SR 132 — Commending Missy Elliott.

SESSION INTRODUCEDENROLLED 23104914D I SENATE RESOLUTION NO.

132 NE OfferedN February 15, 2023 Commending Missy Elliott.

––––––––––Agreed Tto Patrons––Lucasby andthe McClellanSenate, February 16, 2023 R ––––––––––O WHEREAS, Missy Elliott, a Portsmouth native and a luminary in the music industry who has earned internationalL acclaim for her talents as a singer, rapper, songwriter, and producer, was nominaDed for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2023;

andr, songwriter, and producer, was nominated for WHEREAS, born Melissa Arnette Elliott, Missy Elliott graduated from Portsmouth's Woodrow UL all-femaleWilson rhythmHigh andSchool, bluesnow (R&B) group, Fayze, later renamed Sista, and recruited her childhoodan friend, Timothy Mosley, better known as Timbaland,Manor asHigh theSchool, group'sin producer;1990;

andthe Efollowing WHEREAS,year inshe theestablished earlyan 1990s,E Missyfriend, ElliottTimothy relocatedMosley, tobetter Newknown Yorkas CityTimbaland, andas joined the hipgroup's hopproducer; and R&B collective Swing Mob, where she contributed to numerous singles and albums;

afterandted her childhood D WHEREAS, in the groupDearly disbanded,1990s, sheMissy andElliott Timbalandrelocated workedto asNew aYork songwritingCity and productionjoined duothe forhip otherhop artists,and notablyR&B Aaliyahcollective andSwing theMob, groupwhere Destiny'sshe Child;contributed to numerous singles and albums;

after the group disbanded, she and WHEREAS,Timbaland worked as a songwriting and production duo for other artists, notably AalWHEREAS, in 1997, Missy Elliott created her own record label, The Goldmind, Inc., and continued writing for other artists and making appearances as a guest vocalist until mid-1997, when she released her debut album Supa Dupa Fly;

the album's lead single "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)" was an instantleasedinstant S classic, and the music video, directed by Hype Williams, has earned high praise for its iconic visuals;

and1 WHEREAS,andWHEREAS, one of the most prolific rappers of all time, Missy Elliott has released six studioSstudio E albums, all of which were platinum certified by the Recording Industry Association of America, 1longalong R with three compilation albums, one extended play, 74 singles, and 20 solo music videos over the2coursethe course of her career;

she has been called the "Queen of Rap" and the "Queen of Hip Hop" and has been a dirWHEREAS, among many awards and accolades, Missy Elliott was the first female hip hop artist to receive the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award from the MTV Video Music Awards, the first female hip hop artist to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the first female hip hop artist to earn an honorary doctor of music degree from the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, and is now the first female rapper to be nominated for induction to the historic Rock & Roll Hall of Fame;

andandw the first female rapper to be nominated for induction to the historic Rock & Roll WHEREAS, Missy Elliott has maintained strong ties to the Commonwealth and has enhanced access :to education for students in the Hampton Roads area by supporting Manor High School and by her Chapter of the National Hampton Alumni Association, Inc.;

35now, foundationtherefore, providingbe aitts giftthrough tothe fundAtlanta aRESOLVED scholarshipby the Senate of Virginia, That Missy Elliott hereby be commended for Hamptonher Universitytrailblazing studentsachievements throughin themusic Atlantaon 36the Chapteroccasion of her nomination for induction into the NationalRock Hampton& AlumniRoll Association,Hall Inc.;of Fame;

now,and, therefore, be it /presentation 37to RESOLVED by the Senate of Virginia, That Missy Elliott herebyas bean commendedexpression forof her trailblazing / 38 achievements in music on the occasionSenate of herVirginia's nominationadmiration for inductionher intopersonal theand Rockprofessional &accomplishments Rolland Hallcontributions ofto 39the Fame;American musical landscape.

and, be it RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Missy Elliott as an expression of the Senate of Virginia's admiration for her personal and professional accomplishments and contributions to the American musical landscape.