Missy Elliott Blew The Roof Off at the Rock Hall Induction Ceremony
Missy Elliott became the first female rapper to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Queen Latifah was on hand to present her, noting that she and Timbaland completely changed the sound of hip-hop. “Nothing sounded the same after Missy came on the scene! Missy is avant-garde without even trying!”
Missy’s performance was a medley. It included “Get Ur Freak On,” “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly),” “Work It,” “Pass That Dutch” and “Lose Control.” After her performance, she needed a moment, but Queen Latifah kept talking about her. She was very humble and noted that many artists who were inducted tonight had so many years on her. In fact, country icon Willie Nelson, who just turned 90, was inducted as well.
Missy also called out Salt N Pepa, Monie Love, and MC Lyte, noting their influence on her. Missy also noted that tonight was the first time her mother saw her perform. She kept her set free of her more R-rated songs tonight. The rapper then wept, expressing her gratitude at being included.
Chaka Khan
Jazmine Sullivan presented Chaka Khan with the Award for Musical Excellence. “Everything about Chaka is fire.” She told a moving story about her mother beating breast cancer. At a celebration of her victory, Chaka agreed to call in to the celebration via Zoom. “Chaka has been rightly called the Queen of Funk, but she’s so much more than that.” Chaka performed “I Feel For You” with Common, “Sweet Thing” with H.E.R. and “I’m Every Woman” with a very bizarrely wigged Sia.
Why was Big Boi there?
Big Boi was there to present Kate Bush, noting that he listened to “Running Up That Hill” every day and that Stranger Things‘ character Lucas Sinclair (played by Caleb McLaughlin). “She challenges me as a listener and expands my ears and my mind.”
The Father Of Hip-Hop
LL Cool J was on hand to honor DJ Kool Herc with the Musical Influence Award. Herc DJed the party credited as being the birth of hip-hop. LL noted that Herc used two turntables to extend the best parts of classic songs.
The Spinners
New Edition’s six members paid tribute to the Spinners, performing “Could It Be I’m Falling In Love,” “I’ll Be Around” and backed by dancers dressed as if they were on Soul Train — with the giant Soul Train sign behind them – “Rubberband Man.”
That was followed by a tribute to Soul Train founder and host Don Cornelius who received the Ahmet Ertegun Award for non-musicians.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony was broadcast live on Disney+ and it is available to stream now. ABC will air a primetime special, “2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony,” featuring performance highlights and standout moments on Monday, January 1, 2024 (8:00-11:00 p.m. EST). The special will be available the next day on Hulu and Disney+.
