Missy Elliott makes history as she becomes the first female rapper to be inducted into the prestigious Songwriters Hall of Fame.
The Songwriters Hall of Fame has recognized the achievements of the people who put words and music together. Nile Rodgers, chairman of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, made the announcement on Saturday, January 12,
The Songwriters Hall of Fame website describes Missy as
One of the most significant female artists in contemporary music history, Missy Elliott is a groundbreaking solo superstar, pioneering songwriter-producer, and across-the-board cultural icon. The five-time GRAMMY® Award winner – with nominations spanning three decades – has attained unprecedented success, including U.S. sales in excess of 30 million. Missy’s six studio albums have each been RIAA platinum certified or better, marking her as the only female rapper to achieve that remarkable accomplishment.
The rapper is inducted alongside Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens), John Prine, Tom T. Hall, Dallas Austin and Jack Tempchin.
Missy is the third hip hop artist in the Hall of Fame, following Jay Z in 2017 and Jermaine Dupri in 2018.
In a brief statement released on Twitter, she congratulated the other songwriters inducted in the 2019 Song Writers Hall of Fame and that she is “so humbly grateful” to be inducted.
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 ❤️you all? #SHOF2019 ✍? pic.twitter.com/6LRHFoeVz1
— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) January 12, 2019
Missy Elliott (real name: Melissa Arnette Elliott) has enjoyed a highly successful recording career, writing most of the songs in her albums. Billboard Magazine called her debut single which she wrote, The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly) as “one of the most creative, unique and impressive songs of all-time.”
She also wrote all of the songs in her highly successful and critically-acclaimed album ‘Under Construction,” which received Grammy Award nominations for Album of the Year and Best Rap Album. She won the Grammy’s Best Rap Solo Performance for the song that she
The American rapper is also a prolific producer and songwriter, having written hit songs for other singers. As the Songwriter Hall of Fame site said:
”Missy’s massive accomplishments extended far beyond her own solo works, including innumerable guest appearances on singles and remixes by a truly diverse span of musical artists.”
Missy wrote a number of songs for Aaliyah, including “One in a Million” from Aaliyah’s second studio album, which peaked at #1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay charts.
Missy has also co-written a number of songs for Janet Jackson, including Burnitup!, which also featured her on the vocals.
Other songwriting collaborations include Beyoncé (“Signs”), Whitney Houston (“In My Business”), Ciara (“One Two Step”), Monica (“So Gone”), Destiny’s Child (“Confessions”), SWV (“Can We”), Fantasia (“Free Yourself” and “Bump What Your Friends Say”), Mary J Blige (“I Never Been”), Aaliyah (“One In A Million,” “If Only Your Girl Knw,” and “Hot Like Fire”), Tweet (“Call Me”), Jennifer Hudson (“I’m His Only Woman”), Nicole Wray (“Make It Hot”), Mya (“My Love Is Like Whoa”), Total (“What About Us” and “Trippin”), and 702 (“Where My Girls At?” and “Stello”) among others.
The Hall of Fame’s 50th Annual Induction and Awards Dinner is scheduled for June 13 in New York.
