Gene Simmons Sparks Backlash Calling Hip Hop 'Ghetto' Before Chuck D Fires Back
Gene Simmons argues the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame should focus on rock music, questioning hip-hop inductions since 2007 and highlighting perceived inconsistencies in honorees.
- On a Legends N Leaders episode last Saturday, Gene Simmons, KISS bassist and co-lead singer, defended using the term 'ghetto' while discussing rap's place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
- Simmons said hip-hop does not belong in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and recalled debating Ice Cube, who argued it was the 'spirit of rock n' roll'; Simmons contrasted Iron Maiden's stadium sales with Grandmaster Flash's inclusion.
- Critics pointed out KISS borrowed stage image elements from Patti LaBelle and LaBelle, while many stressed rock and hip-hop share roots in Black music.
- The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame officials note the rules include multiple categories, up to seven inductees annually, and a 1,000 'rock experts' voting body, supporting diverse recognition. Greg Harris, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame CEO, defended rap's inclusion, citing its hard-hitting nature and the Hall's long-standing inclusion of non-rock artists since 1986.
- Given the Hall's history, commenters say it may need to adapt its name or create secondary awards as hip-hop's presence dates to Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five's 2007 induction and continues with recent honorees such as Salt-N-Pepa and OutKast, who was inducted last year.
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16 Articles
I DON'T COME FROM THE GHETTO, Kiss' Gene Simmons Makes Clear...
(New York, New York) – Gene Simmons is reigniting debate over who belongs in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The KISS bassist said rap music doesn’t “belong” in the Rock Hall and added, “I don’t come from the ghetto,” a comment that quickly sparked backlash online. The Hall has inducted multiple hip-hop artists over the years, fueling ongoing debate about whether it represents rock exclusively — or the broader evolution of popular music.
Gene Simmons Says Rap Doesn't Belong In The Rock Hall Of Fame
Source: Ronald Martinez / Getty Look, as a super fan of multiple genres of music — including hip-hop, r&b, reggae, bluegrass, and, of course, rock and roll — I just need to say… KISS frontman Gene Simmons is out here trying to piss me off. Recently, Simmons shared his thoughts on why hip-hop artists shouldn’t be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, an argument that salty, crusty, stiff line-dancing, clapping on the 1 and 3, washclothless …
Gene Simmons defends use of word ‘ghetto’ while arguing hip-hop shouldn’t be in Rock Hall
Gene Simmons on ‘Dancing with the Stars’/(Disney/Eric McCandless) Gene Simmons recently made headlines for sharing his opinion about hip-hop artists being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and caught some flack over using the word “ghetto.” He’s now defending himself against the backlash. In the original interview with the Legends N Leaders podcast, the KISS rocker, who was inducted into the Rock Hall in 2015, said of hip-hop, “It’s no…
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