Justin Timberlake andbr Missy Elliot Receive Honorarybr Doctorates From Berklee College The two celebrity icons attended the musicbr college’s commencement ceremony on Saturdaybr to receive their honorary doctorates. Timberlake was honored for hisbr “influence on pop music, his versatility,br and for being an inspiration.” Elliot was honored for “bending genres, breakingbr stereotypes” and breaking “stylistic boundaries.” She is the first hip-hop artist to receivebr an honorary doctorate from Berklee. In a speech, Timberlake told the graduatingbr students to allow failure to shape their paths. Justin Timberlake,br via ‘People’ Elliot also spoke before the students,br encouraging them to never stop persevering.