“Hip-hop artists should not be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.” These are the words of Gene Simmons who, once again, criticized the selection system of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
In an interview for the podcast LegendsNLeadersthe leader of Kiss, wanted to have his say on the issue. “It's not my music, I'm not from the ghetto, it doesn't speak my language,” Simmons stressed. «Hip hop doesn't belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, like opera or symphony orchestras… Why doesn't the New York Philharmonic enter the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Because it's called the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!
Simmons, who was inducted into the hall of fame in 2014 with Kiss, then spoke about his discussion with Ice Cube over the issue. «Ice Cube and I had a chat. He's a brilliant guy and I respect what he's done. He says it's all part of the “spirit” of rock and roll…” The reference is to a statement from Cube some time ago, in which the rapper had had his say on the issue: «Rap is a piece of rock and roll, but within it there is also a piece of soul, R&B, blues. Rap captures the spirit of rock and roll. Rappers and kids who rock and roll capture that same spirit.”
Simmons replies: «Ice Cube, Grandmaster Flash and all these guys are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I just want to know: when will Led Zeppelin enter the Hip Hop Hall of Fame? Music has labels because it describes an approach. In general, rap and hip hop are a spoken word art. Then you add a rhythm and someone invents a musical phrase, but it's verbal. There are some melodies, but overall it's a verbal thing.”
