Portsmouth #Virginia Pays Tribute to Superstar and #Music Pioneer @MissyElliott
PORTSMOUTH, VA — It was Missy Elliott Day in Portsmouth, Va. on October 17. The music pioneer and hometown hero of the Black working class blue collar city of Portsmouth, Virginia, became a massive success in a male dominated industry well known to be one of the most difficult to succeed in. But Elliott did just that and became a pioneer at the dawn of a new era in music. Rap and Hip-Hop now dominate the charts and music sales and streaming listen counts.
The events celebrating Missy Elliott centered around the renaming of a portion of McLean Street, which will now be known as Missy Elliott Boulevard, in Portsmouth. The celebration brought out a large group of people in the community at the site of the sign unveiling and at Manor High School’s football field as an impossibly long line formed hundreds of people long.
Portsmouth Mayor Shannon Glover gave Elliott the key to the city and Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Congressman Bobby Scott presented Elliott with proclamations in tribute and commemoration of Missy Elliott Day and her career as an award winning singer/rapper and producer who has also given back to the local community.
The number of local and state leaders at the events on Portsmouth Blvd and McLean Street and at Manor High School was long. It included Gov. Youngkin, Rep. Scott, State Senator Louise Lucas, House Democratic Leader Don Scott, Del. Cliff Hayes, Del. Nadarius Clarke, the Commonwealth's Attorney for the City of Portsmouth, Stephanie Morales, the Presidents of Hampton University and Norfolk State University; Darrell Williams and Javaune Adams-Gaston.
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Elliott is a 1990 graduate of Manor High School who became a five-time Grammy Award-winning producer/rapper and musician. Elliott was emotional in her speech to a crowd assembled at Manor High School’s football and track field as the Governor and Congressman listened behind her.
Also present on the field and in the front row at the ceremony were the accomplished R&B singer Trey Songz, who is from Petersburg, Va. and Tim Mosley, better known as Timbaland, who is from Virginia Beach. Also present was
Several marching bands, including Hampton University’s Marching Force and Norfolk State University’s Spartan Legion Marching Band performed as the ceremony was happening. The tribute to Missy Elliott was loud, fun and at times chaotic as still and video photographers volleyed for up-close access for photos and security struggled to manage the celebration.
“Make sure y’all don’t get any misdemeanors on my street. I’ve ridden down that avenue so many times,” Elliott said during the ceremony at Manor High. before arriving at the school in a large silver Rolls Royce, Elliott pulled off the black drape from the new large “Missy Elliott Boulevard” sign at a busy intersection in Portsmouth that meets Portsmouth Blvd with McLean Street near Woodland Park.
In August 2022, the Portsmouth City Council unanimously voted to rename the current McLean Street to “Missy Elliot Boulevard.”
Above: Four-time Grammy Award winning artist Missy Elliott is seen at the site of the new Missy Elliott Blvd., before taking a photo with two fans from Portsmouth who attended the ceremony.
Above: At the start of the events at Manor High School, Elliott arrives alongside Portsmouth Mayor Shannon Glover and Erin Carter.
Above: It was raining, and Norfolk State’s Legion was still marching.
Before the “Missy Elliott Blvd” sign was revealed by Elliott, part of the black draping covering the sign staying in place which prompted a truck to quickly arrive and remove the final part of the new road marker. No one cared, the moment added to a feeling of revelry as the tribute to Elliott drew a large crowd at the corner of Portsmouth Blvd. and McLean Street in Portsmouth.
Above: The scene near Portsmouth Blvd. at the new location of Missy Elliott Blvd. drew a few hundred onlookers and fans — and a large amount of media.
Above: Rep. Bobby Scott, Trey Songz, Senator Louise Lucas and Del. Don Scott
Above: Missy Elliott speaks as Erin Carter, Gov. Youngkin and Rep. Scott look on.
Above: The large crowd at Manor High School in Portsmouth was seated on the field, in the stands and in a standing room only section outside the fence surrounding the stadium.
Above: Former Virginia Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax, Norfolk State University President Javaune Adams-Gaston, Bishop Kim Brown, Pastor of The Mount in Chesapeake, and Hampton University President Darrell Williams.
Above: Secretary of the Commonwealth Kay Coles James speaks.
Members of the City Councils and School Boards in Portsmouth, Norfolk attended the celebration along with local community leaders.
Above: A group of onlookers take photos near the podium where speeches were delivered and presentations were made.
Above: Governor Glenn Youngkin talks with Missy Elliott after reading and presenting a proclamation in her honor.
The tribute to Missy Elliot was conceived by Erin Carter, above in gold.
Del. Cliff Hayes, Wayne Lynch (the father of Donovon Lynch), Timbaland. Sen Lucas and former Lt. Gov. Fairfax take a picture before events begin at Manor High School.
🍁 What a day in Portsmouth. 👊🏽 Please send your press releases, tips, pitches to BlackVirginiaNews@gmail.com
