The ladies of hip hop received a long overdue spotlight on Monday evening as fans, fellow artists and music executives gathered in New York City for the 2016 VH1 Hip Hop Honors.
Appropriately carrying the tagline “All Hail The Queens,” the celebratory event honored female hip hop trailblazers Salt N Pepa, Queen Latifah, Missy Elliott and Lil’ Kim. Through a series of video montages followed by unforgettable tribute performances from some our favorite ladies including Teyana Taylor, Ashanti, Eve, Lil Mama, Dej Loaf and Keke Palmer, the four honorees received recognition for the pivotal roles they played in paving the way for women in the music industry.
Among those who sang their praises was none other than First Lady Michelle Obama. In a brief video message aired during the live show, the FLOTUS expressed her gratitude and shared sentiments of congratulations to honorees Missy Elliott and Queen Latifah. Both ladies have worked with Mrs. Obama to actively support her Let Girls Learn Initiative, which aims to promote education for young girls around the world. “Through your music and activism, including your support of the Let Girls Learn initiative, you all are encouraging young women all over the world to believe in themselves,” the First Lady said in a message to the two honorees. “I’m so grateful for your passion and your contributions to our world and I can’t what to see what you achieve in the years ahead.”
Missy was one of several ladies featured on the official Let Girls Learn initiative anthem titled “This Is For My Girls,” which Queen Latifah helped premiere during a panel at SXSW earlier this year.
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