No history of rap is complete without mentioning Missy Elliott. The quintessential survivor, she overcame a life of poverty to become a pivotal force in hip-hop, R&B and pop music overall. Her timeless hits include singles like, “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly),” “Get Ur Freak On,” and “Work It,” which all come from platinum-selling albums. In 2023 she was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, making her the first woman in hip-hop to be ushered in. However, she never forgot where she came from. In October, she gave $50,000 to the Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority to pay past-due rent bills of 26 families, according to the Virginian-Pilot.