Michelle Obama Recognizes Rap Queens At VH1 Hip Hop Honors

The annual VH1 Hip Hop Honors award show aired Monday night on the network and will feature many special guests, including first lady Michelle Obama.

The show, which aims to recognize talented women in hip-hop and celebrate their accomplishments, aired live from New York at 9 p.m. FLOTUS made her appearance during a pre-recorded video that aired shortly after 9:30 p.m. Legendary musicians, including, Missy Elliott, Queen Latifah, Lil Kim and Remy Ma, attended the show.

Missy Elliott and Queen Latifah were among the evening’s special honorees. Both women have previously worked with the first lady. The two, along with other talented women, teamed up with Obama for “Let Girls Learn,” an initiative she launched with POTUS, to help promote education for young girls everywhere.

“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,” FLOTUS said in her tribute.

“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,” she added.

In support of FLOTUS’ initiative, Missy Elliot was also featured in the popular anthem “This Is For My Girls,” which was produced and released by AOL’s MAKERS. Queen Latifah helped to debut the song during a panel she hosted at SXSW earlier this year.

VH1 Hip Hop Honors aired live Monday, July 11 at 9 p.m. EST.