Missy Elliott is getting a street named after her in her hometown

A street in Missy Elliott’s hometown of Portsmouth, Virginia, is set to be renamed in her honour.

The City Council of Portsmouth unanimously approved on Tuesday night to rename a section of a street "Missy Elliott Boulevard".

Representatives from the City Council said they hoped the new street name would shine a light on local talent from Portsmouth, as well as enhance the City's recently-rezoned Entertainment District.

Read this next: Missy Elliott is the first woman rapper in the Songwriters Hall Of Fame

Missy Elliott shared her elation on Twitter, replying to a post from The Virginia-Pilot: "I am so Humbly Grateful"

"I been through many ups & downs & times I wanted to give up but Gods plan was different! & all I can do is say Thank you & Thank you to everyone on the City Counsel I am so GRATEFUL for EVERYTHING "

The soon-to-be-named Missy Elliott Boulevard is currently named McLean Street, and serves the Victory Crossing Shopping Center, Tidewater Community College, and the future Portsmouth Rivers Casino.

The planned street renaming will not necessitate an address name change for any of these present or prospective developments, according to the ordinance.

Read this next: A new book celebrates over 100 women in hip hop

Missy Elliott, real name Melissa Arnette Elliot was born in the Portsmouth Naval Medical Center on July 1, 1971.

The rapper was born and raised in the Hodges Ferry neighbourhood in Portsmouth. In 1990, she earned her high school diploma from Woodrow Wilson High School (now Manor High School).

She was launched into fame after the success of her second album, ‘Da Real World’, released in 1999, and her debut album ‘Supa Dupa Fly’, released in 1997.

She later went on to record four additional studio albums, earning four Grammy Awards in the process, including 2001's ‘Miss E... So Addictive’, 2002's ‘Under Construction’, 2003's ‘This Is Not a Test!’ and 2005's ‘The Cookbook’.

Read this next: 10 of the best 90s hip hop music videos

The rapper won praise in 2021 by receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She also became a member of the Black Music and Entertainment Walk of Fame's inaugural class.

Recently, she gave all musicians working on sophomore albums some free advice.

[Via: WTKR]

Aneesa Ahmed is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow her on Twitter