Missy Elliott Says Her Pledge To Her Abused Mother Pushed Her To Become The Hip-Hop Icon She Is Today

Notable hip-hop icon Missy Elliot shared with fans that her mother’s abusive situation galvanized her to make her music career dreams a reality. 

On Friday, April 21, a fan tweeted Elliot, asking about her “drive to remain persistent in a male-dominated industry at the time.”

Elliot responded in a quote tweet, writing, “I seen many strong women in the industry be4 me that made it through & my mom was in an abusive relationship, so I told her I would make it so I could get her out of that situation & I would make sure she’d never have to work again. That’s what really help me going.”

I seen many strong women in the industry be4 me that made it through🙌🏾 & my mom was in a abusive relationship so I told her I would make it so I could get her out of that situation & I would make sure she’d never have to work again that’s what really kept me going🙌🏾💜 https://t.co/JHDvBysNbE

— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) April 24, 2023

Elliott didn’t have the most lavish childhood. The singer, dancer, producer, rapper and songwriter witnessed her mother, Patricia, be beaten by her violent father, Ronnie. An older cousin also raped her at 8. 

But Elliott ultimately evaded that horrific environment by working with prominent producer Timbaland to produce tracks for ’90s music royals like Aaliyah, Madonna, Michael Jackson, etc. 

In 1997, she released her debut album, “Supa Dupa Fly,” containing tracks like “Sock It 2 Me (Ft. Da Brat),” “Why You Hurt Me,” “I’m Talkin” and “Best Friends (FT. Aaliyah).”

Elliot bloomed into this incessant force in the rap industry, releasing hits like “Work It” (2002), “Get Ur Freak On” (2001), “Hot Boyz” (1999) and “Lose Control” (2005).

Her legendary work would land her four Grammy awards and the “Queen of Rap” title from numerous media outlets. 

Her influence as an artist will never go unseen, as her hometown in Portsmouth, Virginia, made sure of it last year by naming a street after the rapper. 

She became the first female rapper inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame and will be the first female hip-hop artist to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Elliott went above and beyond with that vow to her mother.