Virginia Street to be Renamed in Honor of Missy Elliott

Romana Pierzga, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

What do you get for the rapper with everything?

Portsmouth, Virginia, may have found the answer — at least when it comes to its native superstar, Missy Elliott.

The Portsmouth City Council unanimously voted Tuesday night to rename a portion of one of the municipality's streets, "Missy Elliott Blvd.," in honor of the woman dubbed "Queen of Rap" by various media outlets over the years.

Elliott, born Melissa Arnette Elliot at the city's Portsmouth Naval Medical Center, seemed moved by the honor.

The artist, who has sold more than 30 million records over her career and won four Grammys, responded to the announcement by tweeting, "I am forever GRATEFUL🙏🏾 P-TOWN🙌🏾 VA #757 LOVE💜."

Currently named McLean Street, the road serves the city's recently rezoned entertainment district. A shopping center, community college and the future home of the Portsmouth Rivers Casino are among the businesses and institutions that lie along its path.

I am forever GRATEFUL🙏🏾 P-TOWN🙌🏾 VA #757 LOVE💜

— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) August 10, 2022