Missy Elliott broke through 1997 with her debut album Supa dupa fly. She has won four Grammys and sold over 30 million records in the United States. Earlier this year, she became the first female rapper to be elected to the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Others who have previously been awarded the MTV award are Jennifer Lopez, Pink, Rihanna, Kanye West, Beyoncé and Britney Spears.
It has been speculated as to whether MTV was considering renaming the price in the footsteps of documentary Leaving Neverland, but that has not been done. However, it is only mentioned as the Video Vanguard Award in an advertising clip for MTV's Video Music Awards, which takes place on August 26 in Newark, New Jersey.