Rappers being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is more common than people realize. It covers several genres and serves as a place of recognition and validation. Inductees are not eligible until their first album is 25 years old. They do not have to be active musically at the time of their nomination. Like the GRAMMYs, being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame means a lot to many artists. For rap specifically, being inducted means recognition, but the recognition is not from their core audience. There’s also a certain satisfaction to being recognized by that audience as it shows the impact of the music has reached them. We’ve gathered some inductees we already know are well deserving of praise for their musical impact but the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame agreed with us on them too.
Missy Elliott – 2023
Missy Elliott is the latest to join the rappers in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She is the first female rapper nominated and the first to be inducted. Missy Elliott is an innovator in the rap world. And that’s not just in the lane of women in rap – it’s in the lane of rap, period. Additionally, Missy’s eccentric style, flows, and music videos have been celebrated for decades. She’s viewed as an inspiration to anyone going against the norms in their musical lane – or life. Missy is a legacy artist that still appears in the occasional feature with modern artists. She embraces many of them, keeping her in touch with multiple generations. Missy being inducted is a validation of something her listeners have known for years – she’s a legend at her craft.
Eminem – 2022
Eminem is a rapper that was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022. To some, this came as no surprise. Eminem’s place as a white rapper in the rap game is no longer a hot topic. He has spoken about it in his music in multiple ways. People respect him because he never tried to be something he wasn’t. However, his showcases of being himself were criticized – and praised – throughout his entire career. Many people have cited Em as their inspiration. However, they often end up emulating him, which draws criticism and comparison. Em is an artist that is well aware of everything people say about him and has responded to them through his music. This keeps him quite active in the modern rap world with his own music.
Jay-Z – 2021
Jay-Z joined the list of rappers in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021. They inducted him the first year they nominated him. This is a testament to his legacy as an artist and, of course, as a mogul. Jay has been active in the rap game for decades and has done nothing but ascend his entire career. His “I’m not a businessman, I’m a business, man” quote is still used by go-getters, rise-and-grinders, and more today. He has inspired multiple generations in the rap world, with many artists still citing him as inspiration. Jay is another artist active in the modern-day rap game. He’ll pop up occasionally on a feature, with his most recent one being a four-minute verse on “God Did” from DJ Khaled’s latest album.
The Notorious B.I.G – 2020
The Notorious B.I.G. was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020. Naturally, people hailed him as a legend for decades before then. Biggie is on the Mount Rushmore of hip-hop icons, and no, we’re not debating who is up there with him in this piece. Biggie’s influence in the rap world is still popular today. Some people are even trying to keep his spirit alive in too literal of a way. Still, his legendary status is not debated by many. Because of this, his induction did not come as a surprise to most supporters. But, the “delay” is only because Biggie’s debut album Ready to Die had to turn 25. Biggie’s legacy has continued to live on long after his tragic passing, as he has been cited as an inspiration for rappers of all generations.
Tupac – 2017
Tupac is a legendary rapper inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017. Like our previous entry, many people have him on their Mount Rushmore of hip-hop legends. His induction also did not come as a surprise due to his impact on listeners from his time and long after. Clips of Tupac from videos of all kinds are still posted across socials today. One of today’s most prominent artists, Kendrick Lamar, has cited him as an inspiration multiple times. Tupac’s voice can be heard on the closing track, “Mortal Man,” from Kendrick’s critically acclaimed album To Pimp A Butterfly. Kendrick has shared that the original title of this album was going to be Tu Pimp A Caterpillar which would have made the acronym for it “TuPAC.” This is also one of several examples of how his legacy has branched generations through the art of music.
N.W.A – 2016
N.W.A is a group of rappers that were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016. The group was the home of now-legendary artists Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, and Eazy-E. The classic cover art for the group’s debut album Straight Outta Compton is still being replicated today. N.W.A.’s music covered several topics, with the most poignant one still being relevant. They talked about Black oppression through an aggressive and non-sugar-coated delivery. For lack of a better word, this also caused many people to fear them. People were proud to protest their music, and there is footage of people destroying physical copies of it in the streets. This further capitalized on the point they were trying to make in their music. Music that tells of people’s experiences in a country they are told loves them will forever be relevant.
Public Enemy – 2013
Public Enemy is a group of rappers inducted into the Rock and Roll of Fame in 2013. They are another group whose message was politically charged. Chuck D delivered most of the message-centric content in the group, while Flavor Flav helped make their music a little more accessible. His animated verses, ad-libs, hooks, and overall personality did this. PE was a group with many rock elements and collaborations in their music. They remained active long after their most popular era. One of the most recent things listeners may remember was their April Fool’s Day prank in 2020, where they said they had kicked Flavor Flav out of the group. They did this stunt to also commentate on the power of disinformation. They followed this by resigning to Def Jam and releasing their album What You Gonna Do When The Grid Goes Down?
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five – 2007
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five were the first group of rappers inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They were inducted in 2007. For many listeners nowadays, these are one of the groups their parents excite and consider “real hip-hop.” This is true from a technical sense as they are one of the true genre pioneers. They brought it to mainstream audiences and did it in a way that made that audience love it. Without groups like theirs, we would not have been able to expand the genre of rap/hip-hop to the point of having multiple subgenres like it does today. Groups like these laid the groundwork for the importance of flow, delivery, cadence, and all the other core elements of what rapping truly is. It’s only fitting they were the first inductees since they helped build the genre.
Who are some of your favorite rapper inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Let us know in the comments section.
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