Missy Elliott is bringing four HBCU bands together for a Virginia battle of the bands

The Virginia legend will host the Oct. 18 showcase at Norfolk State University as part of a week celebrating music, culture and innovation.

Missy Elliott has been part of many a HBCU band‘s fifth quarter routine. Now the Virginia legend is coming back home and giving back with a showcase highlighting four of the best HBCU bands in the region.

Elliott will present the HBCU Band Battle on October 18 at Norfolk State University, featuring Norfolk State University’s “Spartan Legion” Marching Band, Virginia State University’s “Trojan Explosion” Marching Band, Elizabeth City State University’s “Sound of Class” Marching Band and Hampton University’s “Marching Force” Marching Band.

In a recent Sports Illustrated poll, Norfolk State held the top spot for HBCU Band of the Year for Division I schools, while Virginia State held the top spot for Division II schools.

According to the Virginia native, who became the first female rapper ever to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, celebrating the bands that were the soundtrack to many a football game, pep rally, and cultural event in her home state was of great importance.

“Virginia will always be home, so bringing something like this back means a lot to me,” Elliott said in a statement. “HBCU bands have always brought so much energy, creativity, and culture to music. I want this to be a celebration of them and something that inspires the next generation to dream even bigger.”

The battle of the bands is part of multiple events honoring Elliott. In 2022, then-Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin established Missy Elliott Day in the state to honor Elliott’s cultural achievements in music and entertainment. Since then, Portsmouth, Virginia, has named a street in her honor: Missy Elliott Boulevard. The rapper donated $50,000 to the Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority in 2023 to prevent numerous families from being evicted. In 2024, she donated $60,000 in gift cards and toys to local families in need.

Additionally, the week of the HBCU Band Battle will feature the Missy Elliott Innovation Summit, an educational program for college students and high school seniors exploring the “intersection of technology, music, education, entrepreneurship, and the future of creativity.” Per a press release, the summit will provide an opportunity for the next generation of scholars to engage with ideas and opportunities found at the midpoint of culture, innovation and education.