Missy Elliott can now go by Dr. Elliott! The 10-time Grammy winner was awarded an honorary doctor of music degree on Saturday from the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. Elliott became the first female rapper in history to ever receive an honorary doctorate from the prestigious institution. Berklee called Elliott a “groundbreaking solo superstar, pioneering producer, songwriter, singer, and rapper.” In a brief speech to graduates, Elliott told them that “there will be ups and downs — prepare for that.” After describing her own ups and downs, such as losing awards, being dropped from a label, and becoming ill, she encouraged graduates to be patient through the struggle but to never give up on themselves. “As long as you are breathing, it is never too late. Don’t forget that. You have come too far to quit.“ Loading the player... The “Work It” rapper reacted to the news on Instagram by sharing a video of herself wearing her cap and down, and showing off her degree. “CREATE YOUR OWN LANE!!! !” she wrote. “Sincerely Dr. MISSY ELLIOTT…” Elliott was awarded the degree alongside Justin Timberlake and acclaimed Broadway orchestrator Alex Lacamoire. Previous artists recognized by the institution for their creativity include B.B. King, Smokey Robinson, Aretha Franklin, and Loretta Lynn. 2019 has been a big year for Elliott. She also became the very first female rapper inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame this January. Congratulations Dr. Elliott!<doc-sep>Saturday (May 11th), Missy Elliott made history as she received an honorary doctorate degree, awarded by the Berklee College of Music. Among a group of 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 of the likes of 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 of 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 of this year. "I've written with a lot of women songwriters, but not nearly enough. That's sort of my secret goal -- I want to have more women songwriters." He would add that Elliot is one of his "favorite writers of all time."<doc-sep>Photo : Craig Barritt ( Getty ) If there’s only a handful of redeemable qualities about 2019, surely one of them is this: it’s the year Missy Elliott is getting her flowers. Advertisement Earlier in 2019, the hip-hop innovator and vanguard became the first female hip-hop artist inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Now, Elliott’s officially a doctor, walking across the stage at Berklee College of Music on Saturday to receive her honorary degree. Elliott was bursting with joy at the honor, documenting her latest achievement on her Instagram account. “CREATE YOUR OWN LANE!!! !” wrote the trailblazing rapper/producer/bad bitch, signing it off,“Dr. Missy Elliot.” “This year’s honorary doctorate recipients are being recognized for their achievements and influences in music, and for their enduring global impact,” Berklee said in a March statement. Elliott also delivered a speech at the weekend commencement ceremony emphasizing resilience—not surprising for a musician whose career has spanned three decades. Advertisement As she went up to receive her degree, Elliott got visibly emotional. “Let me just soak it in,” she said once she approached the podium, fanning tears from her eyes. Advertisement During her short speech, Elliott told Berklee graduates to prepare for ups and downs, recounting her own personal challenges in the music industry: her excitement when she was first featured on a track, only to be caught off-guard by the accompanying video. There was her voice on the TV—except it was coming out of a slimmer, conventionally prettier woman. “That was the first time I realized that maybe I wasn’t the look of beauty that people thought beauty was then. And that discouraged me,” she said. “But I kept going.” Advertisement Elliott talked about being dropped from a girl group, and the time she was nominated for 12 awards. She had her speech written out and even practiced in the mirror the night before the ceremony, she said, only to come away from the awards show empty-handed. “As long as you are breathing, it is never too late. Because people will tell you you’re too old, people will tell you it’ll never work.” she said. “You have come too far to quit.”<doc-sep>“As long as you are breathing, it is never too late. Don’t forget that. You have come too far to quit,” the “Work It” lyricist said after recounting some of the hardships she’s had in her professional and personal endeavors.<doc-sep>
MadameNoire Featured Video Music genius Missy Elliott received an honorary doctorate degree from Berklee College of Music over the weekend, Complex reports. The five-time Grammy award winner took the stage alongside Nsync alum, Justin Timberlake to accept the award. “There will be ups and downs—prepare for that,” Elliott told the audience during her commencement speech. “As long as you are breathing, it is never too late. Don’t forget that. You have come too far to quit.” Timberlake added to Elliot’s motivational advice by telling the graduates, “You’re defined by what you define failure as. It’s not a thing if it leads you to your success. It’s all part of the journey,” he said. “I hope that in the years to come, two things will happen: One, I will represent you in the way that you most hope for. And two, I look around and see this graduating class. Meet me at the studio. I want to see y’all!” After the graduation ceremony ended, newly dubbed Dr. Missy Elliott took to Instagram to let her fans know one thing: “CREATE YOUR OWN LANE,” Elliott posed happily in her cap and gown with her shiny new diploma. Back in January, Missy became the first female rapper inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall Of Fame. She wrote of the honor back then, “I want to CONGRATULATE all the AMAZING songwriters who have been inducted into the 2019 “Song Writers Hall of Fame, also those who were nominated because their body of work is AMAZING. I AM SO HUMBLY GRATEFUL to now be inducted also I love you all #SHOF2019 ” Congratulations on another honor, Missy!