Missy Elliot will live on forever in the DMV.
The Root reports that the city of Portsmouth, Virginia, has paid tribute to their hometown hero with the highest honor: a street named after her!
Visitors to the area can stop by the section of McLean Street between Airline Boulevard and Greenwood Drive to get a picture on Missy Elliot Boulevard.
Now that’s a legend right there!
For what it’s worth, the city of Portsmouth unanimously approved the measure to rename the street after the “Get Your Freak On” rapper, singer, and producer — apparently, everyone loves it when Misdemeanor’s in the house.
“The name change will enhance the city’s recently rezoned Entertainment District,” reports The Root. “Along with the existing Victory Crossing Shopping Center and Tidewater Community College, the new Missy Elliot Boulevard will be the future home of the Portsmouth Rivers Casino.”
Ever the gracious winner, Elliot thanked the city in a sweet Tweet:
While this win is definitely big for the Grammy-winning legend, this is far from the first time that she’s gotten her proper due. From karaoke to collecting her coins, here are our 5 favorite moments from the once and forever Misdemeanor. DMV, stand up one time for the legend!
Copywritten, So Don’t Copy Me
Don’t come for Missy Elliot’s music unless she sends for you.
As our sister site, AfroTech, recently reported, the DMV legend found herself in the headlines when Jowell — of the popular reggaeton group, Jowell Y Randy — brought her name up in an interview. In his interview, he claimed that Elliott threatened to sue and “demanded millions” when it was revealed that the Bad Bunny hit, “Safaera,” sampled more than a little bit from “Get Ur Freak On.”
Even worse yet, Jowell took to Twitter and doubled down on his comments in a not-so-nice way.
Fuck that! Let them enjoy their money. Its not you and me enjoying it right ? Let them be happy and talk about something else . Missy dont even care . Why would you ?
— Jowell (@jowell1) March 17, 2022
But Missy Elliot wasn’t about to let that vergaso get by without setting the record straight — or letting people know that she was entitled to her coins. And she did it in a classy, yet firm, way.
@jowell1 sadly you mislead all these people to make them think I have 99%. Now I don’t talk business on line because that’s messy but now we are here I have 25% and there is 6 other samples & 15 other writers on this one song. They got percentage also…
— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) March 17, 2022
And by the way I do care.. this is very irresponsible….I hope you clear this..
— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) March 17, 2022
Jowell immediately backtracked.
Missy, something got lost in translation cuz i never said u take 99% thats imposible there are a whole bunch of other peoples in there. Im cool with my 1% . Excuse me , Nothing but love from Puerto Rico to you. We are both in business. Let’s chill and enjoy what we have. Peace ✌🏻
— Jowell (@jowell1) March 18, 2022
And it seems his career hasn’t recovered since, but that’s okay. RUN MISSY HER COINS, JOWELL!
That Time AfroTech Went Up For Missy Elliot
Legends are iconic and eternal, and there’s no time more evident than when our AfroTech conference went all the way up for Missy Elliot. It even got attention from the legend herself, as you can see below!
Ayyyyye🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) March 25, 2022
Body Positivity Before It Was Cool
Missy Elliot has always been a groundbreaker, and nothing says “body positivity” like shouting out your own figure. Before the “body positivity” movement was a thing — and in an era when Skinny Minnies were all the rage — Misdemeanor kept it real on “Lose Control” with the lyric, “I got a cute face, chubby waist, thick legs, in shape — rump shakin’ both ways, make you do a double take.”
In The Director’s Chair With The City Girls
Over the years, Missy Elliot has given her blessing to many a woman on the rise in the industry. And, most recently, she gave her blessing to none other than the City Girls when she directed their video for “Twerkulator.” See if you can spot any references to the legend in the video below!
Karaoke With FLOTUS
Carpool Karaoke is probably the single-most white show — second only to The Property Brothers and Home Town — in history, but it got more than a little bit of flavor when FLOTUS Michelle Obama stopped by.
The best part? First Lady Michelle chose Missy Elliot’s “Get Your Freak On” to be added to the playlist — and check out her face as she admires Mrs. Obama from the backseat. (Around the 10-minute mark.) Now that’s how you know you’ve arrived!