Missy Elliot was recognized at the 2020 Urban One Honors with the Music Innovation Award. She was presented with the award by her long time friend Lil Kim, who Missy went on to describe as her family. During her acceptance speech, she went on to say how she looked up to Lil Kim calling her a sister and also mentioned her good friend, Da Brat.
“It’s hard to find people in the industry become like family. We are beyond getting in front of cameras and pretending that we are family.” Missy said to Kim, “You are a trailblazer and an innovator yourself and I want you to know that.”
The two ladies have been friends for years and have worked together on music projects music several times. They won a GRAMMY for the 2001 single, ‘Lady Marmalade’ of the Moulin Rouge soundtrack and were both featured on the ‘Not Tonight’ remix from the ‘Nothing To Lose’ soundtrack in 1997. The latter, a hugely popular ladies anthem that included TLC’s Left Eye, radio personality Angie Martinez and Atlanta rapper Da Brat.
The awards celebrated Missy’s 30 year career saying she was a “cross-generational rap star with enough talent to keep her legacy alive for eons.” Filmed in December at the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Urban One Honors aired on the 2020 Martin Luther King holiday.
The show honors the accomplishments of “individuals who have made extraordinary contributions in entertainment, media, music, fashion, sports, education, and the community.”. It also paid tribute to the 40-year history of Radio One, the radio division of the company, and its extraordinary founder, Cathy Hughes.