Legendary award-winning rapper and producer Missy Elliott recently celebrated her 51st birthday and the 25th anniversary of her debut album Supa Dupa Fly with a star-studded party.
According to reports, Missy, whose real name is Melissa Arnette Elliott, celebrated at a PATRON-sponsored party in Atlanta hosted by her longtime manager, Mona Scott Young–CEO of Monami Entertainment and creator of the Love & Hip Hop franchise. Other attendees of the rapper and producer’s event included Elliott’s dear friend, superproducer Timbaland, legendary rapper Lil Kim, award-winning actress Taraji P. Henson, and legendary music executive Jermaine Dupri, among others.
At the now-51-year-old’s celebration, she was awarded an RIAA platinum plaque for being the only female hip-hop musician with six certified-platinum studio albums. That night, Atlantic records also presented her with a custom plaque commemorating the 25th anniversary of her debut 1997 album Supa Dupa Fly.
“It was amazing. I saw some of my peers that I hadn’t seen in a long time,” Elliott said to Essence about her birthday party. “So, it was really fun reconnecting with them – and the dancers, you know I love a good dance segment. It was chill. Everyone was vibing; it just felt really good to be there.”
RIAA CEO Mitch Glazier noted that Missy’s first album “changed the conversation” about what women in hip-hop could accomplish.
“Twenty-five years ago, Supa Dupa Fly launched Missy Elliott into the stratosphere of music history and in a heartbeat changed the conversation about who women could be and what they could accomplish in hip-hop,” he said. “She is the only female hip-hop artist in history to have every one of her albums certified RIAA platinum and an unstoppable all-time legend in our business. Happy birthday, Missy, from all of us at RIAA. You keep making records, and we’ll keep making plaques to honor them!”
Co-President of Black Music at Atlantic Records, Lanre Gaba, added that it was a “huge honor” to gift Missy a plaque for the 25th anniversary of her first album.
“It was a huge honor and a pleasure to present and celebrate Missy Elliott with the Supa Dupa Fly 25th Anniversary plaque from her Atlantic Records family during her multi-milestone celebration,” she said. “Missy has paved the way for so many artists of all genres…Missy Elliott, you are an icon living.”
On July 13, Missy took to Instagram to thank everyone for attending her party.
“Thank you to [everyone] who came to celebrate with me for my Bday & My album Supa Dupa Fly turning 25 years old and making [history] with six consecutive platinum albums by a female in hip-hop,” she wrote. “I am so humbly grateful. Thank each of you! & To all my friends who flew in town, I love you! Til earth is no more.”
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