Missy Elliott, who recently made a huge return with her Pharrell-featuring hit single "WTF (Where They From)," was recently given the "Innovator" award at Billboard's Women in Music ceremony in NYC. Presenting Missy with the honor was Ciara, with whom she has collaborated on a few classics, including "1, 2 Step" and "Lose Control."
"Countless women in music today, including myself and many of the biggest names in music, are living in a world that my friend and hero, Missy 'Misdemeanor' Elliott, helped to build," said Ciara, before going on to list off some of Missy's most impressive accomplishments.
Elliott was extremely emotional in accepting the award, as she gave thanks to some of her most important collaborators such as Pharrell, Timbaland, and Magoo. She went on to address the female musicians who paved the way for her, and she ended the heartfelt speech by thanking Ciara as well as her late friend and collaborator, Aaliyah.
"Because of them, those ones before me, I thank you, and I thank my peers and those after me, but those ones before me, I want to tell y'all that I love y'all so much and Aaliyah, I hope you're looking down and that you are proud of me. I miss you much and Ciara, I love you so much, sis. I thank you, I thank you. I love you so much. And I thank y'all once again."
Congratulations to Missy on the well-deserved achievement.