Missy Elliott Officially Becomes First Woman Rapper Inducted Into Songwriters Hall of Fame

On Thursday night, Missy Elliott made history.

The songwriter, singer, and rapper officially became the first woman rapper to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, as USA Today reports. Queen Latifah, a fellow woman rapper, inducted Elliott in New York while also paying homage to their long-lasting friendship.

Lizzo, who recently collaborated with Elliott on her latest album, Cuz I Love You, paid homage to Elliott, by performing Elliott's 1997 single "Sock It 2 Me" alongside Da Brat, who the track features.

Elliott, a native of Virginia, also received a special message from the former first lady Michelle Obama, who chimed in via a pre-recorded video and revealed that she's a huge fan of the multitalented artist.

“Missy, I want to thank you for all of your trailblazing ways,” Obama said. “Thank you not for just sharing your gift with the world, but for being an advocate for so many people out there, especially young girls who are still figuring out how to make their voices heard.”

The speeches and performances brought Elliott to tears. During the end of her 10-minute speech, Missy Elliott, a Grammy Award-winning artist broke down crying following a few childhood anecdotes that the "Hot Boyz" rapper told.

"I am thankful," Elliott said before needing to pause. “Every time I come up to a podium ... even with all the work that I’ve done, I don’t know, and I’m assuming it’s just God, I don’t know why I am here,” a tearful Missy Elliott said, as the crowd applauded and roared with cheers. “I want to say one thing to the writers, to the upcoming writers, ‘Do not give up.’ We all go through writer’s block. Sometimes you just have to walk away from a record and come back to it. But don’t give up because I’m standing here. And this is big for hip-hop, too.”

Following Jay-Z (2017) and Jermaine Dupri (2018), Elliott is only the third rapper to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall. In addition to penning her own songs such as "Work It," "Lose Control," and "Get Ur Freak On," Elliott has written songs for a myriad of other artists, including the late Aaliyah, Whitney Houston, Monica, Beyonce, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Destiny's Child, Ariana Grande, Fantasia, Jazmin Sullivan, SWV, Total, 70, Mya, and Tweet, among others.

Elliott joins the 2019 Songwriters Hall roster alongside Cat Stevens and John Prine, among others. In order to be eligible for the induction, songwriters have to pen hit songs for a minimum of 20 years.

Check out photos of Missy Elliott from the induction ceremony below, as well as a few photos of Elliott throughout her career.

Glennisha Morgan is a Detroit-bred multimedia journalist and writer. She writes about intersectionality, hip-hop, pop culture, queer issues, race, feminism, and her truth. Follow her on Twitter.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 13: Inductee Missy Elliott and Queen Latifah embrace onstage during the Songwriters Hall Of Fame 50th Annual Induction And Awards Dinner at The New York Marriott Marquis on June 13, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Songwriters Hall Of Fame )

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 13: Inductee Missy Elliott speaks onstage during the Songwriters Hall Of Fame 50th Annual Induction And Awards Dinner at The New York Marriott Marquis on June 13, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Songwriters Hall Of Fame )

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 13: Inductee Missy Elliott speaks onstage during the Songwriters Hall Of Fame 50th Annual Induction And Awards Dinner at The New York Marriott Marquis on June 13, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Songwriters Hall Of Fame )

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 13: Inductee Missy Elliott speaks onstage during the Songwriters Hall Of Fame 50th Annual Induction And Awards Dinner at The New York Marriott Marquis on June 13, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Songwriters Hall Of Fame)

VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA - APRIL 27: Missy Elliott performs onstage at SOMETHING IN THE WATER - Day 2 on April 27, 2019 in Virginia Beach City. (Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Something in the Water)

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 09: Missy Elliott (L) and Ciara perform onstage during the 2018 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on October 9, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images For dcp)

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 10: American Express Chief Marketing Officer Elizabeth Rutledge, Pharrell Williams, Missy Elliott and A$AP Ferg pose on the Yellow Carpet at the Yellow Ball, hosted by American Express and Pharrell Williams, at the Brooklyn Museum on September 10, 2018 on September 10, 2018 in New York, New York. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for American Express)

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 10: Missy Elliott performs her chart-topping hits at the Yellow Ball, hosted by American Express and Pharrell Williams, at the Brooklyn Museum on September 10, 2018 on September 10, 2018 in New York, New York. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for American Express)

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JULY 07: Missy Elliott performs onstage during the 2018 Essence Festival presented By Coca-Cola - Day 2 at Louisiana Superdome on July 7, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for Essence)

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 15: Leanne "Lelee" Lyons, Cheryl "Coko" Gamble andTamara "Taj" Johnson of SWV and Missy Elliott (C) attend the Junie Bee Nail Salon grand opening on February 15, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/Getty Images for VH1)

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 25: (L-R) Chairman & COO Atlantic Records Group Julie Greenwald, Missy Elliott, a guest, and Cardi B attend the Warner Music Group Pre-Grammy Party in association with V Magazine on January 25, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Siskin/Getty Images for Warner Music Group)

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 25: Missy Elliott (L) and Cardi B attend the Warner Music Group Pre-Grammy Party in association with V Magazine on January 25, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Siskin/Getty Images for Warner Music Group)