Today, rap is embraced by mainstream media and many aspects of pop culture, but that wasn’t always the case. The genre was once shunned and viewed as inferior by other musical genres. However, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is an institution that strongly supports hip-hop.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was founded in 1983 in Cleveland by Ahmet Ertergun, founder and chairman of Atlantic Records. The Hall is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have left a lasting impression on the music industry.
When Aerosmith was busy with Run-DMC in the 1990s, it was unprecedented. These days, it’s not uncommon to see rockers and rhymers on the same song, not to mention rappers paying homage to artists outside of hip-hop.
Icons such as Elvis Presley, James Brown, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones and Aretha Franklin are all inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which is supposed to open its doors to the rappers and hip-hop artists who helped change the face of music.
The Hall has been recognizing hip-hop artists since the induction of The Flash and Furious Five in 2007, and the list of rappers now inducted continues to include some in elite company.
See below the hip-hop artists who have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
