Photo by Emma McIntyre and Paul Morigi/Getty
<p>Women in hip hop can co-exist, and <strong>Missy Elliott</strong> proved just that as she paid tribute to her longtime musical inspiration, <strong>Queen Latifah</strong>, at the Kennedy Center Honors.</p>
<p>The annual ceremony, which was filmed earlier this month before airing on CBS on Wednesday (December 27), celebrated the lifetime achievements of artists from various fields.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Missy Elliott&#8217;s Moving Tribute To Queen Latifah</h3>
<p>Since releasing her first album, &#8216;All Hail the Queen,&#8217; in 1989, Latifah has made many contributions to hip hop. Therefore, it was only right to acknowledge her not only for her music but also for her influence.</p>
<p>Latifah&#8217;s impact extends beyond her musical career; she is also an actress, producer, model, businesswoman, and former talk show host. Her multifaceted career has paved the way for many women in the industry, especially those of color.</p>
<p>In a touching and heartfelt tribute, Missy took to the stage to express her admiration and respect for the woman she grew up listening to as a teenager.</p>
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<p>During her sentimental speech, the &#8216;Work It&#8217; rapper remembered the profound moments when Latifah and her work had influenced her the most.</p>
<p>“I was coming home from high school, and I used to watch a lot of videos, and I happened to see this young woman rapping,&#8221; she said.</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;But what caught my attention was her clothes because she had on an African print — the African medallion. And I kept hearing her say, ‘Oh, ladies first, ladies first,’ over and over and over again.”</p></blockquote>
<p>Missy referred to the 1989 song &#8216;Ladies First,&#8217; where Latifah raps about uniting women and encouraging them to stand up for themselves to reclaim their power against men.</p>
<p>Missy said the words stuck with her, remarking that it was uncommon for a female rapper like Latifah to unapologetically be herself to such an extent.</p>
<p>With her powerful lyrics that addressed countless issues, such as sexism and racism, she broke barriers in a predominantly male hip-hop industry.</p>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">Missy Elliott Was Just As Fascinated By The Name &#8216;Queen Latifah&#8217;</h3>
<p>Her fearlessness in addressing these issues established her as a role model for many young artists. Missy, among these artists, continued to underscore Latifah&#8217;s courage and resilience.</p>
<p>&#8220;Then I said, ‘Who is this girl?’ And I looked at the bottom of the screen and it said ‘Queen Latifah.’ Not Latifah, but Queen Latifah,&#8221; she recalled.</p>
<blockquote><p>“That only said to me that she was saying, ‘You will respect me … I will be a leader, I will be a provider, I will be an inspiration to many, I will be the blueprint to success. I won’t be just a part of the culture; I’ll be royalty to the culture. I won’t set the bar; I am the bar.’”</p></blockquote>
<p>Missy had given more than just a tribute of words read at an awards show. She acknowledged Latifah&#8217;s enduring impact on her career and the entire entertainment industry as a whole. She concluded by thanking her, admiring the woman she could resonate with &#8211; a woman who not only resembled her but also dared to be different, which consequently allowed other women to follow suit.</p>
<p>The Kennedy Center Honors was most certainly a fitting occasion to celebrate her achievements. Among the honorees for the night were <strong>Dionne Warwick, Billy Crystal</strong>, and<strong> Renée Fleming</strong> for their contributions to music and American culture.</p>
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<h5 style="text-align: center;"><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://dev.theshaderoom.com/queen-latifah-first-female-rapper-on-national-recording-registry/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Queen Latifah Makes History As First Female Rapper To Appear On National Recording Registry</a></strong></h5>
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