Gene Simmons is doubling down on his disapproval of hip-hop acts being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Gene Simmons of the rock band KISS is sharing his perspective on why he doesn’t think hip-hop belongs in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
During a recent interview on the LegendsNLeaders podcast, the KISS frontman doubled down on his opposition to hip-hop’s presence in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
“The fact that, for instance, Iron Maiden is not in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, when they can sell out stadiums and Grandmaster Flash is, right?” Simmons said in a clip shared online. “Ice Cube and I had a back and forth [about this]. He’s a bright guy, and I respect what he’s done. It’s not my music. I don’t come from the ghetto. It doesn’t speak my language.”
He continued. “And I said in print many times: Hip-hop does not belong in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Nor does opera, symphonies, orchestras. How come the New York Philharmonic doesn’t get in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame? Because it’s called the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame!”
Elaborating on his past conversation with Ice Cube, Simmons said the rapper believes hip-hop embodies the rebellious “spirit” of rock, while he sees clear distinctions between the two genres.
“But [Ice Cube] shot back and said, ‘No, it’s the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll.’ OK, fine,” Simmons said. “So Ice Cube and Grandmaster Flash and all these guys are in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. I just want to know when Led Zeppelin will be inducted into the Hip-Hop Hall of Fame. ‘Oh, you can’t do that.’ Oh, really? Music has labels because it describes an approach. Hip-hop and rap is a spoken word art. There are some melodies but, by and large, it’s a verbal thing.”
“It just doesn’t speak to me,” he added. “The genius of being able to put music and words and arrange it is much more complex.”
Other hip-hop artists honored include Eminem, Jay-Z, Outkast, and Missy Elliott. The hall’s inclusion of non-rock acts continues to spark debate among fans, including critics like Simmons.
Source: Black Enterprise
