That's Doctor Timberlake and Elliott to you. Justin Timberlake, Missy Elliott and Grammy-winning composer Alex Lacamoire received honorary doctorates on Saturday from the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston and they all had powerful words and lessons to share with the graduating class. All three artists shared their achievements on social media and encouraged everyone not to give up on their dreams, no matter the setbacks that come your way. CBS Boston reports that the "Work It" rapper told graduates, "There will be ups and downs — prepare for that. As long as you are breathing, it is never too late. Don't forget that. You have come too far to quit." Berklee called Elliott a "groundbreaking solo superstar, pioneering producer, songwriter, singer, and rapper" in their announcement about the artists receiving the honorary diploma this year. Her enlightened words at the podium mirrored an Instagram video she shared on Thursday. She recorded a video of herself writing a note on a yellow legal pad that said, "For those of you going through rough times and feel like giving up: Do not give up! Keep the faith. You got this!"<doc-sep>Alex Lacamoire, Missy Elliott and Justin Timberlake were awarded honorary doctorates on Saturday from Berklee College of Music. (CNN) — Fresh-faced college seniors aren’t the only ones being honored this graduation season. Missy Elliott, Alex Lacamoire and Justin Timberlake all received honorary Doctor of Music degrees from Berklee College of Music on Saturday. Anyone tuned in to the world of elite music schools knows this is a big deal. “This year’s honorary doctorate recipients are being recognized for their achievements and influences in music, and for their enduring global impact,” the school said in a statement in March. The three musicians certainly have the accomplishments to back up the honor. Missy ‘Misdemeanor’ Elliott Missy is nothing less than a hip-hop icon, and she has five Grammy awards to prove it. The solo rapper, singer, songwriter and producer has been making waves for three decades. In 2015, she performed to the largest audience in Super Bowl history, with her classic songs “Get Ur Freak On,” “Work It” and “Lose Control.” Days after the performance, both “Get Ur Freak On” and “Work It” became top 40 hits almost 15 years after they had first blown up the music charts. After receiving her honorary degree, Missy Elliott was not shy with her joy. She posted a video of herself on Twitter dancing and pointing to her diploma. CREATE YOUR OWN LANE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sincerely Dr. MISSY ELLIOTT🙌🏾🙌🏾👩🏾‍🎓 @BerkleeCollege Thank you for this Honorary Doctorate Degree I am SO HUMBLED🤗 pic.twitter.com/JipNdcrRYb — Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) May 11, 2019 “CREATE YOUR OWN LANE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sincerely Dr. MISSY ELLIOTT,” she wrote, before adding “Thank you for this Honorary Doctorate Degree I am SO HUMBLED.” In just a few weeks, Missy Elliott will receive another huge honor: She’ll become the first female rapper to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Alex Lacamoire Alex Lacamoire also received an honorary doctorate on Saturday. The talented composer, orchestrator and musical director was a major force behind hit Broadway musicals “Hamilton,” “Dear Evan Hansen” and “In the Heights.” Lacamoire has four Grammys and three Tony Awards to his name. He also graduated from Berklee College of Music in 1995. After the initial announcement that he would receive an honorary doctorate from Berklee, Lacamoire relayed his thanks on Twitter. Being honored in this way by my alma mater means the world to me, you guys. I’m over the moon with joy and I’m psyched to be grouped with these legends! See y’all in May https://t.co/5vPYiy3Pmj — Alex Lacamoire (@LacketyLac) March 12, 2019 “Being honored in this way by my alma mater means the world to me, you guys. I’m over the moon with joy and I’m psyched to be grouped with these legends! See y’all in May,” he wrote in March. Justin Timberlake Justin Timberlake’s work as an actor, author and 10-time Grammy Award-winning musician has made him a household name. With hits like “SexyBack” and “Can’t Stop the Feeling!”– along with appearances in “The Social Network” and “Shrek the Third” – he has fans across generations. Timberlake was recognized by TIME as “one of the 100 most influential people in the world” in both 2007 and 2013. His appearances on “Saturday Night Live” also show he’s really funny, which is clear in the video he posted to Twitter after receiving his degree. “Ooooh y’all messed up now. Turned me into a doctor! Y’all messed up!” he exclaimed. They’re part of an exclusive group of music legends Berklee students put on a private show for the three superstars the night before commencement. “What a night. Thank you, @MissyElliott, @jtimberlake, and @LacketyLac! #BerkleeGrad2019,” Berklee College of Music posted on Twitter after the show. Photos show students performing for the trio. They also picture two of the honorees beaming on stage with the performers. Berklee College of Music has awarded honorary doctorates since 1971. Past recipients include Duke Ellington, Aretha Franklin, Dizzy Gillespie, Quincy Jones, B.B. King, Smokey Robinson, Loretta Lynn, Annie Lennox, Carole King, Willie Nelson, Alison Krauss, A.R. Rahman, Rita Moreno, Lionel Richie, Julio Iglesias, Mavis Staples, George Clinton, Rosanne Cash, Nile Rodgers and Esperanza Spalding. CORRECTION: A previous headline and version of this story misspelled Missy Elliott’s last name.