Missy Elliott has responded to a Portsmouth city street being named in her honor.

The Portsmouth native shared a message to the 757 this week saying, “my Grandma who passed when I was young always told me to stay PRAYED UP & DREAM BIG!”

The rapper said she has cried “tears of joy” over the honor. ” I have been BLESSED so much but this right here hits my heart differently. I am so HUMBLY GRATEFUL to be from P-TOWN.”

#757 VA 🙏🏾 my Grandma who passed when I was young always told me to stay PRAYED UP & DREAM BIG! A Blvd😭Tears of Joy🙏🏾I have been BLESSED so much but this right here hits my heart differently😭🥹I am so HUMBLY GRATEFUL to be from P-TOWN 2up2down💜The ENTIRE VA🙌🏾🤗💜 pic.twitter.com/l8bgu8v6th

— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) September 7, 2022

Melissa Arnette Elliott was born on July 1, 1971, at the Portsmouth Naval Medical Center. The Grammy award-winning rapper, singer, songwriter, and producer graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School (now Manor High School) in 1990.

“Missy Elliott Boulevard”  replaces McLean Street, from Airline Boulevard to Greenwood Drive.