A street named after Innovative rapper/producer/singer Missy Elliott could be on the way soon. The city council in Portsmouth, VA is set to vote this week to rename a portion of McClean Street "Missy Elliott Boulevard," WTKR reports.
A Virginia native, Missy was born at the Portsmouth Naval Medical Center and grew up in the Hodges Ferry community before graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School (now Manor High School) in 1990. Earlier this summer in an interview with Essence, Missy spoke about her love for her home state.
"When you talk about game-changing states, Virginia has to be on the top of that list,” she said, listing folks like Ella Fitzgerald, Allen Iverson, D’Angelo, and Booker T. Washington. “We have so much talent that has gone on to become successful. It’s not just Missy, Timbaland and Pharrell – there’s Pusha T, and so many others. We always say there’s something in the water; that’s our big saying. It isn’t just artists, but legendary artists. Whether it’s sports, entertainment or otherwise, I just feel honored that I’m able to properly represent that.”
The family previously tried to have a Confederate monument on Court Street replaced with a Missy statue, but were unsuccessful (the monument was eventually removed). The city council will vote on Tuesday, August 9.