<doc-sep>BOSTON (CBS) – Music icons Missy Elliott, Justin Timberlake and Alex Lacamoire were on hand at Berklee College of Music’s commencement to accept their honorary degrees Saturday. More than 1,000 graduates from 67 countries and 47 U.S. states received degrees today at Berklee College of Music’s 2019 commencement. At the ceremony, Berklee President Roger H. Brown presented honorary doctor of music degrees to music icons Missy Elliott, Justin Timberlake, and Alex Lacamoire. Lacamoire, a 1995 graduate of the college, delivered the commencement address to the graduating class and an estimated audience of nearly 7,000 guests at Agganis Arena. Rapper, singer, songwriter and producer Missy Elliott, a five-time Grammy Award-winner whose U.S. sales have surpassed 30 million, was praised for bending genres, breaking stereotypes, and pushing musical, visual, and stylistic boundaries. Elliott is the first hip-hop artist to receive Berklee’s honorary doctorate. “There will be ups and downs — prepare for that,” said Elliott in her remarks to the graduating class. 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.” Justin Timberlake, a decorated singer, songwriter, musician and actor with 10 Grammys, four Emmys, seven American Music Awards, three Brit Awards, nine Billboard Music Awards, and 32 million albums sold, was honored for his influence on pop music, his versatility and for being an inspiration to others. “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,” said Timberlake. He concluded his acceptance with a challenge that brought cheers from the audience. “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!” Alex Lacamoire, acclaimed composer, producer, orchestrator, musical director, four-time Grammy Award-winner and 1995 Berklee grad was cited for his musicianship, creativity and vital contributions to American musical theater. “To be bestowed this distinguished title for simply doing what I love, what I believe I was born to do, it fills me with a level of pride that I can’t compare to anything else I’ve felt until today,” said Lacamoire in accepting the doctorate. Lacamoire, who also delivered the commencement address, told of struggling as a boy to find his place in a new school. A defining moment came when he gave a well-received impromptu piano performance. “And in that moment, something in me realized: ‘They want to hear what I have to say.’ I can’t overstate how seminal that moment was,” said Lacamoire. “The applause that followed instilled a newfound confidence in me. It made me feel like I had a superpower. …It makes me aware of the power of music. It unites us, it unifies us The annual commencement concert, held the previous evening at Agganis, featured some of the college’s students paying tribute to the honorees by performing their music, including Elliott’s “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” and “Get Ur Freak On,” songs from Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen originally arranged by Lacamoire, and Timberlake’s “Cry Me A River” and “Rock Your Body.” All three honorees joined the students on stage during the concert’s finale, and Timberlake sang on “Can’t Stop The Feeling!”<doc-sep>
Justin Timberlake and Missy Elliott were honored with doctorate degrees from the Berklee College of Music on Saturday. Composer and musical director Alex Lacamoire also received an honorary degree for his work in Hamilton, In The Heights and Dear Evan Hansen. “This year’s honorary doctorate recipients are being recognized for their achievements and influences in music, and for their enduring global impact,” the school said in a statement. The superstars were honored for their “influences in music, and for their enduring global impact, CNN reports. Following the ceremony, both Elliott and Timberlake posted the landmark moment on Instagram. “CREATE YOUR OWN LANE,” Elliott captioned her post, alongside a video of her in a cap and gown with her framed diploma. “Sincerely Dr. Missy Elliot.” The “Cry Me A River” singer shared some advice with his Instagram followers writing in his post, “No Dream is too big!!! Keep chasing!!! Trust me… I’m a DOCTOR.” Both artists delivered speeches to the 2019 graduating class. “There will be ups and downs — prepare for that,” Elliott said. “As long as you are breathing, it is never too late. Don’t forget that. You have come too far to quit.” Timberlake also shared some wisdom with the graduating class. “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!”