Introducing Dr. Elliott! Missy Elliott Receives Doctorate!

(Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for FYF)

Instead of calling entertainer Missy, Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott, as she has been known for years, you can now put a “Dr.” in front of her name. The 10-time Grammy winner was just awarded an honorary doctor of music degree this past weekend from the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Elliott is the first hip-hop artist to receive an honorary degree from the prestigious college. When announcing Elliott, Berklee called the legendary artist a “groundbreaking solo superstar, pioneering producer, songwriter, singer, and rapper.”

2019 has been a big year for Elliott. She also became the very first female rapper inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame this January.

According to CBS Boston, Elliott told a tale of resilience, mentioning setbacks like her illness and being dropped from record labels as things she had to overcome. She said:

“There will be ups and downs — prepare for that…As long as you are breathing, it is never too late. Don’t forget that. You have come too far to quit.”

Missy knows all about the health struggle and wanting to quit since her many bouts with Graves’ disease.

 

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This is still SURREAL to me I keep crying and crying it’s such a feeling I can’t even explain😩😩 Thank you every one at @berkleecollege & President Roger Brown & committee🙏🏾 I AM HUMBLY GRATEFUL🙏🏾 to my mom you taught me to fight to push through even in the toughest times keep pushing through! And through the Grace of God I AM STILL HERE🙌🏾 my Team/Family/Friends/Supafriend fans! I love you all🤗❤️ my peers in Hiphop🤗VIRGINIA #757💣🙌🏾🔥🔥

A post shared by Missy Elliott (@missymisdemeanorelliott) on May 13, 2019 at 11:01am PDT

Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes hyperthyroidism, or overactive thyroid. With this disease, your immune system attacks the thyroid and causes it to make more thyroid hormone than your body needs.

Although Graves’ disease may affect anyone, it’s more common among women and before the age of 40.

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Common signs and symptoms of Graves’ disease include:

• Anxiety and irritability
• A fine tremor of your hands or fingers
• Heat sensitivity and an increase in perspiration or warm, moist skin
• Weight loss, despite normal eating habits
• Enlargement of your thyroid gland (goiter)
• Change in menstrual cycles
• Erectile dysfunction or reduced libido
• Frequent bowel movements
• Bulging eyes (Graves’ ophthalmopathy)
• Fatigue
• Thick, red skin usually on the shins or tops of the feet (Graves’ dermopathy)
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat (palpitations)

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Since her 1997 breakout debut as a rapper, the “Supa Dupa Fly,” Elliott has been a trailblazing singer, songwriter…

… and producer whose collaborated with some of the biggest names in music, from Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston and Mary J. Blige to Ciara, Beyonce and most recently Lizzo.

Missy continues to produce and write for some of the biggest hits in music as well as has several businesses on the side. Much love to Missy! Congrats boo!