The organization has done an OK job of inducting influential black artists into its hallowed hall—the last class
included Donna Summer and Quincy Jones—but the voters who decide such
things have been slow to include hip-hop artists, especially since the
rock hall’s eligibility period has been bumping up against hip-hop’s
golden era (artists are eligible to be nominated 25 years after their
first album). Yes, Run-DMC (inducted in 2009), Grandmaster Flash and the
Furious Five (inducted in 2007) and Public Enemy (inducted in 2013)
have been included, but others—such as Eric B. & Rakim, Kool Moe Dee
and other rap pioneers—are still waiting for the call.
Although some would question whether hip-hop and R&B deserve to
be in a “rock” Hall of Fame, the fact is that induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has become the pinnacle in marking the achievement and influence of all popular music—period.
And when it comes to influence, which genre of music has been the
most vilified, co-opted and copied in the past 20 years or so? That
would be hip-hop.
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