying;
I am sooooo humbly grateful!!!!!🙏🏾❤️
— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) March 12, 2019
Previous artists recognized by the institution for their creativity include B.B. King, Smokey Robinson, the late Aretha Franklin, and Loretta Lynn, who have all been awarded doctorates of music as well.
The prestigious honor is not the only one Elliott has received this year for her decade of groundbreaking artistry across a variety of musical genres. This year as reported by The Sauce, she also became the very first female rapper inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame this January.
She will receive her honorary diploma alongside internationally acclaimed singer Justin Timberlake and Tony and Grammy Award-winner Alex Lacamoire on May 11th, 2019.
