The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has always been involved in one controversy or another. Lots of fans of big names in rock have voiced their frustration over certain icons not getting inducted in a timely manner. And, likewise, a few non-rock musicians have been inducted instead. Whether or not this is fair or even sensible is up to you. Let’s look at a few iconic rappers and rap groups who have been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame!
Videos by American Songwriter
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five (2007)
This hip-hop group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame back in 2007. You might know this group best for the song “The Message” from 1982. By the time the group was inducted, they had long since disbanded.
Still, Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five stirred quite a bit of controversy when they were inducted. They were the very first hip-hop group to be honored, and quite a few rock musicians and fans weren’t happy about it. KISS singer Gene Simmons notably made comments about the group’s induction back in the day.
“You’ve got Grandmaster Flash in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?” said Simmons. “Run-DMC in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? You’re killing me! That doesn’t mean those aren’t good artists. But they don’t play guitar. They sample and they talk. Not even sing!”
Beastie Boys (2012)
This iconic hip-hop group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. However, it’s worth noting that this trio of rappers wasn’t exclusively in the hip-hop genre. They were also known for their alternative stylings, as well as their early hardcore punk days. The Beastie Boys disbanded that same year.
Tupac (2017)
One of the most iconic legends on this list, Tupac Shakur was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame posthumously in 2017. And he got in quick, too. Tupac was inducted in the very first year he was eligible, which is a rare feat for the Hall of Fame.
“Rock and roll means so many things to so many different people,” said Hall of Fame CEO Joel Peresman at the time. “To have a class that has everything from Joan Baez to Tupac Shakur, from Pearl Jam to Yes, is terrific. It gives a lot of people something to hang onto.”
Eminem (2022)
Eminem made it to the list of rappers who were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame back in 2022. And his induction was one for the books. Eminem took the time to celebrate some of the greatest artists in rap, from Tupac to Milk Dee to Beastie Boys to The Notorious B.I.G. to Public Enemy, among a long list of others.
Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.